176 deep fried treats beckon State Fair goers

Deep fryers are getting a good workout at the Wisconsin State Fair now through Aug. 16 as they turn out 176 deep fried menu items.

Deep fried concoctions are the creations of the mad scientists — err chefs — at individual tents, but there are themes that bind these foods together.

The classics

For all the crazy toppings and combinations, judging by how many tents are serving the likes of funnel cakes (11), corn dogs (12) and deep fried cheese (15). There’s something to be said for the old school.

Healthy, but not

Kids looking for a loophole in the “eat your fruits and vegetables” clause take heart. Check out deep fried apple wontons, artichokes, egg plant strips, bananas, green beans, mushrooms or pickles. There’s even a fried veggie combo with cauliflower, broccoli, zucchini, mushrooms and onion rings. That should count double

Eat all your veggies maybe you’ll get some deep fried candy or cookie dough for dessert.

You put what on a stick?

How many different deep fried treats can you put on a stick? If you guessed 43, you’re correct. What impresses me more than the number is how anyone figured out how to serve spaghetti and meatballs, s’mores, macaroni and cheese, PB&J, or stuffing with gravy on a stick. (Hmmm, I wonder how stuffing on a stick would go over at my Thanksgiving meal?)

You had me at bacon

There are 16 deep fried items that also incorporate bacon, including one that’s nothing more than cream cheese with bacon (though you can order your deep fried cream cheese without the bacon if you’re watching your weight).

Wrapping the bacon around something is a popular choice. There are bacon-wrapped pork belly, shrimp, tater tots and hot dogs.

The perfect fair food

Scoring one point for each of the following ingredients: deep fried, cheese, beer, bacon and a stick; the Loaded Twister Dog earns a 5.0. Factoring in bonus points for artistic interpretation, it’s a 10. This dawg is a spiral cut potato wrapped around an all beef hot dog, deep fried, topped with jalapeno pale ale Cheese Whiz, mayo and Sriracha ketchup, sprinkled with Water Street Brewery Oktoberfest Beer candied bacon bits, and served on a stick. Probably not my food of choice before boarding a ride named Freak Out, but otherwise ...

Rory Linnane contributed to this report.

Daniel Higgins writes about food and drink for Gannett Wisconsin Media, dphiggin@gannett.com, Twitter and Instagram @HigginsEats, facebook.com/gwmdanhiggins.