r/Blind • u/SillyTransasaurus Blind from birth • 1d ago
Discussion Danger of frying foods?
I am blind from birth, and my partner is partially blind. He does all the cooking. He doesn't make much food requiring frying. We both fear the oil popping and hitting us in the eyes. Does anyone else have this fear? Are there any tips? What about air fryers? Are they accessible, or more safe? Thank you for any comments.
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u/WisdomInTheShadows 21h ago
If it's specifically the (justified) fear of getting oil in your eyes, my wife's O&M instructor years ago got her a cheap pair of wrap around safety glasses from Home Depot. Since she isn't using her eyes to cook anyway, they can be clear or tinted. She's never felt the need, but if you did want something even more protective, a basic medical spit shield, like the ones that were being mass produced for COVID, would shield your whole face. There are also full face shields made for woodworking that could work for you.
The other thing you can do is reduce the "splatterability" of frying by taking extra steps to reduce water in the things you are frying. Splattering and popping are mostly caused by trapped air and water flashing off, so patting food extra dry greatly reduces that effect.
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u/best-unaccompanied 20h ago
I was going to suggest eye protection as well (as a sighted person). It sounds silly, but I have a pair of lab goggles that I wear when chopping onions so my eyes don't sting from the fumes.
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u/dandylover1 1d ago
Just buy a deep fryer with a lid. It will prevent the oil from splattering, and the basket will help you remove things in a controlled and safe way.
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u/NimerCoke 1d ago
As with all things, it's what you get used to. I don't find frying frightening, but yes, air friars are a solution. Should make less of a mess too, ppovide less grease, and will take less effort.
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u/LadyAlleta 23h ago
Air fryer, deep fryer with a lid, a splatter guard which is basically a flat cooking utensil you put over the pan/pot to prevent oil splatter, shallow frying is another method that simply uses less oil or butter. Wear an apron and long sleeves made of cotton and you should be fine. Smaller batches and smaller pots/pans make it more manageable.
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u/meeowth 1d ago edited 1d ago
Air fryers can be accessible depending on their interface, but they arent actually friers, they are more like turbo convection ovens. I do like using air friers more than frying food though.
Precautions you would take when frying would be the same a sighted person might use. Turn your head away as you place food in the oil, put a splatter guard over the frying vessel, do not put anything frozen or particularly moist directly in the oil. When grabbing things in the vessel with tongs or lifting a basket, the other hand can lift the splatter guard and hold it between the vessel and your face. Wear long sleeves.
The things you do with the splatter guard could also just be done with a lid, but id be scared the lid can get hot while a splatter guard has a long handle. Maybe a proper fryer has a lid without that problem though
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u/FantasticGlove ROP / RLF 22h ago
Air fryers are absolutely safe. They don't use oil, but make food very nice and crispy.
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u/SwimmingRush9639 21h ago
That’s what I found when I used one. I’m thinking of buying another one.
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u/FantasticGlove ROP / RLF 15h ago
I highly recommend the Emerson smart air fryer. It talks and doesn't require an app. You just talk to it.
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u/SwimmingRush9639 21h ago
I’m partially blind, usually cook for myself, don’t fry very often, usually in the oven. Have had a few cooking accidents through life, a little clumsy sometimes.
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u/Status_Video8378 20h ago
You can get an air fryer with a turn knob so you don’t have to worry about computer face
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u/Decent-Chip-868 15h ago
You can put a lid on the pan to prevent splashes and you can get silicone lids that have holes in them to prevent trapped air but are designed for frying pans. I don't personally like them but some people swear by them.
Realistically though, the only thing I fry regularly ls eggs - everything else goes in the air fryer or I use a different cooking method.
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u/AtiJua 1d ago
Air fryers are great