Best Oil to Fry Fish (2024)

Thanks to its neutral flavor, affordable price, and high smoke point, canola oil is the most popular oil for frying fish. Peanut, cottonseed, and coconut oil are also great fish frying oils. Keep reading to discover the benefits of each oil you can use to fry fish. We also offer fish frying tips, so you can cook your fish fillets to perfection every time.

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Best Oil for Deep Frying Fish

To help you select the best oil for your fish fry, discover the top oils for deep frying fish, their smoke points, and their benefits below:

1. Canola Oil

Canola oil has a high smoke point and a neutral flavor. Rich in omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, canola oil is a comparatively healthful choice for frying fish. It is also relatively affordable.

Canola Oil Smoke Point: 400 degrees Fahrenheit

2. Peanut Oil

Peanut oil is affordable, and it has a neutral flavor that won't affect the flavor of your fish. It also prevents flavor transfer. Unfortunately, peanut oil contains one of the big 8 food allergens, which limits the number of guests who can enjoy your fried fish.

3. Cottonseed Oil

Cottonseed oil has a high smoke point. It's also affordable, making it an excellent option for establishments that are frying in bulk and need to stock up on oil.

Cottonseed Oil Smoke Point: 450 degrees Fahrenheit

4. Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is the healthiest option for deep frying your fish. It has a neutral taste and reduces flavor transfer between batches. However, coconut oil is a less economical choice.

Coconut Oil Smoke Point: 450 degrees Fahrenheit

Oil for Frying Fish

The type of oil that you deep fry your fish in impacts how it fries, its taste, and its texture, so it's important that you choose the right oil for the task. Here are three major things you need to consider when choosing oil for frying fish:

The Smoke Point - The smoke point is the temperature when oil starts to break down and become unusable. When deep frying fish, you want to use an oil that has a high smoke point so you can fry the fish at a high temperature.
The Flavor - Fish is delicate, so you want to choose an oil with a neutral flavor that won't overpower the fish.
Flavor Transfer - If you're frying different types of seafood (or other foods) simultaneously, you must prevent the flavors from transferring.

Best Fish to Fry

Not every type of fish is suitable for deep frying. When choosing a fish to deep fry, look for an option that has a neutral flavor and isn't too oily. Typically, neutral flavored, white-fleshed, and lean fish are best for frying. Freshwater fish such as bass, trout, and catfish are excellent choices. Avoid dense and oily tuna, salmon, and sea bass.

Here are some of the best types of fish to fry:

Frying Fish FAQ

Now that you know the best oil to deep fry fish with and which type of fish you should fry, you’re ready to prepare your own fish fry. Below, we answer some of the most frequently asked questions chefs encounter when frying fish.

Oil Temp for Frying Fish

Your fish frying oil temperature should range between 350 and 375 degrees Fahrenheit. The fish needs to reach a safe internal temperature of 140 to 145 degrees Fahrenheit before it is finished frying.

How Long to Fry Fish

As a general rule, you should deep fry small batches of fish for 3 to 6 minutes. You must adjust the time based on the type of fish you’re deep frying; you will need to fry your fish fillets longer than your oysters. How long you fry fish also depends on the temperature of your oil.

How to Fry Fish with Flour and Egg

Use our fried fish taco recipe to learn how to fry fish with flour and egg. It’s a simple process of creating a batter, dipping the fish into the batter, adding the fish to your fryer unit, frying it until it turns a beautiful, golden brown, and then cooling it on a parchment-lined rack.

How to Make Egg Wash for Frying Fish

Follow these simple steps to make an egg wash for frying 1 pound of fish:

Crack 3 eggs into a bowl
Add six tablespoons of whole milk
Beat to combine the milk and eggs

Deep Fried Fish Temperature

Deep fry your fish at temperatures between 350 and 375 degrees Fahrenheit. If the temperature is above 380 degrees Fahrenheit, it will scorch the fish. If it's below 360 degrees Fahrenheit, the batter may absorb too much oil, creating a greasy mouthfeel.

How to Prep Fish for Frying

Prep fish for frying by following these simple steps:

Brine the fish
Create an egg wash
Season the fish
Dip the fish in the egg wash
Dredge the fish in flour

Flour or Egg First When Frying Fish?

Coat fish in an egg wash first, then dredge it in flour. The egg wash will help the flour stick to the fish. Coating fish in egg and flour before frying it creates a crispy outer crust around the delicate, flakey protein. This flour shell also helps contain the protein’s juices and adds rich flavor.

What to Soak Fish in before Frying

Soaking fish in a 6 percent salt brine before frying it firms the fish, causing it to hold up better in the fryer. The salt in the brine enhances the flavor and keeps the meat from drying out.

Selecting the right oil can ensure flavors don't transfer, the fish doesn't become greasy, and the seafood’s natural taste isn’t overpowered. Use our guide to analyze every factor that affects how your fish fries, including the best oils for frying fish, how to prepare fish for frying, and the best fish to fry.

