Deep Fat Fryer
Discussion
Aldi / Lidl have them in the specials from time to time.
Have contemplated one myself but I'm not sure how well the oil keeps when it only gets used occasionally, the general thought is to use it, let it cool, drain the oil off into a sealed container preferably filtering it, then fill from said container next time you use it. But I'm not sure how long it keeps / how many uses you get from it. Don't want to be lobbing however many litres of fresh oil is needed into it each time it would be used. In the end decided it was too much of a faff for the odd occasion we'd want proper chips or something else.
Have contemplated one myself but I'm not sure how well the oil keeps when it only gets used occasionally, the general thought is to use it, let it cool, drain the oil off into a sealed container preferably filtering it, then fill from said container next time you use it. But I'm not sure how long it keeps / how many uses you get from it. Don't want to be lobbing however many litres of fresh oil is needed into it each time it would be used. In the end decided it was too much of a faff for the odd occasion we'd want proper chips or something else.
C0ffin D0dger said:
Have contemplated one myself but I'm not sure how well the oil keeps when it only gets used occasionally, the general thought is to use it, let it cool, drain the oil off into a sealed container preferably filtering it, then fill from said container next time you use it. But I'm not sure how long it keeps / how many uses you get from it. Don't want to be lobbing however many litres of fresh oil is needed into it each time it would be used. In the end decided it was too much of a faff for the odd occasion we'd want proper chips or something else.
Fair points...I hadnt considered that!Mrs O is concerned aboout the smells too...
Just go with a cheap bog standard fryer, something like...
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Andrew-James-Stainless-Te...
Thats just the first one off Amazon but it will e more than adequate for home cooking.
To combat the smells put it on the hob under the extractor when using it (it helps a bit).
Forget frying with a lid on, all that will do is cause more build up of grease and water vapour which will find its way back into the oil.
Clean it up before you put it away but theres no need to drain and filter the oil each time. In fact I don't bother. I just replace the oil when it becomes dark.
Oil will absorb flavours from food but not as much as you might think. Battered fish might have a slight curry twang if you have done several batches of samosas first though!
The one job that is a bit of a faff is cleaning it out and changing the oil which will depend on how often you use it. You want a really good degreaser to clean the fryer up as well. Or, as I do, clean it as best you can then buy a new one every few years.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Andrew-James-Stainless-Te...
Thats just the first one off Amazon but it will e more than adequate for home cooking.
To combat the smells put it on the hob under the extractor when using it (it helps a bit).
Forget frying with a lid on, all that will do is cause more build up of grease and water vapour which will find its way back into the oil.
Clean it up before you put it away but theres no need to drain and filter the oil each time. In fact I don't bother. I just replace the oil when it becomes dark.
Oil will absorb flavours from food but not as much as you might think. Battered fish might have a slight curry twang if you have done several batches of samosas first though!
The one job that is a bit of a faff is cleaning it out and changing the oil which will depend on how often you use it. You want a really good degreaser to clean the fryer up as well. Or, as I do, clean it as best you can then buy a new one every few years.
for the amount of deep frying we do, we just use a high sided cast iron pan (le crouset jobby) and an accurate digital thermometer. Have made some fantastic chips, amazing fallafel and some slightly weird sweet potato spiral crisp things (Curly fries gone wrong)
We filter the oil and use it twice or three times without any issues but we haven't done any fish yet
We filter the oil and use it twice or three times without any issues but we haven't done any fish yet
Deep frying is only smelly when you use old/dirty oil.
We use a cast iron pan but I keep thinking about getting a deep fryer as it's a bit of a faff to get the oil out without making a mess with a pan.
You don't really need a digital thermometer either, we just use my missus's sugar thermometer.
We use a cast iron pan but I keep thinking about getting a deep fryer as it's a bit of a faff to get the oil out without making a mess with a pan.
You don't really need a digital thermometer either, we just use my missus's sugar thermometer.
Lazermilk said:
Stella Tortoise said:
How about an air fryer?
I just ordered one of these this week to try, seem to get good reviews and doesn't use any oil. It arrived today so will have to try it out later with some chicken or chips and see what its like.ta
The Mrs bought one about a year ago, great for food already oily such as:
Oven ready chips, Indian snacks, Chinese snacks, onion rings.
Home made chips, sliced, chopped and soaked in oil first.
Chicken wings, worth the cost of the machine alone.
Croquettes.
Anything pre battered and frozen, e.g. tempura prawns.
You might spot a theme.
Oven ready chips, Indian snacks, Chinese snacks, onion rings.
Home made chips, sliced, chopped and soaked in oil first.
Chicken wings, worth the cost of the machine alone.
Croquettes.
Anything pre battered and frozen, e.g. tempura prawns.
You might spot a theme.
oblio said:
Lazermilk said:
Stella Tortoise said:
How about an air fryer?
I just ordered one of these this week to try, seem to get good reviews and doesn't use any oil. It arrived today so will have to try it out later with some chicken or chips and see what its like.ta
Lazermilk said:
oblio said:
Lazermilk said:
Stella Tortoise said:
How about an air fryer?
I just ordered one of these this week to try, seem to get good reviews and doesn't use any oil. It arrived today so will have to try it out later with some chicken or chips and see what its like.ta
Cheers
PS Chips???..on a school night???
blue_haddock said:
how do you do 'wet' things like freshly battered fish?
I've got a basic aldi fryer and its ok for the odd occasion we want proper home made chips or homemade battered fish.
It's no use at all.I've got a basic aldi fryer and its ok for the odd occasion we want proper home made chips or homemade battered fish.
Pre prepared battered and frozen is OK.
An air fryer isn't a complete solution but it's good for the sort of stuff which would otherwise go in an oven.
Sausages are good as well, the Mrs even chucked a small chicken in there, smoked a bit but the skin was very crispy.
oblio said:
Lazermilk said:
oblio said:
Lazermilk said:
Stella Tortoise said:
How about an air fryer?
I just ordered one of these this week to try, seem to get good reviews and doesn't use any oil. It arrived today so will have to try it out later with some chicken or chips and see what its like.ta
Cheers
PS Chips???..on a school night???
Probably depends what you would mainly use it for, as someone mentioned above its maybe not so easy to cook freshly battered things, although I have seen it done on you tube and results looked decent.
Would recommend it anyway and as its black Friday should be good deals on either option today.
Gassing Station | Food, Drink & Restaurants | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff