Is Cooking Affected When Using Small Electrical Appliances at High Altitudes?
When browning meat or poultry in a small electrical appliance such as an electric skillet or wok, the temperature of the appliance will at first decrease as the cold food contacts the hot surface. To keep the temperature constant, watch the heat and adjust it if needed. To maintain or increase the cooking temperature of electric skillets and woks, keep the lid on and vents shut to hold heat and steam inside. Covering the skillet or wok with aluminum foil before placing the cover on also helps hold the heat inside and prevent loss of steam. Adding liquid periodically will increase the temperature and prevent the food from scorching and drying out. When deep-fat frying, the lower boiling point of water in foods requires lowering the temperature of the fat to prevent food from over browning on the outside while being under-cooked on the inside. The decrease varies according to the food fried, but a rough guide is to lower the frying temperature about 3 °F for every increase of 1,000 feet
