I have cooked many poppadums in my life, its not rocket science.
Just drop them in very hot oil and within seconds, they are ready. Shake well and serve.

Something went wrong when I did a load last night to accompany a curry.
Within 10 minutes, they had become soft.

I know they will become soft but usually after an hour or so and most if not all will be consumed by then.

I used sunflower oil as I always do.

Can anyone suggest what went wrong?

I have never had this happen before and have fried poppadums countless times.


I used two different makes as that was all that was available.

Pataks (Our favourite) and Sharwoods.

I have no idea. Were they in date?

Yes. Checked both boxes and they over a year left on their use by date.

This is very weird, I cannot think of an explanation.

It couldn't have been more than 10 minutes between frying the last one to serving the meal and they were all soft by that time.

Perhaps I was abducted by aliens and returned many hours later and I didn't notice!

Oil probably not hot enough

Oil was definitely hot enough.
Smoking away as usual.

I put mine in the microwave - less fat, so them in increments of 30 seconds.

Try the ones from an Indian shop and don't fry them in oil. Do them in the microwave or the hob. I usually do them in the micro wave.


Cooked without using oil
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3iDcLwxIvc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhKMjnMUJCU

Never thought of doing them in a microwave.
I will try that next time.

I have always fried them and they always turned out perfect, except this last time.

How long in a microwave and what power setting?

Individually or several at a time?

What poppadoms are you referring to?

I haven't seen the freezedried/dehydrated ones for years.

If they are already cooked then why bother with oil at all?

They are not cooked. I assume they are freeze dried?????

You buy them in packs of 10 (Pataks)
And packs of 8 (Sharwood)

Tesco sells them. Asda only sell the ready cooked ones. Don't know about other supermarkets.

I know you can buy ready cooked ones, but we find them to taste stale.
Nothing like a fresh crispy poppadum.

Arrggh, I haven't seen them in the supermarkets for years. Or the freezedried prawn crackers.
Would like to get some.

one at a time. Half a minute and then check. The longest it takes is 2 minutes. I buy the Lijjat ones from the Indian shop.

I suspect that poppadums from Indian shops taste better but I am not aware of any Indian shops near where I live, or are you referring to a bog standard corner shop run by Indians?

Yes most of them sell them.

I get my poppadoms online, they do TONS of different flavours and come out exactly like the ones you get from Indian restaurants. (spicy poppadoms anyone?) We are saving a fortune as they are around 89p (we get the padads ones which is the Northern Indian name for them) and you get loads in a pack. Not had a disaster with them yet

mmm.. poppadoms...
www.theasiancookshop.co.uk/

High, about two at a time, side by side, they'll slightly overlap - I go for 30 second blasts 2/3 times. I put them on kitchen roll too - microwaving saves on calories - I think the boxes of Pataks ones give the microwave instructions on the back of the box - but it works for any brand.

Their cash an carry is in Braintree not far from me. I will be paying a visit. They stock the wet/dry grinder featured in Rich Steins India. Thanks for the link.

I shall try my next batch both in a microwave and on a heavy cast iron flat plate on the hob and see what happens.