The Best Deep Fryer Reviews & A Comprehensive Buying Guide

Our Top Pick for 2019: T-fal Ultimate EZ Clean Stainless Steel Immersion Deep Fryer
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A deep fryer can be an incredibly useful tool to make some delicious recipes. Whether you are looking for deep fried turkey, shrimp, or pickles, a deep fryer is necessary to achieve the delectable, crispy exterior you are looking for. Some of the features to keep in mind when looking to purchase a new deep fryer are the size of the fryer and the food capacity it can hold, the amount of power, and the heating and oil systems on the fryer. Continue reading for an in-depth look at our top picks.

Let’s Have a Quick Look of Our Top 4 Picks:

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One of the best features about our top pick is the oil filtration system that automatically drains the oil and filters it so you can use it later. Saving and reusing oil can be a difficult and inconvenient task, so it is an incredibly useful feature to have on your deep fryer. The oil is stored in a plastic container that is sealed and kept separate, making it easily accessible for the next time you need it. The temperature mechanism is another excellent feature of our best rated deep fryer. The system is designed for a minimal amount of oil absorption which can make your fried food slightly healthier. There is an adjustable thermostat so you can easily control the heat of your fried goods. The oil capacity is 3.6 liters and the food capacity is 2.65 pounds which is an ideal ratio. Some of the additional features that really make this deep fryer stand out are the odor filter controls, as you do not want the smell of oil to penetrate through your home and linger. It is also dishwasher safe which can make cleaning up easier and more convenient and the handles make storage and transportation effortless. The viewing window in the lid also allows you to look in on your food as it is frying to ensure that it is being cooked to your standards. Although our top recommendation is for the T-fal FR8000 because of its large size and temperature controls, there is another T-fal model, the T-fal FR1014, that offers similar features at a lower price. However, it is much smaller in size and in watts of power, which is why the gold pick is the FR8000 model.

This is a stainless steel product that would look aesthetically pleasing in almost any kitchen, especially if all of your other appliances are stainless steel. The power cord is detachable and plugs into the back of the fryer and it also contains feet on the bottom for extra steadiness. The controls are towards the back of the fryer, while the oil filtration settings are on the front of the fryer.

Although the T-fal deep fryer is expensive, which might be a drawback for some, all of the materials are extremely high quality and it does come with a one year warranty. You may also be able to add an additional warranty or protection plan. If the fryer does break, many of the parts can not easily be replaced or fixed, which might be a problem. If any part of your fryer breaks after the warranty has expired, it would probably be more cost efficient to purchase a new fryer than try to pay for the replacement parts.

Another positive attribute of this particular fryer is that it is extremely easy to use. You do not need to put any additional parts together when opening your T-fal fryer, because it comes together already assembled, for the most part. The only thing you will need to do to get started is add the oil to the plastic container at the bottom of the unit. The temperature also heats up quickly and stays that way, so it works great even when you are repeatedly adding cold or frozen food into the mix.

In terms of food capacity and general size, this is one of the larger fryers currently available, making it a great choice for home frying enthusiasts. Additionally, the unique oil filtration system and easy to clean unit make this fryer really stand out. Although the price may be a bit more on the expensive side, the multiple features make it worth the extra money.

The Waring Pro DF280 gets the award for second place in our list. At a more affordable price than the T-fal deep fryer, many potential buyers may find the Waring Pro has everything the buyer could need. The Waring pro comes with a helpful lid that provides coverage from any oil that may potentially splash out and also has a viewing dome so that the user can check the status of any food they are frying. To further increase frying pleasure, the Waring pro comes with an odor release mechanism which allows the home frying chef to smell the food as it is being cooked to perfection in the Waring Pro’s precision temperature controlled oil tank.

The Waring Pro DF280 makes deep frying just about any food you could want simple and consistent. The fryer is capable of maintaining perfect frying temperatures with controls that visibly display the temperature. A timer is also visible on the frying screen allowing the user to easily cook fish, chicken, vegetables, or any other food at the perfect temperature and for the correct amount of time. A non-stick and easily removable oil pan substantially decreases the cooking time, which can be a convenient benefit of this particular fryer.

