Does Blotting Fried Snacks with a Tissue Before Eating Reduce Saturated Fat?

Despite their appealing taste and crispy texture, fried snacks should be eaten with caution because they contain high levels of saturated fat. This is a particular concern for people struggling with acne.

Many people are accustomed to blotting fried snacks with a tissue to reduce the oil before eating them. The habit has attracted the attention of Dr Dion Haryadi.

Dr Dion explained that blotting with a tissue can indeed remove some of the oil left on a food’s outer surface. He made the remarks in a post on his Instagram account, @dionharyadi.

“This is one trick that can be used to reduce the oil content of fried foods,” Dr Dion said, as quoted by detikFood.

He explained that cooking oil used repeatedly at high temperatures undergoes advanced oxidation. Oxidised oil is inflammatory and may increase chronic inflammation in the body.

The potential effects are wide-ranging, from a greater risk of heart disease and damage to blood vessels to a worsening blood cholesterol profile. It may also stimulate the sebaceous glands to produce excess sebum, which can contribute to acne.

However, acne is multifactorial. Other contributing factors include skin hygiene, daily routines, weather conditions, excessive consumption of added sugar, dairy products and insufficient intake of foods high in antioxidants.

Dr Dion noted that deep-frying causes hot oil to be absorbed throughout the food’s structure. Blotting the outside with a tissue therefore cannot remove all the oil. “Even if we keep blotting the outside like this, it still won’t all come off,” he stressed.

Even so, the simple trick can still benefit fans of fried food. As well as removing some residual oil, it can reduce the number of calories consumed.

Dr Dion said the most important thing is to eat fried foods sensibly. He advised against making them part of the daily menu in the interests of long-term health.