Best Deep Fryer [2019]

The T-fal FR8000 Deep Fryer was designed to make it as easy as possible to use as well as cleanup. It has a 2.6-pound basket capacity and holds up to 3.5 liters of oil. The basket has two height settings for cooking and draining the food before removing it for service.

Where this deep fryer really shines is in it’s “EZ Clean” system. This is a built-in drain and filtration system. When you are done frying you simply turn the dial to the drain setting. Once the unit cools down enough it will drain the oil, passing it through a special filter. The oil is then deposited into a sealable “Oil Box” for convenient storage.

The removable parts are also dishwasher safe. After the draining and filtering, you simply disassemble the components and place them in the dishwasher on its normal setting. You should also wipe down the immersion element.

Our Budget Pick goes to the Presto 05420 FryDaddy Electric Deep Fryer. Fry Daddy is backed by decades of popularity. It is positioned to be an inexpensive entry-level deep fryer for singles and people who just want to occasionally fry food at home. They maximize the 4 cup capacity in 1-quart of oil by not using a basket. You simply watch the food as it fries and extracts it with a slotted spoon.

It only uses 1,200 watts to power the built-in electric element. There is no control panel to speak of. Instead, the Fry Daddy is designed to merely hold the oil between 325 to 350-degrees Fahrenheit. The interior and exterior are coated in a heavy-duty nonstick material. There’s a fill line etched inside to prevent problems with overfilling.

When you’re done deep frying, you simply let the oil cool before securing the lid. You can then store it away in a cupboard until you want to use the Fry Daddy again.

The Masterbuilt 23011615 Butterball XL Electric Fryer is a large electric deep fryer and was originally designed to handle up to a 20-pound turkey. Yet it is capable of doing so much more.

Even after the holiday season has passed, you can still use it to fry up to 8 pieces of chicken, batches of doughnuts or any other big batch of fried food. You can also drain the oil and clean the porcelain coated pot to use it as a steamer. The basket also has a drain clip that holds the food securely over the oil to thoroughly drain.

Masterbuilt also designed it to be safe and easy to clean. There is a built-in drain with a pour spot to help remove the oil after it’s cooled.

The electric cord has a magnetic breakaway feature to prevent accidental oil spills. The control panel is removable and has a safety feature that prevents the unit from turning on until it is securely locked in place.

How We Picked

The deep fryer marketplace can be broken down into propane-fired and electric deep fryers. For the most part propane deep fryers are found in commercial kitchens or out on the patio being used as a turkey deep fryer. Turkey fryers have their own important niche, deserving of their own article review. For our purposes here, we’ll focus on electric deep fryers designed to spend their lives on a kitchen countertop.

There are several important factors that go into finding the deep fryer that is right for you. This includes the capacity of the food and oil, as well as electric consumption with an eye toward safety.

The first criteria to look at is the capacity. Obviously, you need to be able to fry enough food for the typical number of diners. This applies to the amount of food the basket can handle, as well as the amount of oil it has. We looked for units where the oil volume was reasonably paired with what the basket can handle. If a basket is overloaded the oil temperature can drop out of the ideal range for the food, which could cause the oil to saturate the food making it greasy.

Electric consumption matters in a few different ways. The higher the wattage, the faster the oil will preheat, which is a major factor when you are using a high capacity fryer. It also helps the oil to rebound when you place a large volume of food or you are frying frozen foods.

It’s also worth bearing in mind that most electric deep fryers are 1,500 Watts or more. As you start approaching 1,800 Watts it could exceed a 15-Amp circuit breaker. If you are interested in a specific unit that is rated for more than 1,700 Watts, you should double-check your breaker box to make sure the intended outlet is connected to a 20 Amp breaker.

Safety is also a very important factor in electric deep fryers. Breakaway power cords, lids, basket hangers, and seals all help reduce spills as well as the fire risk.

Cleanup can be important. Units that are easy to drain or come with some sort of filtration system makes cleanup easier. It also helps maintain a clean flavor in the oil.

