Buying Guide for the Best Deep Fryer

Do you want to deep fry chicken, french fries or fish fries just like the way restaurants do? Frying food is not a healthy option, but it is tolerable to enjoy it occasionally. The key to achieving crisp and golden brown fried food is the temperature.

Using a deep fryer is necessary to get the texture that you want as it features an adjustable thermostat that allows you to control the temperature.

Choosing the best deep fryer is very confusing, particularly for first-time buyers. This post will help and guide you if you’re planning to buy the best deep fryer.

Table of Contents

Comparison of our Picks Top 5 Deep Fryers

Deep Fryers	Food Capacity	Power	Rating
Cuisinart CDF-200	2.3 lb	1800 watts	4.3	Buy It
T-fal FR8000	2.65 lb	1700 watts	4.3	Buy It
Hamilton Beach 35021	3.1 lb	1500 watts	4.1	Buy It
Presto 05420	1.5 lb	1200 watts	4.5	Buy It
Presto 05466	5 lb	1800 watts	4.5	Buy It

Reviews of The 5 Best Deep Fryer

#1. Cuisinart CDF-200 Deep Fryer Review

The Cuisinart CDF-200 Deep Fryer, 4 quarts, and Stainless Steel has a powerful heating element that allows you to serve crispy and hot deep-fried favorites at home. The heating element generates uniform heat that’s why the burning of food is prevented.

The size of the Cuisinart 4-quart Deep Fryer is enough to cook a maximum of 2.3 pounds of food including chicken, potato fries, seafood and even donuts. This is a perfect dryer when cooking big family meals.

Although it’s a little bit pricey as compared to its competitors, it’s all worth the cost. The item weighs 11.5 pounds and measures 18.25 x 12.75 x 12.5 in.

Despite its size, this deep fryer is perfect for home use, but also helpful when you’re holding a party at home.

That’s why many customers gave positive reviews of this kitchen stuff. One of the customers testified that Cuisinart 4-Quart Deep Fryer is a great one not only because of its features and price but also when assembling the fryer.

Cleaning the fryer after using it is a lot easier because it is dishwasher-safe. Buying this product also comes with a 1-year limited manufacturer warranty.

Pros

Powerful heating element
The visible display of the temperature
It works well as advertised

Cons

The location of the controls is quite risky
The casing of the fryer is thin
Lack of oil drainage system and no lid filter

#2. T-fal FR8000 Oil Filtration 3.5-Liter Deep Fryer Review

As it is manufactured by one of the leading companies, it is guaranteed that T-fal FR8000 is one of the best deep fryers in the market.

It features precise thermostat control that allows the user to select the temperature. It also has a built-in automatic system that filters the oil.

Just like other brands and models of the deep fryer, this one is dishwasher safe that enables an easy cleanup process. It is made of stainless steel and weighs 12.4 pounds and measures 13.7 x 18.3 x 14.8 in. This fryer is perfect for frying food at home ensuring restaurant-quality of fried food.

With its advanced heating system, you can expect that the fried food has a crunchy outer texture, yet is healthier. Its cozy size makes T-fal FR8000 a perfect kitchen buddy for the family.

The ability of this fryer to filter the oil is what makes it stand out among other fryers. The control knob includes filtering, frying and oil removal functions.

Pros

Parts are removable and dishwasher safe
Large capacity with a multi-positional basket
Functional handles for storage and moving

Cons

Quite expensive
Troubleshooting or repairing broken parts is not that easy

The T-fal FR8000 is a great unit in terms of its features and performance. One of the customers said that the heating temperature of this fryer can ideally cook even frozen foods. Another customer gave a positive review and said that it is the best fryer for people who hate oil splatter. If you love home fry cooking, you can invest in buying this unit and see for yourself how it performs.

