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There are many essential kitchen appliances that help us eat a wider variety of meals. But what makes a deep fat fryer special? These products use oil and work wonders when preparing numerous types of food, including meats, vegetables, chips, bread, and poultry. They are typically quicker at cooking and offer a more consistent result than a traditional chip pan. Plus, the final taste and flavours are sublime. If you are missing deep-fried food in your life, we have selected seven fantastic options below for your consideration.
How We Compared Deep Fat Fryers
To find the right deep fat fryers, we considered multiple factors, including:
- Size
- Frying Capacity
- Cleaning
- Ease of Use
Our team planned comparison points and specifically looked for products that would cater to all kinds of needs. We spent countless hours researching, consulting customer reviews and comparing features to come up with this list.
Deep Fat Fryer Reviews
Breville VDF108 (Editor’s Choice)
If you want a stylish and functional deep fat fryer, this model’s white exterior casing, stainless steel trim, and simple digital control panel will serve great. The LED screen shows a virtual timer when the appliance is operating and has simple variable temperature options too.
You can use the Breville VDF108 Easy Clean to cook for multiple people as it has a two-litre oil capacity and holds up to 1kg of food. Furthermore, the large basket allows you to stack items like chips, chicken, and vegetables effectively.
For safety, the handle slots into the outer casing and is made of plastic. Moreover, the lid has a viewing window, so you don’t have to open it during operation. The oil container is detachable too, which means much quicker cleaning with less fuss.
Pros:
- Excellent food and oil capacity of 1kg and 2L, respectively
- The fryer has a variable temperature control
- Safety locking lid to prevent oil spills
- Cool-touch body for improved security
- With a stylish white finish and stainless steel trim
Cons:
- You may notice a lot of steam when cooking
- The timer could be a little too quiet
Tefal Oleoclean Pro (Luxury Choice)
The frying basket’s generous 1.2kg food capacity makes this device ideal for larger families. This equates to approximately six portions of food for things like chips and meat. The powerful 2200W output contributes to fast cooking times.
The Tefal Oleoclean Pro has some nifty features. For example, it has an immersed heating element which results in the oil reaching optimum temperatures in a short time. Moreover, it has an advanced filtration system to improve oil usage, enabling you to recycle it up to eight times.
If you don’t want the hassle of trying to remove cooking smells, it has a permanent filter that reduces grease odours. Various parts are detachable, allowing you to be thorough and get into those hard-to-reach places that collect grime.
Pros:
- Patented oil filtration system for recycling purposes
- Completely dismantlable for simple cleaning
- It also has an odour filter to reduce frying smells
- The lid has a cooking window to watch the frying process
- The heating system keeps the oil at the ideal frying temperature
Cons:
- Some customers may have reported oil spills
- Some foods might not be adequately submerged when cooking
Swan SD6040N (Best Value)
The design of the handle and basket of this deep fat fryer make it safe to use and easy to cook with. The lid is completely removable with a plastic handle at the top to prevent burns. Moreover, it has a circular viewing window to watch the frying process.
The Swan SD6040N has an excellent three-litre oil capacity, holding 1kg of food. Therefore, you can prepare things like chips for the entire family or for parties and events. This is aided by the rear-facing temperature controls and cooking dial.
In terms of cleaning, the inside of the fryer pan has a non-stick coating which should help remove grease. The exterior is made from stainless steel, which is simple to wipe and incredibly resilient.
Pros:
- It has a fully adjustable thermostat for great control
- Generous 3L oil capacity for 1kg of food
- The basket is fully detachable with a long handle
- The fryer pan has a non-stick coating for simple cleaning
- Compact design that can sit on a kitchen worktop
Cons:
- The thermostat could be a little inaccurate
- The cleaning process might be longer due to the various parts
LIVIVO Electric 2.5L (Best for Ease of Use)
The digital controls of this deep fat fryer make it effortless to use. Instead of trying to adjust the dials manually, you can change the temperature and cooking settings to a fine degree of control. Two bright LED lights also show the power status and when the device has reached the desired temperature.
For quick cooking, the LIVIO Deep Far Fryer has a 2.5L oil capacity and a cooking volume of 1kg of food. Plus, its 1800W heating element ensures the fluid gets to the right temperature in no time. To enable you to use it freely in your kitchen, it has an 0.7m power cord too.
Additionally, it has a special plastic “stay-cool” handle, so you can safely remove the basket. Furthermore, the lid has a viewing window to check when your food is ready.
Pros:
- It has a large 2.5L oil capacity for bigger food portions
- With a stay-cool plastic handle
- It also has a fully adjustable thermostat
- The handle also folds away to minimise its footprint
- Ample power cable length of 0.7m
Cons:
- The lid may sometimes get stuck when opening
- Some customers could have reported a damaged basket
Tefal FF220040 (Best Small)
If you have limited space in your kitchen, the compact design of this mini fryer is perfect. It has overall dimensions of 34.8 x 27.8 x 25cm and weighs only 1.79kg. As a result, it could fit easily on your worksurface or even be tucked away in a cupboard if you don’t intend to use it regularly.
