Fritters

Pieces of food — e.g. fruits, meat or fish — coated in batter and deep-fried. The batter sets on contact with hot oil to form a crisp, golden coating that seals in moisture, with leavened or tempura-style batters giving lighter textures. Quality depends on batter formulation, oil temperature (typically 170–190°C) and frying time; under-heated oil produces greasy, soggy coatings, while overheated oil burns the exterior before the interior cooks. Fritters are served hot across many cuisines, from apple fritters to fish and vegetable pakora-style snacks.