Their popularity has waned a little over the past few years with the rise in healthier air frying and alternative cooking methods, but there are still some foods where only a deep fat fryer will do.
Triple cooked chips, battered fish, onion rings, samosas, churros for dipping in chocolate – they all require unbeatable crisping power.
Thankfully, deep fat fryers are much safer and easier to use than they once were. Gone are the days of chip pans on your hob and having to guess when the food is done; they now have timers, settings, temperature regulation and safety precautions which make them a bit of a kitchen must-have if you’re serious about fried food.
You can also get them in mini form, large enough to make a mountain of chips or commercial-style with more features than you can shake a stick at. You can look at our air fryer picks for some comparison, but otherwise, here’s our top deep fryer choices.
The Best Deep Fat Fryers – Our Top Picks
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Best Deep Fryers
Seen by many as the best deep fryer there has been, Tefal has packed in the technology to help make frying a breeze. The 3.5L oil capacity makes it an ideal purchase for any small family kitchens, as it will be able to get all of the food done at once without you spending ages batch cooking. If you’re worried about your fryer guzzling oil and it becoming your biggest weekly expenditure, then the Oleoclean’s patented filtration system will be music to your ears. It automatically drains and filters your oil for future use, and all you need to do is switch the dial. It will be drained into the storage box through a filter, ready for use again and again. This keeps it clean most of the time, but when you want to give everything a freshen-up and clean the lot, it is easy to fully dismantle so you can get to every nook and cranny. The bowl, lid, frying basket and oil box are all dishwasher safe, so if the grime has built up, you don’t have to spend hours scrubbing away with your Marigolds on. You may also be worried about your home smelling like a takeaway when you’re done, but the anti-odour properties mean that no smell is released at all. No need to get the cooker hood whirring at full blast, then. The actual results of the fried food are brilliant, and you can pick it up and carry it using the handles in case you need to move it to another spot in the kitchen or pop it away in storage. We can see why this is the best-seller - it has all the features you could want, and the self-cleaning factor is bound to appeal to absolutely everyone A clean, modern white finish and handy features such as a timer and temperature control make this De’Longhi deep fat fryer a really user-friendly model. We loved a couple of things about this fryer, which made it stand out. Firstly, the basket can be lowered into the oil when the lid is closed to protect from any splashes, and then lifted up again without opening it. It is more compact than De’Longhi previous fryers, yet you still get the same amount of room which shows design has really improved and it is well worth getting the latest model. The anti-odour feature will help keep your home smelling normal, and it is washable so will always work at its best. Other components are dishwasher-safe, so there is little effort taking care of it. It isn’t rated easy-clean, so it is a little messy getting the old oil out when the time comes. The tank isn’t removable, and there is no pouring spout. But if you keep on top of this, the dirt shouldn’t build up. To say it is one of the lower priced fryers yet so highly rated means it is worth the little bit of a faff it takes to get cleaned The perfect size for smaller households, this fryer can hold food up to 1kg in capacity, so is perfect for chips as a side dish, mozzarella sticks as a snack or doughnuts as a sweet weekend treat. A built-in timer will help prevent any burnt food, and you can also set the temperature using the variable controls, so whether you like everything a bit more well-done or on the lighter side, you can get that fine balance. There is a removable bowl for easier cleaning, and all of the other removable parts are also dishwasher safe, so you don’t have to spend hours scrubbing away. It is one of the more compact and cupboard-friendly shapes and sizes of those we reviewed. This is great if you’re going to be tucking it out of the way in between uses. It heats up to temperature in good time, and you get good instructions which show you how to cook some of the basic foods in case this is your first time using a deep fryer. On the basic side but still a brilliant amount of features, and pleasantly easy to use If you don’t want to spend a ridiculous amount on your air fryer because it will be an every-so-often appliance, then this Logik is a top budget pick. It is nice and user-friendly to use, with a side handle for easy movement and a removable basket. The handle of this basket is removable so that you can take it apart for easier storage. When it comes to the cleaning, the oil basket is also removable so you can empty this, clean it out and refill with fresh oil when it is starting to look a little old. All of the removable parts are dishwasher safe, so you can easily get the grime off. You get an adjustable thermostat which allows you to cater the frying power to the food you want to cook. In terms of extra features, this is pretty much all you get, but if you don’t feel like you need an extra fancy bit of kit and just want something which gets the job done, it is an ideal price. Simple, basic and yet effective - the perfect fryer if you don’t want any fuss Sage’s range of small kitchen appliances is constantly winning high praise from us and reams of other reviewers. This professional-level fryer is no different, and perfect if you want something Smart which can take the guesswork out of cooking. It uses this Smart technology to adjust the cooking times and temperatures depending on what you are cooking, without you having to change a thing manually. You can still do this, however, if you prefer to have more control. Seven pre-set functions will help