T-fal FR8000 Deep Fryer With EZ Clean

Specs:

• 1,700 Watts
• 2.6-pound capacity basket
• 3.5-liter oil capacity
• Patented “EZ Clean” system
• Built-in oil filtration
• 2 position basket height
• Dishwasher safe removable components
• Lifetime limited warranty

Cleaning and oil filtration are common complaints with most deep fryers. T-fal addresses this with the innovative design and materials in their Model FR8000 deep fryer with their patented “EZ Clean” system.

The basket has a 2.6-pound capacity which pairs nicely with the 3.5 liters of oil. There are two height settings for the basket. The lowest setting holds the food securely in the oil. When you are done frying, you simply lift it to the higher position and let the food drain for a minute or two.

The internal electric heating element is rated to use 1700 Watts at its highest heat setting. This gives the deep fryer a temperature range from 300 to 375-degrees Fahrenheit.

What We Liked

The “EZ Clean” filtration system is very well designed. When you are done frying you simply turn the dial to filtration and leave the unit plugged in. Once the oil thoroughly cools down the machine will simply filter itself. The oil will then drain down to the “Oil Box.” At that point, you can disassemble all the key components and put them in the dishwasher.

You also shouldn’t overlook the fact that T-fal backs this deep fryer with a limited lifetime warranty.

Overall

This is a great deep fryer for the money. Being able to take the greasy hassle out of filtration and cleanup is a major feather in their cap. The 2.6-pound capacity is enough to cook for two or three people at one time. If you need to fry a larger meal, you can just use your oven as a warmer.

Hamilton Beach 35021 Cool-Touch Deep Fryer

Specs:

• 1,500 Watts
• 2.1-quart oil capacity
• 6 cup chrome-plated basket
• Cool-touch sides and handle
• Breakaway power cord
• 1-year warranty

The Hamilton Beach 35021 deep fryer was designed to prepare modest portions of food.

It has a 6-cup chrome plated basket with a cool-touch handle and a 2.1-quart oil tank. This is enough capacity to prepare food for two people with a rapid temperature rebound.

The submerged heating element is rated to consume 1,500 Watts. This gives it a temperature range from as low as 265-degrees up to 375-degrees Fahrenheit. It also has a breakaway cord to help prevent catastrophic spills.

The lid is removable for easy cleaning. There is also a convenient built-in window to let you monitor the food. This is handy if you are frying something like battered cheese curds, which can burn or burst open. The sides and handle have cool to the touch to prevent accidental burns.

What We Liked

The cool touch body and basket handle, as well as the breakaway power cord, speak to this unit’s overall safety. The little window in the lid is also a nice touch. It’s also backed by a 1-year warranty.

Overall

You get a lot for the money with the Hamilton Beach 35021 deep fryer. It’s especially safe and has a relatively compact footprint. Just bear in mind that it only has enough capacity to cook for up to two people at a time. So, it’s better for a single person or a couple rather than frying for a family.

Presto 05466 Stainless Steel Dual Basket Pro Deep Fryer

Specs:

• 1,800 Watts
• Dual elongated baskets
• Fries up to 12 cups of food
• 5-quart oil maximum capacity
• Analog controls with signal light
• Dishwasher safe removable parts
• 1-year warranty

If you need to deep fry for a family of more than three or you like to host dinner parties, then you are likely targeting something that can cook 10 or more cups of food at a time. The Presto dual basket deep fryer offers up to a 12-cup capacity to address these needs.

The elongated baskets can accommodate longer pieces of food like chicken drumsticks and battered fish fillets. Each basket can hold up to six cups of French fries or other items. It also allows you to make two different foods at the same time.

The fryer pot can hold up to 5 quarts of oil for minimal rebound time, and fast frying. The removable cover also helps to reduce spatters on the countertop.

The immersion heating elements consumes up to 1,800 Watts and has a breakaway magnetic power cord. It is operated via analog controls that include a temperature indicator light which tells you when the oil is properly preheated. The temperature control ranges from 275 to 375 degrees.

The baskets, enameled pot, cover, and base are all dishwasher safe. However, there is no filter system or drain.

