Deep Fat Fryers - useful or cupboard clogger

[JimM169]

Years ago we had a deep fat fryer which was only ever used for frozen chips and after the introduction of the oven chip it was banished by Mrs J. Now that I'm getting a bit more adventurous with my cooking I was thinking of re-investing in a fryer. However I'm not sure if it will follow the same path as the panini press, electric juicer, breville toastie maker etc and after a month of constant use will slowly make it's way to the back of the cupboard never to see the light of day again. So do those of you that own a fryer actually use it, what do you make in it and are there any features\makes that I should be looking for

Cheers

[bobbo89]

Ours is in the cupboard with the juicer, bread maker, George Foreman and various other gimmicky ste.

[rpguk]

My nan has one that gets used for making chips when we visit and for years I knew someone who used one for near everything. If you wanted to see a bad diet this was it, everything covered in oil. He wasn't fat but was a picture of ill health.

I've never really seen the need otherwise.

[Hughesie]

Use mine at least one or twice a week.

Great for Triple cooked chips

[Lost soul]

I would like one to make chips in from time to time Mrs LS will not hear of it

I guess the trouble is

A, cook chips too often

B, it will disappear to the back of the cupboard

probably B

[SS2.]

We had one - great for prawn crackers and homemade onion bhajis but stinks the kitchen out for a day or more.

Long since departed for the tip.

[Pixelpeep7r]

fancy getting one just for southern fried chicken or battered mushrooms

[Parsnip]

We have one of those Tefal air fryer things - while strictly not a deep fat fryer, it doe get used. Maybe not as versatile as a proper deep fat fryer, but you don't need to arse about with loads of oil that you need to change and it is much healthier.

So far have found it is great for chips, wings and sausages.

[Sheepshanks]

We used to have one but I remember it being a pain to clean.

[Pixelpeep7r]

Parsnip said:

We have one of those Tefal air fryer things - while strictly not a deep fat fryer, it doe get used. Maybe not as versatile as a proper deep fat fryer, but you don't need to arse about with loads of oil that you need to change and it is much healthier.

So far have found it is great for chips, wings and sausages.

isn't the capacity quite small on these types?

[Du1point8]

wok, lots of oil, does the same job, however wok gets used a lot more than a deep fat fryer

[Lost soul]

Du1point8 said:

wok, lots of oil, does the same job, however wok gets used a lot more than a deep fat fryer

the system I use now for chips very occasionally , but its messy as hell

[Du1point8]

Lost soul said:

Du1point8 said:

wok, lots of oil, does the same job, however wok gets used a lot more than a deep fat fryer

the system I use now for chips very occasionally , but its messy as hell

We use a splash guard to stop the messiness, works very well even though its not designed for the wok (designed for frying pan).

[Lost soul]

Du1point8 said:

Lost soul said:

Du1point8 said:

wok, lots of oil, does the same job, however wok gets used a lot more than a deep fat fryer

the system I use now for chips very occasionally , but its messy as hell

We use a splash guard to stop the messiness, works very well even though its not designed for the wok (designed for frying pan).

Maybe its just me then

I rarely cook chips but when I do I want to full fat experience

[tedmus]

kapiteinlangzaam said:

Get an air fryer.

We have this one:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Philips-HD9220-20-Airfryer...

Its brilliant and so much healthier than our old DFF. Chips taste lovely out of it

We use it 1-2 times per week for various stuff, so definitely not a shelf item.

We've recently obtained this one
Use it for wedges and roasties at the moment, not really tried anything else in it.

Quite a big thing mind.

[geeks]

We have one, gets used once or twice a week... Food cooked ranges from Chips to Samosas! Can't beat it really when you want bad food or foood that is supposed to be deep fried, cleaning them is the only real ass about owning one but it is hardly the end of the world!

[Craikeybaby]

Ours is in the loft, as we don't even have enough room for it in the cupboards.

[Yazar]

JimM169 said:

for frozen chips and after the introduction of the oven chip

Peeling a few potatoes and chopping them is not hard, and taste a whole lot better than the crap from the freezer section!

JimM169 said:

However I'm not sure if it will follow the same path as the panini press, electric juicer, breville toastie maker etc and after a month of constant use will slowly make it's way to the back of the cupboard never to see the light of day again.

How close if your local chip shop? As chips from a good chippy are cheap and delicious, often I just pop out and get chips whilst oh cooks the rest of meal.

Parsnip said:

We have one of those Tefal air fryer things - while strictly not a deep fat fryer, it doe get used. Maybe not as versatile as a proper deep fat fryer, but you don't need to arse about with loads of oil that you need to change and it is much healthier.

So far have found it is great for chips, wings and sausages.

Unless you have a serious health problem, all this 'healthier' stuff maybe needless. If you eat right most of the time and then enjoy proper deep fryed stuff once a week or so then its fine.


As said above, a deep wok type pan is an alternative, traditionally used by both Indians and Chinese who fry lots.

Edited by Yazar on Wednesday 18th February 14:39

[Some Gump]

What's wrong with you heathens?

Oven chips are ste.

[geeks]

Some Gump said:

What's wrong with you heathens?

Oven chips are ste.

Agreed!