you out if you want to cook any speciality food. Restaurant quality twice fried chip, calamari, and doughnuts are just three of these options, and you also have the power to create your own setting if you have the timing and temperature of cooking your deep-fried risotto balls down to a tee. It is also smart when it comes to maintaining the quality of the oil. Any debris falls into the cooler lower parts of the oil thanks to CoolZone technology, which helps to reduce burning and increases the time between batch changes. There are also all of the other high-end specifications in place, from a viewing window and a cool touch outer to a timer, adjustable thermostat and defrosting capability. It is definitely a deep fat fryer for the serious cooks out there. Settings such as a Calamari pre-set rather than, say, a deep fried chicken one show it isn’t just any ordinary appliance. But it will appeal to anyone out there who likes their speciality food and has a taste for the finer things in life. Just as with most other Sage products, this is a high-end appliance which takes things up a level. Not for everyone, but worth the money if it appeals Thanks to an adjustable thermostat and dial controls, your fried food can be cooked absolutely perfectly for your tastes in the Tefal Easy Pro. The bottom area of the oil, under the basket, is kept cooler than the rest, so any loose crumbs float down into this part and prevent the oil from burning, which in turn could damage the taste of your food. Oil is quick to heat, as the heating element is completely immersed in the oil. This means you’ll have less time waiting around for it to get up to temperature, and can get dinner served much quicker. You get a removable enamel bowl for when the oil needs replacing, and all parts except the heating element are dishwasher safe for when the stubborn grease needs to be removed. If you find that any parts need replacing, Tefal promise that they are cheap and easy to find, so you can replace them to extend the life of your fryer rather than buying a new appliance. This makes it great value for money and perfect for anyone who hates the throwaway appliance culture we live in. It doesn’t really fold down to store, as the handle would be in the oil, so just bear this in mind before you buy. Simple to clean and a fantastic price, it is perfect if you want that typical deep fryer vibe without the difficulties they come with One of the best for large capacity cooking, this Tower model is thermostatically controlled to achieve the perfect level of crispness that your heart desires. You can lift and lower the basket with the lid on the appliance thanks to the practical lifting system, which helps reduce accidents and keep you safe from splashing oil. An observation window lets you peek at the progress without opening the lid too, and when you do want to lift the lid to get the food out, you must press a button to release it, meaning it can’t be done accidentally which is great if you have little ones around. There is a carbon filter which helps keep both smells and smoke to a minimum, which should leave your home smelling just as it did before the frying commenced. When it comes to cleaning it all, you can remove the inner pan to make emptying the old oil out a breeze. Do be aware that the parts aren’t dishwasher safe though, so you’ll have to do the scrubbing by hand when the time comes. One of the best if safety is your biggest concern when bringing a deep fryer into the home If you want something small both in size and capacity, this mini fryer is ideal for getting the job done without being too cumbersome. Say you just want something which can fry desserts or the occasional snack as opposed to a whole few portions of chips or loads of chicken, it is the perfect size without being too excessive. You still get a load of the usual specifications, such as a viewing window and adjustable thermostat, too. The carrying handle helps when moving the fryer around your kitchen, whether you want to pop it back into storage or like to move it from one bench to another to keep it on display. It looks sleek and modern and is no fuss to clean either. Ideal for one or two portions or late-night snacks Swan is one of the best brands around for making high-quality yet affordable kitchen products, and this one is a handy traditional fryer which doesn’t break the bank. It has plenty of room to help feed the whole family, yet isn’t ridiculously bulky and awful to deal with. With variable temperature options, you have a great amount of control over the end result, and it also has safety cutout and overheat protection to help protect you and your home when cooking. Things seem to be a little flimsy, and it is very lightweight, but not so extreme that it ruined the cooking experience. It is also best for a smaller family due to its capacity. But overall, we were as happy with it as those which retail for well over twice the cost. A nice price and back to basics, which is good if you just want an easy to use fryer which does the job An attractive deep fryer which certainly wouldn’t be an eyesore if left out on your kitchen counter, this model is also very good at the job at hand. An effective odour filter will allow you to deep fry fish without the house smelling like your local chippy, and it will also reduce the smell in the actual oil so you can cook churros the next day without them tasting a little bit off. There is a viewing window which lets you keep on top of the process, and non-slip feet will ensure the appliance remains firmly in place, which is important for keeping everyone safe. There’s a lack of a removable bowl, timer or dishwasher safe components, but you do get an adjustable temperature option and safety cut out indicator. Despite the lack of a few features, it is still an affordable product which is easy to use, and it has enough technology packed in to make it a pleasant experience to useTEFAL Oleoclean Pro FR804040
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Deep Fat Fryer Buying Guide
Capacity
On average, a deep fat fryer will hold around 1 to 1.5kg of food at any one time.
1kg will likely do around four side-portions of chips, which is enough for a small family. Those which are larger may be better for other foods, such as chicken when it is going to be the main focus of a meal.
Oil Capacity
You always need to fill the fryer up with oil when it is in use, even if you’re only cooking one portion compared to the four it can usually hold. Most models will require at least one litre of oil.
The larger the oil capacity, the larger the food capacity usually is, but this isn’t always the case so double check both stats.
Basket
The best deep fat fryers will have a removable basket which can be lifted completely out of the oil to drain all of the excess off. You want to ensure that the basket is strong, and comes with a good handle, which makes it easy to lift.
Other Features To Look For In A Deep Fat Fryer
- Viewing Window – This will help you check on the progress of your food without having to lift the lid, which improves safety and cooking times
- Cool Walls – As you can imagine, oil gets very, very hot. You ideally don’t want any of this heat transferred to the body of the device, especially if you have kids knocking around, so look for a product which will remain cool to touch on the outside should any accidents occur
- Lockable Lid – These will be harder to open than rival models, as you’ll have to press a button or release a catch. Great if the device is knocked over, or you want to be double-sure that no splashing oil will escape
- Odour Filter – There is no denying that frying can be a bit smelly. A model with an odour filter will ensure the smell doesn’t escape the four walls of the fryer, and also that there is no taste left behind in the oil if you use it a couple of times. Check to see if the filter is washable, too
FAQ’s
Deep Fat Fryer or Air Fryer?
As we have mentioned, the latter has really risen in popularity over the past few years. The idea is that they use less oil, so produce healthier results.
But there are just some foods and goods which taste better using deep frying methods. Whether it be double-fried chips, battered onion rings, fried chicken, or battered fish, getting that takeaway quality taste in the comfort of your home requires a deep fat fryer.
Air frying results are closer to oven-baked cooking than frying, so it all depends how healthy you want to be and the taste you are after. Should you want both, there is nothing to stop you buying a mini fryer which you can easily store and bring out when you want to treat yourself.
Are Deep Fat Fryers Easy To Clean?
Some are, and some aren’t. If you want one which is little bother, you need to look out for a few things:
- Removable Oil Bowl – This will make it simpler to get rid of the old oil, wash the holder and then pop it back in with a fresh batch
- Oil Filtration – Some brands call it a certain name, but the idea is that the oil is either passed through a filter before it is stored to capture any crumbs or scraps, or the bottom of the oil is kept cooler, so these bits sink to the bottom and are easier to remove when the oil is cool
- Dishwasher Safe Parts – The chances are that you aren’t going to let the fryer get so dirty that it is past cleaning, but if you’d rather not spend ages getting into all the corners and washing by hand, look for a model where you can pop the removable parts into a dishwasher
- Non-Stick Interiors – For those parts which can’t be removed, you want them to be easy to wipe, especially as you’re dealing with electrical components. Look for a model with easy-wipe non-stick sections
How Much Should I Spend On A Deep Fat Fryer?
They can retail for around £25 for some cheaper, non-branded models. But if you’re going to spend any money at all, you may as well spend that bit more to get one which is a) going to last a fair few years, b) be comfortable to use and c) is easy to repair should something go wrong. We would say it is worth spending at least £40 on a decent model, but if you know it is a device you’re going to use frequently, look at the specifications more than the price tags to ensure you are getting everything you need and it is worth the purchase.
If you spend that bit more, you’ll probably get a model which is easier to clean, helps conserve oil usage and is quicker to heat
What Is The Best Oil For A Deep Fat Fryer?
There is no one best example, as a lot of it will boil down to the taste your after, your budget and the food you are cooking. You’ll need to pick an oil which is able to stand high temperatures (176–190°C) and won’t impart taste onto your food.
Coconut oil is rising in popularity and fast becoming a new favourite though. It is also one of the healthiest forms. Ghee and lard are also very popular.
Try to avoid vegetable oils, such as canola, corn or sunflower. They can be a mixture of oils, so the smoke point is unpredictable. Unless you know you’re buying the pure stuff (which is definitely not going to be the cheapest), it could be worth steering clear.