What We Liked

The dual elongated basket is nice for times when you need to cook for multiple people, or you want to make longer pieces of food. The spatter-reducing cover is a nice touch. The dishwasher safe components also make cleanup a little easier.

Overall

The Presto Dual Basket deep fryer deserves to be on your list if you need to fry food for a family. The high capacity is certainly nice.

There are two things to bear in mind with this unit. The first is that it doesn’t have an easy way to drain or filter the oil. You will have to wait for it to cook down, then remove the enameled fry pot and carefully tip it into a filtered funnel connected to a sturdy jug.

The second thing to keep in mind is the 1,800 Watt power rating. This is likely too much for a 15 Amp circuit breaker, but still within the safe range for a 20 Amp breaker. So, double-check your breaker box before adding this unit to your shopping cart.

Cuisinart CDF-200 4-Quart Deep Fryer

Specs:

• 1,800 Watts
• 4-Quarts of oil
• 2.3-pound capacity basket
• Enamel coated container
• 1-year warranty

Cuisinart has long been a trusted name in home cooking appliances. Their CDF-200 deep fryer has much of their trusted quality materials and design. It’s made largely from stainless steel and is backed by a 1-year warranty.

The frying container itself can safely hold up to 4-quarts of oil. The basket is rated to handle up to 2.3 pounds of food. While this doesn’t equate to a large volume of food, the ratio difference between the high volume of food and the modest basket size means that this fryer does a good job of retaining heat energy. This makes it a good option for people who want to fry frozen foods without having them turn out overly greasy.

The immersion element is rated to use up to 1,800-Watts. This can be a little high for a 15 Amp circuit breaker. So, double-check your panel to make sure you are plugging it into a 20 Amp outlet. The power cord also has a magnetic breakaway.

The oil container has a basic pour spout that makes it easier to drain the oil once it cools. Just keep in mind that there is no type of filtration with this unit. You will need to either line a funnel or filter connected to a container.

What We Liked

The high volume of oil compared to the modest capacity of the basket makes this a good unit for quickly frying frozen foods like breaded jalapeno poppers, cheese curds, and thick pieces of fish. The reduced recovery time also helps form a crispy crust that keeps the melted interior from releasing into the oil.

Overall

The Cuisinart CDF-200 is made from quality materials and thoughtful design. It’s a good option for frozen foods, but the 2.3-pound basket capacity means it’s probably not a good choice if you need to fry food for more than two people.

DeLonghi D28313UXBK Roto Deep Fryer

Specs:

• 1-liter oil capacity
• 2.2-pound food capacity
• Angled rotating internal fry basket
• Easy clean and drain system
• Detachable magnetic power cord
• Condensation shield

The DeLonghi D28313UXBK Roto Deep Fryer brings some innovation to the fried food scene with an angled fry basket that gently rotates. This changes the dynamic between the oil and the food being cooked to maximize the crispiness.

However, this does sacrifice some of the potential capacity. This deep fryer is designed to hold a maximum of 1 liter of oil. The angled rotating basket can only support up to 2.2 pounds of food. If you exceed this weight it could potentially alter its ability to turn the basket.

The DeLonghi D28313UXBK has digital controls with an adjustable thermostat. The 1,500 Watt heating element gives this deep fryer a temperature range from 300 to 370 degrees Fahrenheit.

This deep fryer was also designed with safety in mind. The power cord is magnetic and easily detachable in case of an accident. The basket has a cool-touch handle, and the exterior is thoroughly insulated. There is also a condensation shield that prevents spatters of hot oil from accidentally affecting the power cord.

DeLonghi also paid attention to cleanup with this deep fryer. There are a built-in drain and filtration system. Once the oil cools you can simply drain it back into it’s intended container.

What We Liked

The bevy of safety and cleanup features on this deep fryer really does help it shine. The rotating fry basket is also a nice touch for maximizing the crispiness of things like French fries, breaded shrimp, and fish sticks.

Overall

This is a well-designed deep fryer with innovative cooking, cleaning, and safety in mind. Yet this does limit it in some places. Foods like doughnuts, jalapeno poppers, and cheese curds don’t necessarily do well with a rotating basket configuration like this. They tend to rely on a constant relationship with the surrounding oil to maintain their surface integrity.

