Deep-frying is a quick, efficient method for cooking frozen foods — just look at some our favorites — French fries, fish sticks, chicken nuggets, etc. It ensures the inner parts of the food reach the appropriate temperatures and browns the outside to a delicious crispness. Additionally, it's also pretty easy to deep-fry frozen foods and doesn't require much cooking experience. Since you are dealing with extremely hot oil, however, it is critical that you remain vigilant when deep-frying and it is recommended that you wear an apron and keep a splatter guard over the fryer while the food is cooking.
If you're frying in a skillet, fill it about 3 inches deep, but if you're using a deep-fryer make sure and follow the manufacturer's guide for how much oil to use.
Heat the oil to 350 or 360 degrees Fahrenheit. Your deep-fryer may have a temperature setting, but if it doesn't or you are using a skillet, a cooking thermometer can help you determine if the oil is hot enough.
Now for the food. Shake any excess ice from the frozen food. Alternatively, lay it out on a paper towel and blot to get rid of ice.
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Place your food into the hot oil. The oil may bubble and pop out of the fryer, so use caution. Additionally, fry only moderate amounts of frozen food at a time. Too much cold can lower the temperature of the oil and foods won't cook properly.
Allow the food to deep-fry until thoroughly cooked. Usually the product manufacturer will provide cooking times for deep-frying on the package, but generally 2 to 3 minutes is sufficient for chicken nuggets, 4 to 5 minutes for fish sticks and 6 to 8 minutes for french fries. If you're frying something else, check its packaging for instructions.
Remove the cooked food from the oil to a plate covered with paper towels to absorb any excess oil and serve.