#3. Hamilton Beach 35021 Deep Fryer Review

The Hamilton Beach 35021 is an ideal addition to your kitchen. Deep frying is a great way to cook different foods safely and without a mess. If your family loves deep fry foods, then it’s about time to invest in an electric deep fryer. It is safer to use this product than the traditional way.

This is one of the best deep fryers for the home that you can get on the market. It features cool-touch housing and adjustable heat. It is cheaper as compared to other brands of deep fryers. Considering the features of this home appliance, it follows that Hamilton Beach 35021 abides by the standard.

Buying Hamilton Beach 35021 is a smart idea considering its features. In fact, many customers who have been using this deep fryer gave positive reviews of this product. The slight drawback of this fryer is overridden by its outstanding performance.

They said that it’s a perfect fryer for a small family, but in spite of its size, it can fry a whole chicken. Customers were also amazed by the handy, removable basket that you can lift to drain the oil even without opening the lid.

Pros

Holds a stable temperature and heats up quickly
User-friendly device and easy-to-clean
The cooling technology prevents accidental burn

Cons

It easily gets too hot
The top can’t endure the heat thus it warps easily

If you’re planning to buy a new deep fryer, you should take time to shop around and look for deep fryer reviews so that you’ll find a product that best values your money.

#4. Breville BDF500XL Smart Fryer

The Breville BDF500XL Smart Fryer is a high-performance appliance designed to simplify the deep frying process and deliver consistently delicious results.

Known for its intelligent features and user-friendly design, this fryer is a top choice for home cooks and frying enthusiasts.

Key Features

Electronic Thermostat: Ensures precise temperature control for optimal frying.
Mesh Basket: Provides even frying and easy food retrieval.
Preset Cooking Functions: Tailored settings for popular fried foods like French fries, fish, and chicken.
Cool Zone Technology: Reduces oil burning and extends the life of the oil.
Stainless Steel Construction: Durable and easy to clean.
Safety Features: Includes a safety lid and cool-touch handles to prevent burns.

Pros

Precision Frying: The electronic thermostat maintains a consistent temperature, ensuring perfect results every time. This is particularly useful for achieving the right texture and doneness for different types of food.
User-Friendly Presets: The preset cooking functions make it easy to fry common foods without guessing the time and temperature settings. This feature is especially helpful for beginners.
Oil Efficiency: The cool zone technology prevents food particles from burning, which not only keeps the oil cleaner but also reduces unpleasant odors. This extends the life of the oil, making the fryer more economical to use.
Safety First: The safety lid and cool-touch handles help prevent accidents, making it safer to use, especially in a busy kitchen environment.

Cons

Price: The Breville BDF500XL Smart Fryer is on the higher end of the price spectrum compared to some other deep fryers. While it offers many advanced features, it might not be suitable for those on a tight budget.
Size: This fryer is relatively large, which may be an issue for kitchens with limited counter space. It’s important to ensure you have enough room for both using and storing the appliance.
Learning Curve: Although the presets are helpful, some users might find the array of features a bit overwhelming at first. It may take some time to fully understand and utilize all the functionalities.

#5. Presto 05466 Deep Fryer Review

The Presto 05466 Pro Fry is a deep fryer designed to cook large pieces of chicken or fish. It is considered a top-quality fryer and one of the best deep fryers because of its performance, varied frying temperature, and ease of use.

Aside from the adjustable thermostat, this unit features a signal light to let the user know if the oil has reached the right temperature. It easily gets hot because of its immersion heating element. When cleaning the unit, you can easily remove the enameled pot and the heating element.

The specifications of this unit have passed the North American Electrical Standards which’s why it guarantees safety. You can also choose from different frying temperatures depending on your cooking needs.

Pros

It has a dual basket that allows cooking two types of food simultaneously.
The long and oblong-shaped dual basket can accommodate even larger pieces of food.
It’s very easy to set the temperature by using the adjustable thermostat.

Cons

The body of the fryer is made of thin metal.
The metal casing of the fryer gets warm while in use, so it should be kept out of children’s reach.
The cover lifts up when moisture builds up while cooking.

