Electric Deep Fryer - Who owns One?

[Big Daddy's House]

I'm about to purchase the one pictured below. A Waring Pro.

Kind of a slightly smaller no-frills one which is one of the things that I like about it! How many of you have an electric deep fryer, and what are your thoughts on it?

[samue1eb]

I have Rival model. I think they are useful. I also fry in my dutch oven, but I do things like fried shrimp in my electric fryer. I am not familar with the model in the picture but I can't see anything wrong with it. Looks like the controls are easy to reach, read, and use.

[Bacchus]

It looks pretty nice. You might search consumer ratings for that model number and see what comes up, if you haven't already.
Like the previous poster, I use a dutch oven for deep frying, which along with a $7 thermometer works great. Mine is a Cast Iron unit selling for $30-$40, and of course has dozens of other uses including making awesome cobbler on the grill.

[Big Daddy's House]

Well, if I'm not satisfied with it, it can always be returned.

[Big Daddy's House]

I'll be ordering the deep fryer on Wednesday morning.

[Big Daddy's House]

I just ordewred the deep fryer, along with a small cutting board.

Forgot to do it on Wednesday because I was so busy doing other things. It should arrive in two weeks.

[Big Daddy's House]

The deep fryer is on its way out to me. It was sent out yesterday.

And BTW, I saw Aaron using a nice one Sunday on his show, Big Daddy's House.

[Big Daddy's House]

My new deep fryer came. Had to go pick it up though, because it came Saturday when I wasn't home. But I got it!

[Chowhound]

Alright! Put some oil in that baby and FRY something!
I just used mine to make some fries.

[Big Daddy's House]

Here it is! Small & compact.

Need to get some oil for it first. Don't have enough. I'll do that tomorrow when I go to the supermarket to pick up a few things.

[Chowhound]

I'd forgotten what they looked like all clean and shiny (lol).
Very nice, Sherm.

[homecook]

Nice Sherm! What are the dimensions of the inside of that. I'm thinking of getting another one because I'm not crazy about the one I have now......

[Big Daddy's House]

Thank you.

This one is a small compact mini one. About half the size of the regular-size Waring Pro.

Don't know the inside dimmensions yet, but it needs only 2 quarts of oil to deep fry the food. I was going to get a larger one, but I thought about the amount of oil that it would take to use it. So I didn't get it.

Besides, I already have the Presto Options Multi-Cooker, which can also deep fry.

[Big Daddy's House]

Here's the Presto Options Multi-Cooker (below) which also deep fries.

It also uses 8 cups or 2 liters of oil for deep frying.

A message;

DO NOT use butter, margerine, olive oil or animal fat for deep frying! These can smoke excessively and can very easily catch fire.

Use a good brand or grade of standard vegetable oil, peanut oil or shortening to deep fry. These are known to have a very high smoke tolerance and are not as likely to easily catch fire.

[Big Daddy's House]

Still another one is the Turk N' Surf Turkey Fryer, which I have also.

Even though I LOVE deep fried turkey and the fact that my dear late brother
had introduced it to me and taught me how to do it, this unit uses an astronomical amount of oil!!

I love it, but because it needs several gallons of peanut oil, I've only used it once. Peanut oil is expensive.

[Big Daddy's House]

I'd forgotten what they looked like all clean and shiny (lol).
Very nice, Sherm.



Thank you.

You must have one that you've had for a while. I plan to KEEP this unit and the Presto Multi-Cooker looking new, clean and shiny.

As oil builds up on this equipment and is left there for long periods, it can become dried up and hard, and it will also become sticky and stale.

Dawn Power Dissolver can and WILL help keep this gunk at bay. When hot soapy water just isn't enough and the gunk has set up housekeeping on your deep fryer, THIS miracle of modern technology will help keep your deep fryer looking new, clean and shiny.

[Chowhound]

Sherm, are you sure yours says it is OK to use shortening? Mine says to specifically NOT use shortening. My old TFal fryer I used to use shortening without a problem, but not the Waring Pro I have now.

[Big Daddy's House]

Oh.

Sorry, that is for the Presto Options Multi-Cooker.

The Waring Pro unit's manual DOES warn against using shortening. Which Waring Pro model do YOU have? Can you post a pic of it and the T-Fal model?

[Chowhound]

It doesn't look like the Presto unit has the heating element exposed to the oil. I wonder if that's the difference between using shortening or not.
I have this model http://www.amazon.com/Waring-DF200-Professional-Brushed-Stainless/dp/B00009K3V1
I doubt I could find my old TFal circa 1980's model on the web. Not without a model #. Let me see about digging it out and snapping a pic later.

[Big Daddy's House]

Ok, thanks.

I like THAT one because the heating element swings up like the ones used in the restaurants!

Yes you're right, the Presto unit's heating element is located UNDER the cooker. Also, as with the co's electric skillets, griddles and other cookers.

I think that the idea behind the heating element being exposed to the oil in all of the resataurant-style deep fryers is so that the oil can heat up very quickly, thus allowing better deep frying abilities. That's my take on it anyway. What do you think?

[Chowhound]

That would be my take, too. Quicker heating and recovery time. It seems that all the fryers that boast quickness have the elements exposed.

[Big Daddy's House]

Yes, that's what it comes down to. Which is why there are so many safety protection features built into these units. Good to see that we're both on the same page!!

I'm going out in a few minutes to get some oil for the fryer so that I can try it out with some French fries to go with the Steak & Cheese subs for supper tonight..

[Big Daddy's House]

Ok, I'll admit that I'm a softee for a monster!

Took back two broken FoodSaver units to BB&B.

The newest machine was cash refundable, but on the older machine, I could only get a merchandise credit (for something else in the store). No problem.

Saw the larger Waring Pro Deep Fryer and was all over it!! Had to jump on it while I had the chance.

Gave the smaller one to a friend up the street. He and his girlfriend were extremely happy and flabbergasted over it!

But this machine is really a monster in size and capacity! Still haven't used it yet, but I will in time!

[Leolady]

I have my grandad's Montgomery Wards deep fryer from the 1950's but I don't use it. I want to find a new cord first. So I just use a Big cast iron dutch oven.

[Big Daddy's House]

Use a deep fry or candy thermometer when deep frying to know the temp at all times.