The Best Deep Fryers to Simplify Your Life
Curb your comfort food cravings with the best deep fryers.
Do you love the crisp taste of freshly fried food but wish it could be easier to make? As delicious as deep-fried food is, making it can be laborious when you’re using a pot to do the hard work. A deep fryer is safer and more reliable, and it can cook almost anything from appetizers to vegetables. Read this guide to find the best deep fryer for your comfort food needs.
Best Deep Fryers for Comfort Food
Correct Capacity
To select the best deep fryer, you should consider a capacity appropriate for your frying needs. Decide if you will be frying snacks or larger meals and just how frequently you plan to do so.
Small Deep Fryer: If you regularly cook for only two people, a small deep fryer with a capacity under 2L will be the best deep fryer for you. A small deep fryer is more cost-effective and easy to store, particularly if you have space constraints or won’t be using it often. Note that if you plan to cook a large meal in a small deep fryer, you will need to cook in multiple batches.
Medium Deep Fryer: A medium deep fryer has a capacity of 2–5L and is great for larger families who frequently enjoy fried food. Filling a small fryer with too much food risks overcrowding (which lowers the oil temperature and can result in uneven or burnt cooking), so if you plan to fry bigger amounts of food, a medium deep fryer will be the best deep fryer for you. A medium deep fryer will take up more space, so ensure that you measure your kitchen before purchasing.
Large Deep Fryer: A large (5–8L) deep fryer is ideal for frequent entertainers who need to make sizable quantities of food in a short amount of time. A large deep fryer will cost more and be difficult to move around, so be sure this investment is worthwhile for you.
Extra-Large Deep Fryer: A deep fryer with a capacity over 8L is more likely to be suitable for businesses or deep fryers for industrial use. They can handle larger food items and portions, making them ideal for restaurants or bars.
A deep fryer with adjustable temperature allows you to choose the perfect setting for frying your food and maintain the temperature, ensuring a more even fry. When deep-frying, the oil needs to reach between 350° and 375° F in order to properly cook your food. This feature allows you to customize the temperature according to your frying needs. These deep fryers often have a helpful digital display, so you can track (and adjust) the oil's temperature as needed.
Deep-frying foods can be dangerous, so you will want to ensure that you have safety features. The best deep fryer for safety will include an automatic shutoff. Oil is extremely combustible, particularly at dangerously high temperatures. A deep fryer with an automatic shutoff will turn off the heat in the event that the oil in the deep fryer reaches an unsafe temperature, reducing the risk of injury and fire. Always make sure that you read the instruction manual carefully prior to using your appliance.
Once you’ve enjoyed the fruits of your labor, you will need to deal with the aftermath – draining the oil from the fryer. Oil can be difficult to discard, and removing it from the deep fryer requires extra care. Always ensure that the oil is completely cooled before handling it. Prior to draining, have a vessel ready to decant the oil into. Most deep fryers need to be tipped over to drain the oil out. An included drain collects the used oil in a compartment beneath the fryer. The drain bin has a nozzle that needs to be opened with a valve to allow the oil to filter out into a pot or bucket placed below.
Once removed, the oil can be discarded or stored in an airtight container for reuse. Remember to discard used oil in a container or soak it up with paper towels; do not pour it down the sink. This is the best deep fryer for those who don’t immediately want to attend to or store the oil, because the oil will safely sit in the drain compartment until you have time to remove it.
If you don’t clean your deep fryer thoroughly, you risk transferring the residual taste and smell of the previous meal into your next batch. A deep fryer with dishwasher-safe components allows you to get a more thorough clean than you would by hand. Not all components are dishwasher-safe (some may need to be washed by hand), so read the instruction manual carefully before cleaning. Remember, maintaining the deep fryer’s cleanliness will preserve the longevity of your appliance.
If some of that comfort food you love includes turkey, then do we have the best deep fryer for you. Deep-frying a turkey is commonly done in an outdoor propane-fueled deep fryer, but you can achieve the same delicious taste with an indoor turkey fryer. Indoor turkey fryers take into account the extreme amount of oil that would be required to fry such a large bird (yes, they can cook the whole bird). An indoor turkey fryer is steady, uses electricity, and can additionally fry other large items (including a whole chicken). Keep in mind that an indoor turkey fryer is large and will take up a fair amount of space.
Tip!
It’s worthwhile to invest in deep-fryer accessories to make your experience a little safer and easier. Shop all deep-fryer accessories (like replacement baskets or reusable oil filters) below!
Get ready to start frying your favorite meals.