Reading customer reviews will help in making the right decision. Checking the reviews for Presto 05466 Pro Fry, many customers were satisfied with the performance of this unit. They said that it maintains the required temperature throughout the cooking process. It also saves time by cooking two different foods at the same time.

How to Choose a Deep Fryer:

Having a deep fryer is an advantage to anyone who loves fried foods such as French Fries, vegetable tempura, fried chicken and the like. It spares you from the hassles of frying the traditional way and anytime you crave fried foods you can cook it at home. This will also save you money dining in restaurants for your favorite fried chicken.

Using a deep fryer makes cooking more convenient and guarantees to the production of quality foods. You don’t need to determine if the oil is too hot or not. All you have to do is to set the specific temperature. Today, there are many brands and models of deep fryers available in the market and it can be confusing to choose the best deep fryer.

To guide you in making the right choice and decision in buying a deep fryer, we will give you some pointers to consider.

Performance

The performance of the fryer plays a significant role in making a choice and how the thermostat works is a big factor. It is a must to choose a deep fryer with an adjustable thermostat so that you can control the temperature. Also, consider the capacity for food and oil that the fryer can hold to know how long is the entire process.

Convenience

Cooking your food in a deep fryer is less complicated, rather it makes the cooking process easier and more convenient. When you buy a deep fryer select the one that requires less effort to cook the food. The maintenance should also be given attention so that you’ll know what to do to keep the unit going.

Price

Before deciding to buy a deep fryer, you must shop around and do research for each of your target products. The price varies depending on the features and size of the fryer. If you want larger fryers, then you should prepare for a bigger amount of money.

Temperature Control

Adjustable thermostats and electronic controls help achieve precise cooking temperatures.

Type of deep fryer

There are different types of deep fryers to choose from including electric, propane and oil-less fryers. The electric deep fryer is the most common in many households. But, if you want the safer and less messy option, you should choose the oil-less deep fryer.

Safety

Safety should be your priority in everything you do and even in making a choice. We know that the unit is exposed to heat while in use and it follows that it may become too hot. To ensure your safety, it’s necessary to select a unit that features a cooling system and has a low exterior temperature.

It must have lids to ensure that the hot oil won’t splatter while cooking. It should also include magnetic breakaway cords for emergency situations. The rubber feet of the deep fryer is also important to avoid falling off the counter and down to your feet.

Warranty and support

As a standard operating procedure, any machine or appliance that you’ll buy should carry a warranty and support. This way you can replace the unit in case of defective parts or if the fryer is not functioning well. Likewise, consider buying from a manufacturer that provides support.

Read: How to Use a Deep Fryer

Choosing the best deep fryer depends on the personal preference of the buyer. But, you can take time reading deep fryer reviews so that you can pick the best deep fryer for your home.

Final Verdict:

The Cuisinart CDF-200 deep fryer has a smaller capacity that’s why you need to cook several batches. But, undeniably it produces tasty fried chicken and French fries.

The Presto ProFry has a decent size, but it doesn’t have the features that the best deep fryer has to offer. However, in terms of performance, this unit is competitive as it gets easily hot. On the other hand, the Presto FryDaddy is also equipped with functional features, but in terms of capacity, it is comparable with Cuisinart CDF-200 deep fryer.

If you think about your safety, the Hamilton Beach Immersion deep fryer has the same capacity as the Presto ProFry. Aside from the commonly adjustable thermostat, it has a lid covering the food while cooking making the unit a safer option.

All the deep fryers listed above deliver impressive results, but T-fal EZ Clean has an edge over the other brands. It features storage and drain options as well as an oil filtration system that the competitors don’t have.

Considering all the factors in choosing the best deep fryer, we can say that T-fal EZ Clean is the best choice. It is good to invest in a product that can help you in providing delicious and healthy food for your family.