Batter Up?

OK, it seems that most everyone agrees here that Panko is the way to go on breading for frying your fish/abs and veg's.

A lot of folks hailed ChuckE's Tempura 'n Panko as the rocking stuff. My question is: what are the best brands of Panko and Tempura batter to use - some stores have a LOT of choices.....

I've used Dynasty and Progresso - I preferred the plain Progresso and added my own seasonings.  Call out your favorites!


Chuck, if you see this, please post your faves, nobody else wants to weigh-in and post the wrong one!

Not sure they are all pretty good. I personally use instaint potato mix the pouder flake stuff works well.

I use bisquick and make a beer batter. 

I use bisquick and make a beer batter. 

Most of the time I don't have a prepared mix around, so I use fllour, baking powder (or is it soda...I  use a  recipe from the good housekeeping cookbook. Manly, eh?) and whatever spices i think sound good, plus enough beer to get the batter to the right consistency.
I like Newcastle or Deschutes porter as the beer, but I have to make the batter as soon as the beer enters the house, otherwise it doesn't last long enough to make the recipe!
As a final flourish the panko goes over the batter-this I learned watching ChuckE

I use bisquick and make a beer batter. 

Piscean,

do you do a full on deep fry submerged in oil (like in a deep fryer), or do you do in cast iron pan with a little bit of oil?

i had not so great results with the panko in the deep fryer.

Most of the time I don't have a prepared mix around, so I use fllour, baking powder (or is it soda...I  use a  recipe from the good housekeeping cookbook. Manly, eh?) and whatever spices i think sound good, plus enough beer to get the batter to the right consistency.
I like Newcastle or Deschutes porter as the beer, but I have to make the batter as soon as the beer enters the house, otherwise it doesn't last long enough to make the recipe!
As a final flourish the panko goes over the batter-this I learned watching ChuckE

If you get not good results then your oil is not hot enough. My first batch goes in around 360. You also have to avoid overloading as it will bring the temp down in your oil big time. Let the oild recover to at least 350 before the next batch. I usually like to let it get back to 360 though.

yeah i think this is what happened bill, thanks!

Yeah, the oil temp is critical.
Porky-I don't have an awesome fryer like Bill or ChuckE, so you guessed how I do it-it a deep stockpot with about 3" of oil, sometimes less.
Lately I've been trying to cook healthy so I've been baking the fish with an egg wash, then the crumbs. My wife prefers it this way to the oiliness of the fried fish. A few times a year I just have to fry it though.

Not sure if you have Pride of the West down there in Cali or not. 

It is the bomb diggity up here in Oregon/Washington.  Lots of flavor that brings out the BAMMM in any white fish like rock fish, ling, hali, or sturgeon.   

During our Oregon Rock Fish Classic potluck, Steelheadr, CBY and I mixed up some crazy batter that rocked and Zee did the frying!   Pride of the west, mixed with water (can use beer too), dump in some Panko, and then fry.  Once out of the fryer, sprinkle Mrs. Dash on the hot pieces. 
 

Panko mixed with Italian seasoned bread crumbs is good.  I like the bread crumbs by themselves for ab.  Little deep fryers like the "Fry Daddy" or others in that product line are great because they hold that 350 pretty well and have a light that tells you when it's back up to temp.  If you don't overload and you always make sure to have it up to temp you won't have much oil in the final product at all. 

All this talk about fried fish is making me hungry 
My fav. is to use a beer batter than coat with finley crushed corn flakes cerial.
Comes out sweet and crunchy

Not sure if you have Pride of the West down there in Cali or not. 

It is the bomb diggity up here in Oregon/Washington.  Lots of flavor that brings out the BAMMM in any white fish like rock fish, ling, hali, or sturgeon.   

During our Oregon Rock Fish Classic potluck, Steelheadr, CBY and I mixed up some crazy batter that rocked and Zee did the frying!   Pride of the west, mixed with water (can use beer too), dump in some Panko, and then fry.  Once out of the fryer, sprinkle Mrs. Dash on the hot pieces. 
 

that batter sounds great... im gonna search for some and give it a shot...