Stack Of Onion Rings Food

THE FOOD LAB'S FOOLPROOF ONION RINGS RECIPE

Steps:

• Separate the onion rounds into individual rings. Place in a gallon-sized zipper-lock freezer bag and put them in the freezer until completely frozen, at least 1 hour (they can stay in the freezer for up to 1 month).
• When ready to fry, remove the onion rings from the freezer bag, transfer to a bowl, and thaw under tepid running water. Transfer to a rimmed baking sheet lined with a clean kitchen towel or several layers of paper towels and dry the rings thoroughly. Carefully peel off the inner papery membrane from each ring and discard (the rings will be very floppy). Set aside.
• Preheat the oil to 375°F in a large wok or a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Combine the flour, cornstarch, baking powder, baking soda, and paprika in a medium bowl and whisk together. Combine the beer and vodka in a small bowl.
• Slowly add the beer mixture to the flour mixture, whisking constantly until the batter has texture of thick paint (you may not need all of the beer). The batter should leave a trail if you drip it back into the bowl off the whisk. Do not overmix; a few small lumps are OK. Dip one onion ring in the batter, making sure that all surfaces are coated, lift it out, letting the excess batter drip off, and add it to the hot oil by slowly lowering it in with your fingers until just one side is sticking out, then dropping it in. Repeat until half of the rings are in the oil. Fry, flipping the rings halfway through cooking, until they are deep golden brown, about 4 minutes. Transfer the rings to a large mixing bowl lined with paper towels and toss while sprinkling salt over them. The fried rings can be placed on a rack on a rimmed baking sheet and kept hot in a 200°F oven while you fry the remaining rings. Serve the rings immediately.

ONION STRINGS

Steps:

• Begin by peeling the onions and slicing very thinly, use a mandoline slicer if you can. Separate the onion slices and place them in a shallow baking dish and pour the buttermilk over the top. Press the onions down so they're submerged as much as possible and let them soak on the counter for at least an hour. If necessary, stir them around a bit halfway through the soaking process.
• In a bowl, combine the flour, salt, black pepper and cayenne, and set aside.
• Pour 1 to 2 quarts canola oil in a pot or Dutch oven. Heat to 375 degrees F, or until a pinch of flour sizzles when sprinkled over the pot.
• Using tongs, remove a handful of onions from the buttermilk and immediately dunk into the flour mixture. Coat the onions in the flour mixture, and then tap them on the inside of the bowl to shake off the excess.
• Plunge the onions in the hot oil. With a spoon, fiddle with them a bit just to break them up, and watch them! They'll be ready to remove from the oil in no time flat.
• When they're golden brown (this should take just a minute or two), remove them from the oil and place on a paper towel-lined plate.
• Repeat with the remaining onion slices and serve immediately.
• Pile these on top of a juicy grilled hamburger - to die for!

OLD FASHIONED ONION RINGS

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a deep-fryer to 365 degrees F (185 degrees C).
• Separate the onion slices into rings, and set aside. In a small bowl, stir together the flour, baking powder and salt.
• Dip the onion slices into the flour mixture until they are all coated; set aside. Whisk the egg and milk into the flour mixture using a fork. Dip the floured rings into the batter to coat, then place on a wire rack to drain until the batter stops dripping. The wire rack may be placed over a sheet of aluminum foil for easier clean up. Spread the bread crumbs out on a plate or shallow dish. Place rings one at a time into the crumbs, and scoop the crumbs up over the ring to coat. Give it a hard tap as you remove it from the crumbs. The coating should cling very well. Repeat with remaining rings.
• Deep fry the rings a few at a time for 2 to 3 minutes, or until golden brown. Remove to paper towels to drain. Season with seasoning salt, and serve.

STEAKHOUSE ONION RINGS

Steps:

• Soak the onion rings in the milk mixture for 30 minutes. Toss each ring in the flour mixture; repeat, dipping rings in milk and flour again. Fry in the hot oil until golden, about 5 minutes. Transfer to paper towels; season with salt.

HAYSTACK ONIONS

Steps:

• Make egg wash by mixing egg and milk.
• Put sliced onions in a bowl and pour egg wash over them. Turn onion slices so that they're all thoroughly coated, then pour onions into a colander to drain.
• Put flour and seasoning salt in a plastic zip-top bag. Add onions and shake to coat.
• Slowly add onions to hot cooking oil in batches. They fry up quickly, so make sure not to burn them.
• My DH says these are so good they're "no ketchup needed." I like eating them with ranch dressing.