The Waring Pro DF280 comes standard with a large heavy mesh frying bucket and two smaller heavy mesh buckets to give the user a variety of options when cooking multiple items at the same time that must be kept separate. The heavy mesh buckets come with a cool to the touch handle that gives the user peace of mind when handling them during the frying process. The combined buckets can hold anywhere between two and three pounds of food at a single time.

At dimensions of 12×8 inches in length, 12×8 inches in width, and 18.5 inches in height, the Waring Pro does not take up a large amount of room on any kitchen surface. This makes it a small and convenient appliance that is capable of fitting in almost all kitchens. The Waring Pro is completely made of stainless steel which makes it a stylish addition to all kitchens, particularly those already fitted with stainless steel appliances.

The lights on the Waring pro allow you to easily interpret all of the functions of the fryer and helps with the maintenance of the fryer, as well as making sure all safety precautions are being taken. An additional one year warranty ensures that the product can be fixed or replaced in case of any damages or malfunctions with the machine.

With the Waring Pro DF280, as well as the T-fal, the correct method of cooking is necessary while in use. Many foods can be fried by simply placing the foods in the basket and dropping them in the fryer. Other food items, especially those with a batter surrounding them, such as onion rings, mozzarella sticks, shrimp, and even vegetables must be cooked differently. To properly cook such foods in the Waring Pro, the oil must first be brought to the correct temperature and the basket then placed into the oil without the food in it. The food must slowly be placed into the oil by hand after the basket is already immersed in the oil to ensure the food does not stick to the bottom of the basket and that it cooks thoroughly. Once the food is cooked, the basket can be used to remove any excess batter or food left in the oil.

The Proctor Silex Professional style deep fryer comes in third on our list. It is a much smaller size than the Waring Pro and T-fal and is therefore also much more affordable for the infrequent fryer, but will still fulfill the majority of your needs. This fryer is extremely easy to assemble and can be used almost immediately after purchase with only a few items to put together and only one power outlet needed. The Proctor Silex comes with only a 1.5 liter oil capacity allowing for smaller amounts of food to be fried. Single portions cook extremely well and quickly in the Proctor Silex Professional, but it is possible to cook up to four servings of food at once in it. The fryer is made of a plastic enamel that contains the oil well and can be cleaned easily. The outside of the Proctor Silex Professional has a sleek stainless steel finish allowing for easy cleanups of any possible spills.

An oil temperature light can be seen in the center on the top of the fryer which allows the user to know when the oil has reached the correct cooking temperature. Cooking food in the correct temperature oil allows the food to soak up just the right amount of oil and will not over saturate the meals which causes them to become greasy and less appealing. This also serves as a warning to let you know that the fryer is currently on and that precautions need to be taken.

The easy to use basket on the Proctor Silex Professional fryer allows you to properly drain and empty all excess oils and debris from your food with the use of the simple basket hook, letting the basket hang above the oil while not submersed within it. This will also help keep the food warm and let it rest while sitting above the warm oil. The heating element of the Proctor Silex Pro is located directly within the pot, which allows the oil to heat up more quickly both prior to use and in between batches of food.

Similar to the first two fryers, the Proctor Silex Professional will fry food better if better oil is used in the fryer. It is necessary to have the correct oil in the fryer when frying because the use of cheap or incorrect oil could lead to smoke or fires. When choosing oil for the Proctor Silex Professional, it is important to consider the smoking point of the oil. If the food being fried has a higher cooking point than the smoking point of the oil, they are not a correct combination. If the oil is raised to a temperature beyond its smoking point, the fat within the oil will start to break down and begin to smoke or burn. If this happens while food is frying, the food will come out tasting burnt or unpleasant and may even be inedible. The correct oil will ensure the food will have none of these adverse tasting effects and will even cook the food faster.

Coming in at fourth on the list, the Presto FryDaddy Electric Deep fryer is the smallest and cheapest fryer that we recommend. It is able to fry desired foods at a reasonable price which makes this fryer perfect for those who fry only on special occasions and do not wish to spend a lot of money on a fryer.