The rotating basket also limits the total weight of the food you can fry at one time. It essentially means that this deep fryer is better suited to cook for one or perhaps two people.

Proctor Silex 35044 Professional-Style Deep Fryer

Specs:

• 1,800 Watts
• 5.2-quart oil capacity
• Large capacity fry basket
• Basket hanging hooks
• Easy pour spout
• Lid with viewing window
• 5-year warranty

Families and people who like to entertain generally need a large capacity deep fryer. To answer this niche need Proctor Silex offers their 35044 Professional-Style Deep Fryer.

It has a 5.2-quart oil capacity and a large fryer basket. Though Proctor Silex is a little vague about just how much the basket itself can hold. They claim up to 13 portions of French fries, which can be a little hard to gauge if you intend to push it to the max.

A closer look for their owner’s manual breaks down the food capacity by type. For example, it can hold:

• 36 ounces of French Fries
• 39 ounces of chicken nuggets
• 32 ounces of chicken wings
• 24 ounces of fish sticks

The fryer also has basket hanging hooks to help hold the food over the oil when it’s done cooking. This is a key feature for a large capacity fryer, as it can take two or three minutes for the oil from the upper-most items to drain out the bottom. If you were to simply take a full basket of French fries out and pour it onto a paper towel, it would likely exceed what the towel could hold, leaving you with a very greasy countertop!

Of course, the high capacity of oil also requires a large immersion heating element of 1,800 Watts. You should also keep in mind that it can take a little longer than you might expect for all that oil to heat up to the designated temperature. Keeping the lid closed during the preheating phase will help speed this phase of the process.

What We Liked

Obviously, the high oil and food capacity is the most appealing factor of this deep fryer. It also has several other thoughtful design elements, like the dual hanging basket, which lets you easily drain away excess oil before removing the food to a drain rack or paper towel.

Overall

If you need to fry up food for a family or a large group of people, the Proctor Silex offers 35044 should be near the top of your list. Just make sure that you have the 20 Amp circuit breaker to handle it.

It’s also worth keeping in mind that the “Easy Pour Spout” is a little bit of a marketing term. There is a little bit of physical manipulation required on your part to carefully pour the oil out.

Masterbuilt 23011615 Butterball XL Electric Fryer

Specs:

• 1650 Watts
• Deep fryer and steamer
• Designed for safety
• Analog controls
• Dual thermostatic control devices
• Wire mesh basket with an added double handle
• Porcelain-coated pot with drain

While Masterbuilt designed this electric deep fryer to handle up to a 20-pound turkey, you shouldn’t think that it’s just a one-trick pony. This high capacity fryer can also be used to fry just about anything. It’s great for family fish fries, making doughnuts, or even deep-frying an 8-piece fried chicken dinner. Masterbuilt also designed it to work as a steamer for things like seafood, crab boils, and crawfish boils.

It has analog controls with power and preheating light that tells you when the oil is ready. There are two thermostatic control devices attached to the 1,650 Watt immersion element, which helps prevent overheating the oil.

The porcelain-coated pot is removable and has a built-in drain valve and attachable pour spout to help dispense the high volume of oil after you are done frying. There is also a “Min-Max” line etched into the side to make sure you don’t accidentally overfill the pot.

It also comes with a wire mesh basket and an attachable two-handed carrying handle designed to bear up to 20 pounds. There’s also a drain clip on the side of the unit to suspend the basket over the oil. This helps to drain away excess oil back into the pot rather than letting it linger in the food.

The Masterbuilt Butterball Deep Fryer was designed with safety in mind. The unit will not activate unless the control panel is firmly seated and locked in place. The power cord also has a magnetic breakaway to help prevent a potentially catastrophic spill.

If you are going to use this high capacity fryer for making things like doughnuts and fried fish or chicken, you might also want to invest in heavy-duty fryer tools like Cuisipro Stainless Steel Tongs and RJ Legend Steel Spider Strainer With Handle

What We Liked

This is a rare opportunity to fry a turkey indoors without having invest in a propane-based outdoor turkey fryer. The fact that you can use it as a high capacity fryer or steamer for other foods gives it more versatility than a traditional outdoor turkey fryer.