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FAQs

Best Oil to Fry Fish? ›

Best Oil to Fry Fish. Thanks to its neutral flavor, affordable price, and high smoke point, canola oil is the most popular oil for frying fish. Peanut, cottonseed, and coconut oil are also great fish frying oils. Keep reading to discover the benefits of each oil you can use to fry fish.

Keep Reading ›

Which oil is best for frying fish? ›

You want your fish to taste great with classic tartar sauce and sides for fried fish! So it's best to use a neutral oil, like canola, vegetable and safflower oil to fry fish. Peanut oil has a high smoke point, which is perfect for frying, but it could add a slightly nutty flavor to your fish.

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Which oil is best for deep frying? ›

Oils with higher smoke points are ideal for deep frying because they can withstand higher temperatures without burning. Some common oils with high smoke points include peanut oil, canola oil, and safflower oil. These oils are suitable for high-heat cooking and provide a crispy texture to fried foods.

Should I fry fish in butter or olive oil? ›

The trick to perfect fried fish lies in the oil and temperature used for cooking it and in the coating used on the fish. Use an oil with a high smoking point, such as canola, corn, safflower, peanut, avocado, or grapeseed oil. Avoid olive oil and butter since they'll burn at the high temperatures required for frying.

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Is vegetable oil good for frying fish? ›

You can use shortening or mild vegetable oil, one of the best oils to fry fish. Standard vegetable oil is affordable and nearly flavorless, and canola or peanut oil works well too. Heat the fat over medium-high.

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What is the healthiest oil for frying? ›

The healthiest oil to cook with is olive oil. It's versatile, being used in everything from frying to finishing. It's also rich in healthy fats, antioxidants, and polyphenols, all of which have shown protective effects against cancer and liver, heart, and neurodegenerative diseases (27, 28).

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What is the best thing to soak fish in before frying? ›

In a 3-quart bowl, soak fish in milk for 15-20 minutes. The casein protein in milk binds to the trimethylamine in the fish flesh, reducing the “fishy” odor.

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What oil should you not use for deep-frying? ›

Deep frying

However, if you do need to deep fry your food, our long-standing advice is that oils like corn and sunflower oils are not recommended for high temperatures. These oils are rich in polyunsaturated fats which can form undesirable compounds when heated at high temperatures.

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What oil do fish and chip shops use? ›

The perfect and traditional fat for frying both the fish and the chips is beef drippings or lard. Both give a crisper and tastier chip and fish batter. However, cooking fish and chips in vegetable or corn oil is now commonplace as it is healthier and more readily available.

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Should you fry fish on high or low heat? ›

Heat the oil to 375ºF to 400°F, depending on the recipe and size of the fish. For uniform cooking, small pieces like fish fingers or nuggets can fry at a higher temperature, but whole fillets or larger chunks should fry at a slightly lower temperature so the fish and coating are evenly cooked.

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Should you salt fish before frying? ›

Don't skimp on seasoning.

Season both sides of the fish (since the salt doesn't get absorbed after frying) and drizzle the filet with olive oil (don't be afraid to keep adding more!), continuing to season with salt and pepper along every step of the way.

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What is the best fish fry oil? ›

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How long should you fry fish? ›

When pan-frying fish, you should aim for about 5 minutes on each side (longer if your filet is thicker). Dropping them into the deep fryer? Then you'll want around 4-5 minutes (batter will turn a golden brown color). However you do it, you should fry fish long enough for it to reach an internal temperature of 145°F.

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Which fish is best for frying? ›

White-fleshed fish such as cod, tilapia, and haddock are great for frying. They're perfect for adding different seasonings. Oily fish like mackerel or sardines might overpower other flavors when fried. They don't get as crispy.

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Can you deep fry fish in olive oil? ›

Olive oil, if light or refined, can be used to fry fish and will pair especially well with Mediterranean-style recipes. If you prefer, you can also use lard or butter when frying. When deep-frying or completely submerging the fish or seafood in oil, use the same type of oil as you would for a regular fry.

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Is olive oil good for frying? ›

First, extra virgin olive oil is one of the “most stable oils you can buy”. That means even when heated to high temperatures, the oil does not degrade. More and more studies show that olive oils are the most balanced, safe, and healthy fat for both pan-frying and deep-frying.

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What is the best oil for frying French fries? ›

Refined peanut oil is the best oil to use for making french fries. You can also use canola or safflower oil. Additionally, restaurant fries are so crispy because, among other things, they use old oil continuously.

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Is canola oil good for deep-frying? ›

When deep frying at home, canola oil is an ideal choice of fat. Canola oil's neutral flavour allows the taste of your ingredients to shine through. Plus, canola oil has a high smoke point, meaning, it will not smoke (or burn) at the temperature required for deep frying.

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