The Presto FryDaddy helps the buyer to save money on oil in the future by utilizing the oil at a efficient 4:4 ratio of food to amount of oil needed. Since it holds about four cups of oil, the FryDaddy is ready to fry up to four servings of food at once. The nonstick surface of the FryDaddy is easy to clean and drain with very little mess. The FryDaddy also comes with a built in preset thermostat that allows you to perfectly cook all your food by ensuring that the oil is at the right temperature every time. This allows you to focus on the cooking of the food, rather than trying to maintain multiple controls.

Although the FryDaddy does not come with a basket like the previous fryers, it does come with a handy scoop that allows you to drain the food, lift the food out of the fryer, and serve the food right out of the fryer. The only disadvantage to this technique in comparison to its counterparts with the basket fryer, is that the oil may stick to the scoop and be transported along with the food right onto the plate, causing hot oil to leave the pan.

The FryDaddy is built in accordance with all North American Electrical Standards, so you can feel at ease knowing your product has been held to strict regulations. At 1200 watts and with a 120 volt outlet plug, the FryDaddy is a very powerful fryer in a small compact size. It is a lightweight deep fryer at only four pounds. The fryer is also pre built with a charcoal filter to reduce the frying odors that may occur during and after cooking. A large viewing window is also provided at the top of the frying pan, so the user can see the food as it is cooking. Compactly sealed, the window prevents any splattering that may occur during cooking, as well. The window is sealed so well that it is possible to store previous oil within the oil bucket and reuse it in the future.

Coming in at only seven inches in diameter, the FryDaddy is the most compact fryer. Able to be stored away easily, it is perfect for the infrequent fryer. With its compact size, it is also possible to leave the fryer out in the kitchen without taking up to much room. Like many other deep fryers, the FryDaddy fryer is not dishwasher safe and it should never be fully submersed into water of any kind. The fryer also comes with a two year warranty in case any of the features or parts break.

Pre-purchase considerations

Oil Filtration System

The oil filtration system on your deep fryer is one important feature to consider when determining which deep fryer would be best for you. The unique and convenient oil filtration system that the T-fal deep fryer offers is really one of a kind and can make your deep frying experience so much more enjoyable. Not all of the other top picks offer an oil filtration system, which can make discarding or reusing the oil an inconvenient hassle, so it is important to consider whether an oil filtration system is a must have feature when purchasing your deep fryer.

Food Capacity

The size of the deep fryer you purchase usually determines the food capacity the unit is capable of holding. You should consider purchasing a deep fryer with a larger food capacity if you plan on cooking large meals often. If you only plan on frying a few shrimp or onion rings here and there, you can probably go for a smaller appliance. Smaller deep fryers usually mean a smaller price tag, as well.

Oil Capacity

The oil capacity often goes hand in hand with the food capacity. A large amount of food typically requires a large amount of oil to fry to crispy, golden perfection. It is important to consider the food to oil capacity ratio when purchasing your deep fryer to ensure they are in sync and you can actually cook the right amount of food at the right temperature in your new appliance.

Affordable Price

Price is always an important factor to consider when making any purchase. When it comes to deep fryers, larger units are usually more expensive. If you are going to be doing a lot of home frying, it is probably worth it to spend the extra money. More expensive fryers often come with better features that make your frying experience more enjoyable, make the food taste better, and make clean up way easier. However, it is still possible to find a great deep fryer at an affordable price if you do not need a lot of features. The best way to make sure you do not overspend on your deep fryer is to pick a budget and stick to it.

Conclusion (Wrapping it up)

Some of the best and most efficient deep fryers on the market today are included in this list. The T-fal Ultimate EZ Clean Stainless Steel Immersion Deep Fryer is the top pick because it offers the most features with the oil filtration and temperature control system. However, it is also the most expensive item on our list. More affordable models that still offer many of the parts you want in your deep fryer, such as a basket for the food, are the Waring Pro DF280 Professional Deep Fryer and the Proctor Silex Professional Style Deep Fryer, which were the silver and bronze winners. The best fryer on a budget was the Presto FryDaddy Electric Deep Fryer. Remember when looking for your next deep fryer to consider the oil system, the food and oil capacity, and the price.