variants or less commonly pan fry or panfry
pan-fried also pan fried or panfried; pan-frying also pan frying or panfrying; pan-fries also pan fries or panfries

transitive verb

: to cook in a frying pan with a small amount of fat
Pan-fry the onions until golden-brown.
The fish fillets may be baked or pan-fried.

Examples of pan-fry in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Chris suggests speedier options like Kendra’s Crispy Pork Cutlets with Kimchi Slaw, which are pounded, breaded and pan-fried, for fast weeknight succulence. Bon Appétit, 30 Oct. 2024 Here, tender turkey breast is breaded with a rich Parmesan cheese mixture and pan-fried until golden brown. Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Oct. 2024 The chicken is pan-fried until golden, like a juicy and crispy schnitzel. Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 22 Oct. 2024 Tonight’s dinner is Japanese chicken patties wrapped in nori and pan-fried with a teriyaki glaze, bok choy from last night, and a new pot of rice. Bon Appétit, 18 Oct. 2024 While the chops are pan-fried, they’re first marinated overnight or all day in a savory-sweet mix of fish and oyster sauces, honey, garlic, shallot, lemongrass and five-spice powder. Tribune News Service, The Denver Post, 7 Oct. 2024 Simply rinse and season ¾ cup (half a can) of chickpeas with 1 tsp olive oil and a pinch of sea salt, then lightly pan-fry them for about five minutes until toasty. Lauren O'Connor, Ms, Health, 2 Sep. 2024 Veal cutlets are pan-fried in a butter, lemon and white wine sauce that's both rich and bright. Keith Pandolfi, The Enquirer, 13 Aug. 2024 Others simply see companies like much larger versions of the home cooks who might salt and roast carrots to concentrate their flavor, or who pan-fry gnocchi before dropping them in tomato sauce to improve their texture. Nicholas Florko, STAT, 31 July 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1916, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pan-fry was in 1916

Dictionary Entries Near pan-fry

Cite this Entry

“Pan-fry.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pan-fry. Accessed 7 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

panfry

verb
panfried; panfrying
: to cook in a frying pan with a small amount of fat
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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