Fried food is a common dietary staple in the West. In the US, up to 36 percent of the population eats fast food—much of which is deep-fried—every single day. And in the UK, where a traditional English breakfast is literally called a “fry-up”—eating fried food is a daily or weekly occurrence for many. But while frying can arguably improve the flavor and texture of food, it’s not the healthiest way to cook. So, how often can you eat fried foods without damaging your health? We spoke to two dietitians, Destini Moody, RDN, CSSD, LD of Garage Gym Reviews, and Kelsey Costa, MS, RDN, Science Communications Officer at Examine, to find out the answer to that million-dollar question.
Is fried food always unhealthy?
The truth is, there is no straightforward answer to this question, it just depends. It depends on how the food is fried, what type of food is fried, what oil it’s…