What type of cooking method involves submerging food in hot fat?

Deep frying is a cooking method that involves submerging food in hot fat, typically oil. This high-temperature method allows food to cook quickly and evenly while achieving a crispy exterior and moist interior. The process of deep frying involves heating oil to a specified temperature, usually between 350°F and 375°F (about 175°C to 190°C), which creates a rich flavor and delicious texture that is often sought after in dishes like fried chicken, doughnuts, and fries.

In this process, the heat from the oil cooks the food through convection, making it imperative to maintain the right temperature to ensure proper cooking and prevent the food from absorbing too much oil. The key characteristic that distinguishes deep frying from other cooking methods is the complete submersion of food in hot fat, which facilitates rapid moisture evaporation, leading to the formation of a crispy crust. Other cooking methods listed, such as boiling, steaming, and baking, do not involve immersion in fat and therefore do not achieve the same results in terms of texture and flavor.