Overall

If you are sick and tired of the annual holiday debate of how to cook the turkey, but you don’t want to play around with a giant outdoor burner, the Masterbuilt Butterball Deep Fryer deserves strong consideration. It was designed with safety and ease of use in mind.

Just keep in mind that it will take a while to fully preheat such a high volume of oil. You will also need to come up with some sort of funnel filter system when draining it.

Presto 05420 FryDaddy Electric Deep Fryer

Specs:

• 1,200 Watts
• 4 cup or 1-quart oil capacity
• 4 cup food capacity
• No fry basket
• Non-stick interior and exterior
• Maintains temperature without controls

The Fry Daddy has been popular for years with single people and campers who want to occasionally fry food without having to invest in a more expensive deep fryer. Presto designed the unit to hold up to 4 quarts of oil and cook 4 cups of French fries, without needing an immersion basket.

The 1,200 Watt built-in electric element doesn’t require any controls. It is designed to hold the oil between 325 to 350-degrees Fahrenheit. You can then use the slotted spoon to extract the food once it turns golden brown. There is a fill line etched in the non-stick interior to prevent accidental overfilling.

After you are done frying you simply let the unit cool down. Then you can place the rubber lid overtop to store the oil between frying sessions. You might want to physically drain and filter or completely replace the small volume of oil every 3 or 4 frying sessions.

What We Liked

This is a very affordable, utility deep fryer that will do a lot of what you want it to do. All at a price that won’t hurt your pocketbook.

Overall

There aren’t a lot of bells and whistles with this deep fryer. Yet it has stood the test of time. The fry daddy was one of the first deep fryers sold in the home appliance niche and decades later the design remains relatively unchanged.

If you need something with a little more capacity, they sell a nearly identical “GranPappy that holds 6 cups of oil and has a 1,500 Watt electric element.

Buyers Guide

Deep-fried foods are beloved by many both for their flavor, crispness, and convenience. Depending on your kitchen skills, a quality deep fryer can also be an outlet for delicious creativity. Kitchen appliance manufacturers have taken note of their long-standing popularity and they have done their best to flood the marketplace with quality units.

Taken in this light, there are a few important factors to keep in mind when shopping for the one that is best for you and your family.

Basket Capacity and Oil Volume

The size of the fry basket and the volume of oil that it will hold will be a factor in multiple ways. Obviously, the amount of food that the fry basket holds will be a major factor in just how much food you can fry at one time. With many foods, overcrowding the fry basket in a single cooking session can increase the cooking time, or cause two or more pieces of food to stick together.

In the case of frozen foods, overcrowding can cause the oil temperature to drop rapidly, causing spattering and other safety problems. It could also cause the food itself to absorb an unnecessary amount of extra oil.

This all speaks to the importance of oil volume. The more oil a deep fryer holds the more thermal energy it will hold when properly heated. When you put anything in a deep fryer, the oil and the food start to interact, which causes the temperature of the oil to decrease.

In the case of a small handful of fresh-cut French fries, the temperature might only drop a few degrees. In the case of something like a large handful of frozen jalapeno poppers being dropped into a smaller volume of hot oil, the temperature could drop quickly, and then it takes a long time for the oil to “Rebound.” The longer the rebound time, the more likely you are to end up with unappealingly greasy food.

Wattage

With most deep fryers the larger the volume of oil, the higher the wattage consumption will be. If your intended kitchen outlet is linked to a 20 Amp circuit breaker, it can handle up to a 2,400 Watt demand. This tends to be standard in most modern kitchens.

If you have an older home, your kitchen outlets might only be on a 15 Amp circuit breaker. This limits them to a maximum of 1,800 Watts. If you use a 1,700 Watt electric deep fryer on this circuit, the breaker might flip on you in the middle of the preheating or cooking session.

If you aren’t sure about the Amperage of your outlet, you can check your breaker panel. Most have the amperage stamped or etched into the surface. If you are really in love with a high-wattage deep fryer, a certified electrician can upgrade the circuit breaker for a nominal fee.

