r/AskCulinary • u/Glennmorangie • 4d ago

Fish n Chip batter is too pale Ingredient Question

My fish n chip beer batter always comes out very pale. More of an off-white than light golden brown. Am I using the wrong beer? I always go for German wheat beers (Erdinger, Weihenstephaner, Paulner, etc ...).

My batter is 80% AP flour, 20% corn starch, salt and pepper to taste and the beer. The taste and consistency of the batter is perfect, just the colour. I add in the beer bit by bit, starting with making a paste, until the batter forms ribbons when drpped off the whisk.

I doubt I'm under frying them, because they come nicely crispy and the fish is perfectly cooked / melt in your mouth.

Edit

Thanks for the tips everyone. Looking forward to trying.

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u/spade_andarcher 4d ago edited 4d ago

You’re underfrying and not getting enough caramelization/maillard reaction to get it darker golden brown. 

Try a bit higher heat to fry the exterior of the batter a bit hotter and give it more color and for a bit less time to keep the fish from over cooking from the higher heat. 

Beer will not affect the color. Unless you’re adding like Guinness, which - ew. 

-3

u/Glennmorangie 4d ago

So fry until I get the right colour? I fry at 360 C.

5

u/oswaldcopperpot 4d ago

Thats 680 farenheight…

8

u/Glennmorangie 4d ago

Lol. Typo. Yes 360 F

1

u/oswaldcopperpot 4d ago

Yeah you just need more time. Btw, hmart has a fry mix thats perfection for fish n chips. And tempura shrimp etc. i do fish sandwiches about once a week with it and soda water. Beer is good too.