Can You Fry Fish and Shrimp in the Same Oil? (Not Recommended)

Ever wondered why most people deep fry their fish and shrimp? Well, the simple reason is that deep frying makes foods taste more inviting. 

By the way, fish and shrimp taste good even when cooked, but taste better when fried. Now, the question is, can you fry fish and shrimp in the same oil? 

Frying fish and shrimp in separate oil may be most people’s preferred option. But that would mean using more oil. So the best thing to do would be to fry both in the same oil, but how possible is this?

If you want to know the possibility of frying shrimp and fish in the same cooking oil, this post is for you. You’ll find all the information needed to make a good decision here. So, keep reading.

Can You Deep Fry Fish and Shrimp in the Same Oil?

Yes, you can deep fry fish and shrimp in the same oil. However, even though this is possible, it is not recommended. The reason for this is simple. Cooking oils will take the flavor of whatever you fry in them. If you fry fish, the oil will assume the flavor of the fish. So, fry the shrimp first and fish later.

Using the same oil to fry shrimp might change the seafood’s taste. Any individual conversant with how fried shrimp tastes will notice the change in taste when shrimp is deep-fried in oil used to fry fish. 

So, if you are considering frying fish and shrimp in the same oil, here is something you need to do. Fry the shrimp first, and afterwards, fry the fish.

The reason for this is simple. The shrimp won’t impart much flavor on the fish. But when you fry fish first, you can’t use the same oil to fry shrimp. Why? The shrimp will taste fishy.

Can You Reuse Oil After Frying Fish?

Yes and no. And here is the reason for both answers. If you fry the fish in a deep fryer and high heat, you can reuse the oil at least three times after frying. But if you pan-fried the fish, discard the cooking oil immediately after frying. 

Now, you can see the two scenarios. One is to use a deep fryer, and the other is to use a frying pan. If you use a deep fryer, of course, you will use more cooking oil, and the possibility of the fish sticking to the fryer is slim. 

When you fry your fish in a pan, the fish might stick to the pan and leave plenty of mess in the oil. So the best thing is to discard the cooking oil. 

Now, pay attention to this. You can reuse the cooking oil if you fry your fish in a deep fryer at high heat. But you should only use the oil to fry fish and nothing else. 

Why is this necessary? Well, the oil already has a fishy taste since that was what you fried in it. Thus, when you use the same oil to fry other foods, they’ll taste fishy. 

So the best thing to do is avoid reusing oil used to fry fish for frying other foods. Only consider doing so if you don’t mind the fishy taste the food you’re frying in the used oil will have.

Can You Reuse Oil After Frying Shrimp?

Yes, you can reuse cooking oil used to fry shrimp, primarily when you use a deep fryer. But the truth of the matter is, it is not recommended. 

Why is this so? The shrimp’s taste will impart on any food you fry in the oil, causing a slight or noticeable change in flavor. 

Imagine how you would feel eating fries with shrimp taste because you have used the oil to frying shrimp. You could lose your appetite or not eat as many fries as planned. 

So, if you fried shrimps in cooking oil, you’re free to store the cooking oil. But please, ensure you only use it to fry shrimp and nothing else. 

A Handy Tip: Used cooking oils can become rancid when you fail to store them properly. So it is advisable to store your used cooking oils properly to avoid rancidity or a change in taste. Keep the oil away from sunlight. And when waiting for the used oil to cool down after use, don’t allow it to stay cool for long. Get the batters out and store your used oil.

Can You Deep Fry Fish and Fries in the Same Oil?

Yes, you can, but take note of this. Fry the fries first before focusing on the fish. Why? Frying the fish and reusing the oil to fry the fries will change the latter’s taste. In other words, your fries may taste fishy and awkward. You might not enjoy consuming such fries. 

Again, after deep frying the fries and the fish, you can store the used oil for later use. But make sure you don’t use the oil for anything other than to fry fish. 

If you reuse such oil to fry other things, the food may taste fishy. Most people may not fancy eating fries that taste fishy. 

Can You Use The Same Oil To Fry Different Things?

Yes, you can use the same cooking oil to fry different things. Just ensure the flavor of one of the things you are frying doesn’t impart on the others. Assuming you want to use the same oil to fry fries, chicken, and fish. In this case, frying your fries and chicken before using the same oil for the fish is a good idea. 

Why is this so? When fried in the cooking oil used to fry fish, your fries or chicken will taste fishy. So the best thing is to fry the fries, then chicken before using the same oil for the fish. 

You can even fry the chicken before using the same oil to fry your fish. But after frying the fish, ensure you don’t use the oil to fry other foods besides fish. 

How Long Do You Fry Shrimp In Oil?

Fry shrimp in oil for 2 to 3 minutes. The outside would be golden brown, with the center opaque when the shrimp is ready for consumption.

Shrimp is a breeze to fry. Just add about 2 inches of cooking oil to the pot you wish to use, and heat it up until the temperature rises to 350 to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. 

How Many Times Can You Fry With the Same Oil?

It depends on the kind of food you have used the oil to fry. If you fried battered or breaded foods, you can use the oil at least 3 to 4 times. And ensure that you’re using the oil for the same food.

The situation is different when you fry cleaner foods. By this, we mean foods that won’t change the color and taste of the cooking oil that much. 

An example of cleaner food is potato chips. When you fry potato chips, expect to use the same oil eight times. You can even use it more than eight times if you replenish it with fresh oil whenever you fry something. 

However, storage is essential. Used oil can become rancid if you don’t store it properly. So, allow your cooking oil to cool down after frying, remove the batters or any impurity, and store in a container. 

Cover the container and store the oil away from sunlight. 

How to Store Used Cooking Oil?

You can store your used cooking oils in various ways. Store them at room temperature or in the refrigerator. 

When stored at room temperature, make sure you shut the container properly. The reason for this is oxygen. Allowing oxygen to enter the container can cause spoilage of the used oil. 

When stored in the refrigerator, you have to do the same thing. Pour the used oil into a container and shut properly. Why is this necessary? The reason is to prevent the used oil from picking unpleasant odor from the refrigerator. 

Note that some used oils can become cloudy when stored in a refrigerator. It is normal and not a sign of spoilage. The oil will return to its normal state when kept at room temperature. 

Conclusion

So can you fry fish and shrimp in the same oil? The answer is yes, but there’s more you need to understand. When using the same oil to fry fish and shrimp, fry the shrimp before the fish. 

The reason for this is simple. Fish imparts its flavor to the cooking oil. So, whatever you fry in cooking oil after frying fish will taste fishy. If you fry shrimp, your shrimp would taste fishy. 

So fry shrimp before frying your fish in the same cooking oil. Again, note that once used to fry fish, don’t use that oil to fry other things. But if you don’t mind eating shrimps, chips or foods tasting fishy, make sure you fry other foods before fish.