Why did my cheese balls fall apart?

Most commonly because the spinach wasn’t squeezed dry enough or the mixture was too wet. Squeeze the thawed spinach until no liquid drips, and be sure you’ve mixed the flour in fully so the filling binds.

Can I skip the breading?

You can skip the breadcrumb coating and bake the balls for a softer outer crust, but you’ll lose the signature crisp exterior that frying or breading provides.

How do I keep a steady frying temperature?

Use an instant-read or candy/fry thermometer and fry in small batches (6 to 8 at a time). Let the oil return to 350 degrees between batches to avoid oil temperature drop and excess oil absorption.