While they might not be the healthiest snack on the planet, hot, crispy, deep-fried onion rings are certainly one of the most delicious side dishes known to man. Although they are traditionally served as an accompaniment to classic American foods such as hot dogs and hamburgers, they can also be enjoyed as a hearty appetizer or even, god-forbid, as a main course. And you don't have to rush out to your local sports bar or fast food restaurant either.

The batter used in this video is slightly different from the recipe listed below, but it's a nice demonstration of the techniques involved in preparing onion rings.

Ingredients for Onion Rings 2 large sweet onions 1/3 cup flour 1/2 cup milk 1/2 tsp. baking powder 1 qt. vegetable oil 1 egg Salt & pepper

Equipment for Onion Rings 2 mixing bowls Sharp cutting knife Deep frying pan or deep fryer Deep fry thermometer Slotted spoon Cutting board Paper towels

• Before you start making your onion rings, you'll want to preheat your oil so that it is hot enough when you are ready to start deep frying.
  1. Pour the vegetable oil into your frying pan or deep fryer.
  2. Heat up the oil to about 375 degrees (usually medium heat on most stoves).
  3. Use your deep fry thermometer to check the temperature of the oil.

• The batter is what gives the onions their crunchy, crispy texture and is an important part of almost every deep fried food. When you are done with the batter it should have a smooth, lump free texture. Here's how to make the batter:
  1. Combine all of your dry ingredients (flour, baking powder, salt & pepper) together in a large mixing bowl and stir them together.
  2. In another mixing bowl, combine the milk and egg and whip them together thoroughly.
  3. Combine the dry and wet ingredients together in one bowl and stir them together until the batter has a smooth texture.
  4. Set aside until ready to use.

• Now that we've got our oil and our batter ready to go, it's time to prepare the onions for deep frying. We'll start by getting cutting the onions and then move on to the deep frying process.
  1. Rinse your onions off in the sink and place them on the cutting board.
  2. Cut a 1/4 inch off the top and bottom of each onion.
  3. Take the rest of the onion and cut it into 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick slices.
  4. Separate each slice into individual rings.
  5. Take one of your onion rings and submerge it in the batter.
  6. Pull it out of the batter using your slotted spoon and place it in the heated oil.
  7. Let it fry until it starts to achieve a golden brown color. Flip it once to make sure it cooks evenly on both sides.
  8. When it's as crispy as you'd like it, remove it from the oil and place it on a folded paper towl so that the excess oil can drain off.
  9. Repeat this process for each of your onion rings. While you can fry a few at a time, make sure not to do too many at once or they'll end up getting stuck together.
  10. Place your finished onion rings on a plate and serve!