14 Horrifying Fried Foods at State Fairs
Updated: Jan. 13, 2023Craving a heart attack? Check out the fare at your local State Fair.
The best fair finds
I recently lost 20 pounds and thought I’d celebrate by gaining it all back. And I know exactly how I’ll do it: by dining out at upcoming State and County Fairs, where everything, it seems, is simply half-cooked until it gets chucked in a deep fryer. For more fair fun, check out the best state fair or festival in each state.
Fried jellybeans
Do you know what the problem with jellybeans is? They’re not bathed in a frothy tub of scrumptious fat. Problem solved at the Massachusetts State Fair (September 14 – 30).
Fried meatballs
For those of us who prefer ethnic fare, there’s the deep-fried Spaghetti and Meatballs on a Stick at the Minnesota State Fair (August 23 – September 3). While you’re at the fair, you’ll want to understand how these favorite carnival games are rigged.
Fried Snickers
If you like your fat sweet, the good people at the Florida State Fair (February 7-18, 2019) will happily throw a Snickers bar into the deep fryer for you.
Fried burgers
If you’re not a sweets person, California’s Orange County Fair (July 13 – August 12) deep-fries White Castle Burgers—bun and all.
Fried beer
How does one deep-fry beer, exactly? Ask the folks at the Texas State Fair (September 28 – October 21). They insert the drink into a pocket of pretzel-like dough and fry it for 20 seconds. The quick cook time means the food keeps its alcohol content. You’ll want to add these 10 weird food festivals to your bucket list.
Fried Coca-Cola
Similar to beer, you can also get a refreshing Coca-Cola popped in the frier. For this confection, chef’s create a dough batter made of normal dough ingredients, plus Coca-Cola. Then, they fry it.
Fried latte
Deep-fried lattes are also sold at the Texas State Fair. Hey, sometimes you need a caffeine boost to make your way through all that food. These six tips will ensure you always win the carnival games at the fair.
Fried pumpkin pie
Got a pumpkin pie sitting around? Hey, that’s fryin’ food at the North Carolina State Fair (October 11-21).
Fried salad
You may have reached the heretical conclusion that all this grease may be the stuff of Dr. Oz’s nightmares. If that’s the case, take a trip back to the Texas State Fair and dig into a Fried Club Salad. You’re mostly eating it for the bacon and chicken, but there have been sightings of lettuce, tomatoes, and carrots. Deeply fried, of course. These are the 8 yummiest, nutritionist-approved things to eat at state fairs.
