"Pan Fried"?

As opposed to an air fryer, maybe?

Or even opposed to deep-fried.

Then that would be shallow fry opposite of deep fry Absent

Pan fry tells you nothing, of course it’s in a pan not an egg cup the said pan could even be a deep one for all we know by the information given

I think 'pan-fried' became popular in restaurants in the 80s/90s when fine-dining was the thing.

Along with 'jus' - which is, essentially, just thin gravy, this foodie-pretentiousness allowed for smaller portions and higher prices.

Dickens you are right it’s just a popular use of words to sound superior and make the item sound more professional and above the average persons vocabulary
A load of guff in other words

And what about everything being “crispy” . Whatever happened to common or garden “crisp”?

absent

Or even opposed to deep-fried.

I think pan- fried predates air fryers and restaurants would be unlikely to use those.
Yes it’s pretentious and meant to sound like the antithesis of your greasy spoon, but as an alternative to deep- fried, it makes sense.
As Absent an experienced and published cookery writer has rightly pointed out.

dickens,, spot on, like the word artesan

I shall pan fry the sea bass this evening 😀

Like grass-fed beef. Something I definitely have a bit of a BEEF about myself !!

Neilspurgeon0

Like grass-fed beef. Something I definitely have a bit of a BEEF about myself !!

Grass-fed , ie in pastures where they can roam and graze, as opposed to living in barns eating cattle cake?
Like free range hens as opposed to battery.
It’s not all a load of flannel.

monami

dickens,, spot on, like the word artesan

I think it’s artisan not to be confused with Artesian wells etc

I always imagine it as one word, and the name of Siegfried's younger chef brother in a mercifully lost Wagner opera.

On the pedantic note, it is actually possible to fry suitable foodstuffs in a cast iron pot, or on an army spade over a camp fire, or on any suitable piece of metal over a fire.

Not that I suppose for a minute that the firms packaging food, or the restaurants selling it, have ever thought of the above methods of cooking.

AuntieE

On the pedantic note, it is actually possible to fry suitable foodstuffs in a cast iron pot, or on an army spade over a camp fire, or on any suitable piece of metal over a fire.

Not that I suppose for a minute that the firms packaging food, or the restaurants selling it, have ever thought of the above methods of cooking.

That made me smile

Its a way of gingering up the simple word 'fried' to make you think that the person ut the back with the frying pan trying to convince you they are doing something to your food that is more than just frying.

It isn't. the food is simply being fried. When ever I see it on the menu a deliberately read it to myself leaving the word 'pan' out.

I have always thought that pan-frying was a technique that used hardly any oil - just enough to prevent the food from sticking to the pan as opposed to other types of frying that half-immerse the food or immerse it completely in oil. Just done a wikipaedia check and it says more or less that - only enough oil to lubricate the pan - different from shallow-frying and deep-frying. So if your local restaurant specifies 'pan-fried' you're on to a winner - although all seed oils are to be avoided and olive shouldn't be heated - so that leaves only coconut. That's the question to ask the chef.

I'm going to airfry my dinner!

I heat olive oil 😲

But not so it smokes.

although all seed oils are to be avoided

That isn't true although it does do the rounds on social media.

www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/heart-matters-magazine/news/behind-the-headlines/seed-oils

In fact, many people believe now that fats such as butter, grass-fed dripping etc are better for you in moderation.

I add a bit of water to pan fry turkey steaks rather than oil or butter

Thank you Aunty for making me smile. I’ve had an awful day and you’ve cheered me up

I think pan fried generally means quickly.

I thought pan fried was introduced to dress up the “unhealthy” connotations of anything fried.
Could have been car-bonnet fried, but it isn’t hot enough often enough in the UK.