Despite the small design, the Tefal FF220040 Deep Fat Fryer has a 1000W power output, a one-litre oil capacity, and a 600g food volume. Therefore, it could be a great product for people living independently or for couples. You have great flexibility, too, as you can change the cooking temperature from 150 to 190 degrees Celsius.
The lid has two side handles to quickly open it, plus a window allows you to check the frying process. There is a large plastic handle on each side, too, to minimise potential hazards while lifting the unit.
Pros:
- Sleek and compact design for convenient storage
- Low power output for energy-efficient use
- The cooking lid has a large viewing window for progress checks
- It also has a thermostat to adjust temperatures
- The inner bowl has a non-stick coating for easier cleaning
Cons:
- The cooking capacity may be exaggerated
- The temperature light could sometimes be inaccurate
Aigostar 2200W (Best Medium)
If you have a busy kitchen where appliances are in danger of getting knocks and bumps, this model’s stainless steel housing and robust plastic corners will be appealing. Moreover, its anti-slip feet mean it should never move or fall off your work surface.
The Aigostar Deep Fryer has a powerful 2200W output for fast cooking and an oil capacity of three litres. This should result in fewer oil changes. The basket has a cool-touch handle for safe removal, and the lid has a large viewing window too.
At the rear, the controls include four different temperature settings for specific foods. There is also a dial to manually change the temp and two lights that show the power and heat status.
Pros:
- High power function at 2200W for quick cooking
- The secure lid has a fantastic viewing window
- It also has anti-slip feet to give extra stability
- Temperature range from 130-190 degrees Celsius
- The oil container is removable and has a non-stick coating
Cons:
- The handle could sometimes be wobbly
- The temperature lights might not work occasionally
Tefal Easy Pro FR333040 (Best Large)
This fryer’s 1.2kg food capacity and large oil compartment make it easy to cook for the entire family or groups of friends. This is complemented by the adjustable thermostat with a clear temperature indicator light.
The Tefal Easy Pro FR333040 benefits from components you can dismantle, which aids the cleaning process. Also, many of the pieces are dishwasher safe, which reduces manual work.
The sleek stainless steel design looks fantastic and makes the exterior simple to wipe. Moreover, it has large carry handles and a viewing window on the top of the lid.
Pros:
- It has a stylish stainless steel body
- Brilliant 1.2kg food capacity for larger families
- It can be fully dismantled and has dishwasher-safe parts
- The lid has a viewing window
- It also has convenient carrying handles on the sides
Cons:
- The temperature readings could be inaccurate
- Food may occasionally stick to the basket
How to Choose a Deep Fat Fryer
It is essential that you pick the right deep fat fryer as these appliances are not as straightforward to use as kettles or microwaves. We discuss the main considerations in the buying guide below.
Size
The size and weight are hugely important as they dictate where you can store and use the fryer. First, consider what cupboard space you have available to place the unit in when not operating. Secondly, look at your kitchen top surfaces to see where the product could fit when in use.
With these two things in mind, you should be able to pick a deep fat fryer that works with your room setup. Thirdly, consider the weight. Unless you intend to keep it visible, you will have to lift it continually in and out of cupboards.
Frying Capacity
Typically, these products have a rectangular compartment where you pour the oil. You then usually have a frying basket that rests in the liquid. This feature dictates the frying capabilities.
The product will often state how many people it is suitable for or the number of food portions you can make at once. This information should give you an idea if it is ideal for your needs and family size or not.
Cleaning
Deep fat fryers are notoriously tricky to clean due to the use of cooking oil. This substance is hard to remove completely and may lead to your fryer becoming congested.
Therefore, we recommend looking at any cleaning features and the accessibility of the main compartment to change the oil and wipe it down. This will largely depend on the materials used, the lid’s design, and the cooking basket’s size and construction.
Ease of Use
Lastly, how easy the deep fat fryer is to operate? Many people have reservations when using these products due to the intense heat of the cooking oil and the risk of burns and accidents. However, modern deep fat fryers typically have multiple safety mechanisms and features to prevent this.
As a bare minimum, the item should have a lid to prevent hot liquids from spraying and causing damage. Furthermore, the cooking basket must have a long, heat-resistant handle so you can pick it up safely.
Summary
The Breville VDF108 Easy Clean Deep Fryer is our top pick due to its digital features, excellent food capacity, and simple controls. This appliance has a handy variable temperature and a digital timer to cook a variety of meals. Furthermore, the lid locks while cooking, and the basket handle is sealed from the interior container for safe use. We also like the removable oil bowl, which allows for more effective cleaning.
Paul is the type of person who never met a problem he couldn’t fix. He can always be found tinkering with something in his house, even if it isn’t broken! His tips and tricks are often shared on our site. He’s the one you call when something breaks because he has been known to improvise fixes for everything from leaky faucets to malfunctioning dryers.