Temperature Settings and Display

While there are a few electric deep fryers with simple analog controls, most have digital control panels. This allows you to set the temperature you want for the food you intend to cook. The majority of the time this will be between 350 to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

While you don’t really want to go over 400, there are some dishes where 325 degrees or a little lower might be called for. A fryer that gives you an accurate reading of the oil temperature is also very important, for monitoring things like rebound as well as making sure the oil doesn’t become over-heated to its smoke point.

A Timer Is Helpful

With most foods, there is a basic equation of time and temperature that needs to be followed. Take the food out too early and it will be undercooked, and potentially extra greasy. Leave it in too long and it may become overly browned, burned or downright unpleasant.

With some deep fryers, you can visibly see when the food is perfectly golden brown. It just requires you to stand there and stare at it. These open-top fryers also tend to cause a lot of spatter. Hence most modern-day fryers have some type of cover to reduce countertop messes, which can also help with maintaining a consistent oil temperature.

The timer lets you set it to the recommended recipe or cook time. You can also watch it counting down to make sure that you have everything ready to land the food and serve it as it comes out.

An Oil Filter System

Most high smoke point cooking oils can be used multiple times before the oil needs to be completely changed. Yet as a hydrocarbon cooking oil tends to capture traces of a food’s flavor. Bits and pieces of coating and other food particles can also remain in the oil after you’re done frying. Left unchecked it can cause off-flavors from your previous meal to transfer to the next meal you deep fry.

In the past, your only option for preventing this was to let the oil completely cool down. Then you carefully line a large funnel with a paper towel, coffee filter, or a special oil filter. The old oil is poured through and the unwanted material is strained away or trapped in the filter.

This is laborious and no matter how steady-handed you are, chances are good you are going to have a very inconvenient spill at some point.

A deep fryer with some type of oil filtration system built into it spares you this headache. There are different variations to consider with charcoal filter systems being perhaps the best. Charcoal has microscopic nucleation sites on the surface which also helps to capture unpleasant flavors.

On the other side of the coin, it’s not a deal-breaker if a particular fryer doesn’t have a filtration system. Still, it would be nice if there was some sort of drainage system or attachable hose to make it easier to manually empty and filter.

There are also accessory cooking oil filters that can double as a storage container. They’re typically inexpensive and easy to use.

Removable Washable Components and Ease To Clean

Even the most well-designed deep fryer will be prone to leaving some stray spatters on the counter and in the air. People with glasses will even wear a brimmed hat when frying just to keep tiny airborne oil droplets from smearing their vision. A unit with a lid or sealing top will help with these problems, but you will likely still have to deal with some minor spatter marks.

Removable components that are washable or rated to be dishwasher safe will also help with cleanup and the deep fryer’s occasional need for a deep clean. If you are going to put components in a dishwasher with other dishes, you might first want to give them a light wash in warm soapy water, just to release some of the excess grease.

Simple Safety Features

These days most people appreciate a deep fryer with a sealable top or lid to reduce spatter problems. An indicator light that shows it is truly sealed is also a nice touch.

Skid-free feet are also very important for holding the deep fryer safely in place on your table or kitchen countertop. A basket with a cool-touch handle is also very helpful. Though you should be prepared to still need an oven mitt for long frying sessions.

A break-away cord is also a nice safety feature this usually comes in the form of a magnetic clasp that releases should the cord be tugged to accidentally tripped on. While this will momentarily cut out the power to the electric fryer, it also prevents what could be an otherwise catastrophic spill.

A Warranty Is A Statement Of Quality

Warranty protection is nice in case of damage during shipping or an error during the manufacturing process. Most quality deep fryers are built with durable enough materials than they will last beyond their warranty period. The thing that matters most is that a manufacturer who offers a warranty is essentially making a statement that they made sure to design and built it well.

At the same time, you also have to be mindful not to abuse the appliance beyond the warranty’s stipulation. Most warranties will be void if the damage caused to the unit came from improper use. This verbiage is often found deep in a sea of fine print.

