diff --git a/code/modules/cooking/cooking_container.dm b/code/modules/cooking/cooking_container.dm
index 372d519d1ce..33d07d986c4 100644
--- a/code/modules/cooking/cooking_container.dm
+++ b/code/modules/cooking/cooking_container.dm
@@ -136,7 +136,15 @@
 		return
 
 	if(reaction_status == PCWJ_NO_STEPS && !tracker.recipe_started)
-		to_chat(user, "<span class='notice'>You don't know what you'd begin to make with this.</span>")
+		if(!ismob(user))
+			return
+
+		if(tracker.step_reaction_message)
+			to_chat(user, "<span class='notice'>[tracker.step_reaction_message]</span>")
+			tracker.step_reaction_message = null
+		else
+			to_chat(user, "<span class='notice'>You don't know what you'd begin to make with this.</span>")
+
 		return
 
 	switch(reaction_status)
diff --git a/code/modules/cooking/recipes/midway_recipes.dm b/code/modules/cooking/recipes/midway_recipes.dm
index ad124576c81..0d4d373c4a8 100644
--- a/code/modules/cooking/recipes/midway_recipes.dm
+++ b/code/modules/cooking/recipes/midway_recipes.dm
@@ -70,12 +70,16 @@
 	if(!istype(food_item))
 		return PCWJ_CHECK_INVALID
 
+	if("deep fried" in food_item.cooktype)
+		tracker.step_reaction_message = "That is already deep-fried!"
+		return PCWJ_CHECK_INVALID
+
 	// check to see if this is something that belongs to another deep fryer
 	// recipe with only one item
 	for(var/datum/cooking/recipe/recipe in GLOB.pcwj_recipe_dictionary[/obj/item/reagent_containers/cooking/deep_basket])
 		if(length(recipe.steps) == 2) // One add step and one deep fry step
 			var/datum/cooking/recipe_step/add_item/add_item_step = recipe.steps[1]
-			if(istype(add_item_step) && add_item_step.check_conditions_met(added_item, tracker) == PCWJ_CHECK_VALID)
+			if(istype(add_item_step) && (src != add_item_step) && add_item_step.check_conditions_met(added_item, tracker) == PCWJ_CHECK_VALID)
 				return PCWJ_CHECK_INVALID
 
 	return PCWJ_CHECK_VALID
@@ -83,7 +87,7 @@
 /datum/cooking/recipe/deep_fried_anything
 	container_type = /obj/item/reagent_containers/cooking/deep_basket
 	steps = list(
-		PCWJ_ADD_ITEM(/obj/item/food),
+		new /datum/cooking/recipe_step/add_item/deep_fried_anything(),
 		PCWJ_USE_DEEP_FRYER(10 SECONDS),
 	)
 	appear_in_default_catalog = FALSE
@@ -100,6 +104,7 @@
 	result.color = "#FFAD33"
 	result.name = "deep-fried [food_item.name]"
 	result.desc = "It has been deep-fried."
+	result.cooktype["deep fried"] = TRUE
 	food_item.reagents.trans_to(result, food_item.reagents.total_volume)
 	qdel(food_item)
 
diff --git a/code/modules/cooking/steps/recipe_step.dm b/code/modules/cooking/steps/recipe_step.dm
index 79daf5ba2fa..3cde37ae34d 100644
--- a/code/modules/cooking/steps/recipe_step.dm
+++ b/code/modules/cooking/steps/recipe_step.dm
@@ -10,6 +10,8 @@ RESTRICT_TYPE(/datum/cooking/recipe_step)
 
 /datum/cooking/recipe_step/proc/check_conditions_met(obj/used_item, datum/cooking/recipe_tracker/tracker)
 	SHOULD_CALL_PARENT(FALSE)
+	SHOULD_BE_PURE(TRUE)
+
 	return PCWJ_CHECK_VALID
 
 /// Attempt to satisfy the requirements of this step with the object *used_item*