Frying

Part of speech: verb

Pronunciation: /ˈfɹaɪ.ɪŋ/

Definitions

1. The technique of cooking ingredients by submerging them in hot oil or fat
2. A culinary process whereby food is cooked quickly through immersion in heated oil or animal fat
3. The method of preparing foods by placing them in heated oil or fat until cooked through

Etymology: Before English had "fry," it had "hirsten," a native Old English verb with the same sense. It was replaced by a French-derived verb, so the word we use today is a borrowing rather than an inheritance from Anglo-Saxon. Its ancestry runs through Old French back to Latin "frigere." The same ancient root also appears far away: the Greek "phrugō," meaning to roast or bake, and the Sanskrit "bhṛjjati," meaning to roast or fry, are cognates. That shared root surfaces in Indian cooking as well, in "bhurji" and "bhujia," names for fried Indian snacks. "Frying" is simply the present participle and gerund of "fry," so its history is that of the verb itself.

Synonyms: sautéing, searing, browning, cooking, toasting

Antonyms: boiling, steaming, poaching