While you are reading the warranty, you should also take the time to read through the owner’s manual from cover to cover. Different electric deep fryers have different specifications. Understanding them before you turn the unit on and following them throughout the life of the appliance will help keep you safe while also maximizing its lifespan.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Do I Need A Cool Touch Handle On The Fry Basket?

A: Technically, you can use a kitchen oven mitt to handle a hot fry basket handle. Some fry basket handles with a “Cool Touch” will still get pretty hot to handle during the course of a long cooking session. Silicone wrapped or coated handles tend to be the best when it comes to heat insulation.

Still, it’s handy to have an oven mitt nearby for a long frying session. Something that covers the back of your hand can also spare you a tiny burn from an accidental spatter.

Q: What Type Of Oil Should I Use?

A: When it comes to choosing an oil for your deep fryer, the first criteria is the smoke point. A low smoke point oil like olive oil might be technically seen as being healthier, yet it also will smoke, burn and potentially become a safety hazard at most deep fryer temperatures.

Peanut oil tends to be the go-to oil for most deep fryers, as it has a high smoke point. However, it costs a little more and might not always be the healthiest oil. Canola oil tends to also be very popular. It has a high smoke point, without being as costly per volume.

Buying oil at the grocery store in small volumes can also increase the price. There are some online vendors who sell quality deep fryer oil or peanut oil for a more reasonable price per volume.

Buying oil in a larger volume not only saves you some money in the long-term, but it also means that you will always have some on hand should you need to unexpectedly change it.

Q: Do I Need A Fire Extinguisher When I Deep Fry?

A: The hydrocarbon nature of oil gives it the potential to hold enormous amounts of heat energy. Most deep fryers are designed with safety in mind. Yet there are still times when the unexpected can happen. Trying to put water on a grease fire will only make things worse, and could cause a minor fire to spread into a major catastrophe.

Not to mention keeping a fire extinguisher in your kitchen might be handy for more than just taking care of an unexpected grease fire. Quality units are very affordable compared to the alternative.

Q: How Can I Keep Food Warm When Cooking Multiple Batches?

A: Even if you have a large capacity deep fryer there are bound to be times when you need to cook multiple batches for a large number of diners. There might also be a situation where you want to fry some chicken, then do a second batch of French fries.

Being able to keep batch one warm while batch two or three is cooking can be done in a few different ways. If the cooking time is relatively short, you might be able to simply make a pouch out of heavy-duty aluminum foil, that’s lined with two sheets of paper towel. The foil will help hold in the heat, while the paper towel wicks away any excess surface oil. With this option the clock is ticking, as steam trapped inside the pouch can gradually rob fried food of its pleasant crispiness.

If you are deep frying something that needs a longer cook time, you might want to use a warming rack set onto a half sheet pan. You can then set your oven to the warm setting and slide the pan in. This method will not only keep the food warm it will also help maintain the crispy exterior.

Q: Are Deep-Fried Foods Bad For Your Health?

A: This question comes up a lot in today’s health-conscious culture. There are certainly some popular deep-fried foods that have high-fat content or high levels of “Bad” cholesterol. However, deep fat frying in itself may not be as unhealthy as you think.

When the oil is heated to the proper temperature, the oil and the actual food itself rarely interact. Any sort of coating tends to harden and forms a boundary layer that is held in place by natural steam inside the food. Ultimately, any excess calories from the fat end up being trapped in the coating itself.

This is why things like overall wattage and oil volume matter. When the oil cools, the amount of steam being produced is decreased, and oil can then start to gradually saturate into the food.

Conclusion

Deep-fried foods have always been popular, and electric deep fryers have been on the market now for decades. It can help to take the time to think about how many people you will be frying for, and just how much work you want to put into the cleanup phase.

There are many units out there that have the capacity to let you cook for a family or even a large gathering of people. Some even have built-in draining and filter features to make cleanup easy.

Just keep an eye on the wattage requirements, and remember to check your breaker box. Even if you fall in love with a unit that is rated to need more than 1,700 Watts, upgrading a 15 Amp breaker to a 20 Amp cost very little. Just leave it to the hands of a qualified electrician.

Product Boxes: Last updated on 2021-03-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API