How to Test Frying Oil Temperature with a Wooden Spoon

I’ve always said that if I had to choose my last meal, it would be fried chicken. To me, there’s nothing better than biting into a crunchy, perfectly seasoned drumstick or wing. But achieving that crunch can be tricky. If the oil isn’t hot enough, the batter can get soggy. That’s why it’s important to test the oil’s temperature in your deep fryer or pan beforehand. 

One old-school method that you may have heard — or perhaps tried — is to add a few drops of water to the hot oil to see if it sizzles. But this simple trick can actually be hazardous, says Maricel Gentile, chef and owner of Maricel’s Kitchen in New Brunswick, New Jersey. “Do not drop water into hot oil to test it,” Gentile warns. “Water will splatter dangerously and can burn you or make a mess.” In fact, it could potentially cause a fire. Instead, the cooking instructor recommends a different foolproof method that she teaches to her students. 

Tovolo Olivewood Spoon

“Check if the oil is ready by dipping the end of a wooden spoon or chopstick into it,” says the author of Maricel’s Simply Asian Cookbook. “If you see steady bubbles forming around the wood, the oil is hot enough for frying.”

If you don’t already own a wooden spoon, this one from Tovolo is a wonderful option. Currently on sale for $9, it’s made from sturdy olivewood, a material preferred by chef Ed Cotton of New York City’s Leonetta and Jack & Charlie’s. “Olivewood utensils can take a licking,” says Cotton. “They are a very dense wood and never splinter, unlike some other woods.” 

Gentile says her spoon trick is one of her favorite lessons to pass along to pupils. “Every class, I demonstrate this to my students,” she says. Take a lesson from Gentile and save yourself some guesswork — and possibly a serious injury — by snagging Tovolo’s olivewood spoon for $9.

Shop More Wooden Spoons from Amazon: 

Open Kitchen by Williams Sonoma Beechwood Fat Spoon

Sur la Table Beechwood Spoon

Mainstays Bamboo Wooden Spoon

Cuisinart GreenGourmet Bamboo Wooden Spoon

Material The Wood Spoon

KitchenAid Universal Bamboo Wooden Spoon

At the time of publishing, the price was $9.