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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Air-fry or pan-fry the mini rotis to avoid turning them into tostadas. Alex Beggs, Bon Appétit, 12 Dec. 2024 Or take your leftover mashed potatoes, add a touch of wasabi, and shape them into small cakes, pan-fried until crispy. Amber Love Bond, Forbes, 25 Nov. 2024 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

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 30 Dec. 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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