Crispy Corn Fritters Recipe - Little Sunny Kitchen (2024)

FAQs

Why are my fritters not crispy? ›

The most common causes for soggy fritters are too much batter (basic flour and egg batter like used in pancakes will never cook up crispy), and whatever you're frittering leeches too much water when cooking.

Is baking soda or powder best for frying? A pinch of baking soda can help produce crispy fried foods. It reacts with the acid in the batter to create carbon dioxide bubbles. These lead to an airy batter and a crisper, fluffier result.

You can also use cornstarch/cornflour, or tapioca flour, instead. Of course, you can certainly just use all-purpose flour, but the fritters will not be as crispy.

Batter consistency is key to good fritters. If too runny, add a touch of extra flour (otherwise fritters soggy inside). If way too thick, add a touch of water.

Rice flour and cornstarch work particularly well because they fry up crispier than wheat flour. They also absorb less moisture and fat during the frying process, making the products less greasy. This is why rice flour is often used when making tempura because it produces a very thin and crispy, dry crust.

The best way to keep fried foods crispy? Just place them on a cooling rack set over a baking sheet. If you're frying multiple batches, throw the whole setup into a low oven to keep everything warm as you keep frying and adding to the rack.

Cornstarch in the flour makes the crust crispier.

Cornstarch weakens the all-purpose flour's protein just enough to make the coating tender.

But the baking powder is key, because it acts like a salt. It helps draw moisture to the surface, where it can evaporate. Since they have similar reactions, we typically combine baking powder and table salt to amplify this effect, resulting in extra-crispiness.

Baking powder: Baking powder ensures a light and crispy exterior.

Cornstarch typically makes for a crispier finish than flour. Cornstarch absorbs moisture from the food and expands, giving deep-fried foods a crispy coating. When the food is fried, the moisture cooks out of the cornstarch, leaving a crackly, puffy coating on the outside.

Why are my corn fritters falling apart? ›

Don't stack them on each other, as they will likely steam and soften. Why are my corn fritters falling apart? If using frozen or canned corn, drain well to eliminate excess moisture.

Both can! Cornstarch creates a dry coating that crisps up beautifully when fried. Baking powder can also add some lift and a light crunch, especially when mixed with cornstarch.

They just need a simple, light batter of flour, cornstarch, and baking powder mixed with seltzer to tie them together. The seltzer and baking powder ensure that the fritters are shatteringly crisp–even slightly tired vegetables emerge from the oil crunchy, fresh, and sweet.

The thicker the batter, the thicker the fritter. For thinner fritters add a little extra liquid. For fluffy flour-free fritters, separate the eggs and whisk the whites to a stiff foam. Add the egg yolks to the grated veg then fold in the whisked egg whites.

Keep the oil temperature up for crispy fried food

When it comes to battered foods, according to Bon Appétit, the lower the temperature, the longer your batter is sitting in the pot absorbing oil, which can lead to a dark, unappetizing oil-laden crust.

If your potato fritters are soggy, it's likely because too much liquid remained in your vegetables or the oil and skillet weren't hot enough. A hot skillet with hot oil is how you keep potato pancakes crispy.

Make sure the oil is hot enough before you drop in the fritters and don't overcrowd the pan. If you overcrowd it, the fritters might not cook evenly. You also want to be sure you're cooking the fritters long enough. Fry them until they're golden brown and the batter is cooked through.

If you have too much oil in the pan or it isn't hot enough before you add the batter, the fritters will absorb the oil and become soggy.