Deep Fryers Buyers Guide

Information on Deep Fryers and How To Buy the Best Deep Fryers.

For perfect chips and other fried crispy food such as tempura and samosas, many people prefer to cook with a deep fryer.

The basic appliance is a metal container, usually stainless steel, which holds the oil, and contains a heating element and a basket into which the food is placed. The food is lowered into the oil to cook and the basket can then be taken out when the food is ready.

Deep fryers are generally safer than chip pans which have to be heated on the hob. In the case of chip pans it is easy for the oil to become overheated and catch fire, whereas deep fryers have a thermostat which keeps the oil at a constant temperature. Nonetheless deep fryers still have to be used with extreme caution due to the high temperature of the oil.

Deep Fryers Guide - Table of Contents

• 1 Deep Fryers Product Types
  • 1.1 Small or Compact Deep Fryers
  • 1.2 Standard Size Deep Fryers
  • 1.3 Larger Deep Fryers
• 2 Deep Fryers Product Advice
• 3 Deep Fryers Buying Tips
• 4 Popular Deep Fryers Brands

The main difference between domestic deep fryers is the size, and this will depend on how many people you are cooking for. There are two measures of capacity, the amount of oil, in litres, needed to fill the deep fryer; and the amount of food that can be cooked, in grams or kilograms.

Small or Compact Deep Fryers

The oil capacity is usually in the region of 1 to 1.2 litres and food capacity is up to 400g. The advantages are that these are smaller in size and easier to store in a cupboard, however they are not suitable for large families.

Standard Size Deep Fryers

Suitable for most families, the oil capacity is usually in the region of 1.5 to 2.5 litres, and food capacity ranges from 750g up to 1.3 kg.

There are also some types of deep fryer by De Longhi which use up to 50% less oil due to the rotating design, and one by Tefal which claims to use just one tablespoon of oil to cook chips for a family of four.

Larger Deep Fryers

The oil capacity is usually in the region of 2 - 4 litres, and food capacity can range from 800g up to 1.6 kg. They can handle a large quantity of food at one time, but they need a lot of oil and are physically much bigger. Many manufacturers refer to these as 'professional' models.

Apart from size and budget, the main consideration will be which features they offer. Standard features on a deep fryer are an on/off button and a light to show the user when it is on.

Additional features may include:

• Variable temperature control
• Pre-set functions
• Digital display
• Twin baskets which work independently for cooking different types of food
• Timer
• Oil indicator

Safety Features

Safety Features Info

Due to the high temperature of the oil, it is important to find a deep fryer with good safety features. These may include:

• Cool touch exterior and/or handles
• Overheating safety device
• Automatic shut-off if the heating element is not in place
• Viewing windows to monitor cooking progress without lifting the lid
• Non-slip feet
• Locking lid
• Handles for safe handling and moving

Ease of Cleaning

Ease of Cleaning Info

Check how easy it is to clean the deep fryer - some have removable parts such as lids and even heating elements which can be either washed by hand or cleaned in the dishwasher whereas others do not have any removable parts.

Some models can be completely de-assembled for easy cleaning and others have a hose feature for draining the oil out of the fryer.

Additionally, some models come with an oil filter and/or odour filter. These are either permanent or washable.

Other easy to clean features on some models include a removable oil box and automatic oil filtering to remove crumbs from the oil.