There are not many people who can resist the crispy, hot finish of food cooked in a deep fryer. Whether you’re cooking chicken, fries or shrimp, you won’t know what you ever did before you invested in a deep fryer.
A deep fat fryer is a cooking appliance that uses hot oil to cook food. And, believe it or not, if the food is cooked right, it should not be greasy. The water in the food you’re cooking keeps the oil from seeping into the food. The food is essentially steamed from the inside when the hot oil heats up the moisture inside the food.
Here, we’ll review five deep fryers under $50 so you can experience the deliciousness of homemade fried food all for yourself.
Best Value: Secura Stainless Steel Deep Fryer
The first fryer we’ll review is theSecura Stainless Steel Deep Fryer. This deep fryer is stainless steel, and it’s affordable. It’s excellent for frying a variety of foods, as the basket is good-sized. It has two dials, one is the timer and the second is the temperature control.
Amazon.com – unavailable currently
Amazon.com – unavailable currently
You can set your frying time which allows you to achieve excellent cooking results. And because the unit is stainless steel, this provides you with a quality look that looks well in your kitchen. This is also a unit that is very easy to clean.
If you truly want a great fryer but don’t have a big budget, this is a great fryer for you. It cooks to perfection because of the built-in timer, and it’s safe to use, as it comes with a lid that prevents spatters of grease. There are really no downsides to this unit, either. It’s all you could want in a fryer.
Alternative: Presto 05466 Stainless Steel Deep Fryer
The Secura Stainless Steel Deep Fryer is temporarily unavailable, but this one is a great alternative. The Presto 05466 deep fryer is a dual basket, professional style deep fryer in a handy at-home size. It features 1800W immersion element that provides quick preheating & fast oil temperature recovery.
Second Best: The Hamilton Beach Deep Fryer
Our second review will be about the Hamilton Beach Electric Deep Fryer. This fryer comes with an eight-cup oil capacity, so this allows you to cook a decent amount of food. If you’re looking for safety features, this fryer comes with a lid that prevents splattering of hot oil. This particular fryer comes with a removable basket for placing and removing food into the fryer.
This fryer also comes with a magnetic power cord so the cord breaks away from the unit if someone pulls the cord or it becomes tangled, subsequently preventing the spillage of hot oil.
This unit comes with basic temperature controls, so you can set it and forget it, although it is highly recommended that you don’t leave a hot deep fryer unattended. The unit weighs less than nine pounds, so it’s easy to put away and store.
A couple of downsides here. First, the cord is quite short, so if you have an outlet that’s far away, you may need to bring in an extension cord. Also, it is on the smaller side, so you won’t be able to cook for large groups unless you do so in smaller batches.
Third Place: Presto GranPappy Deep Fryer
This is a compact basic unit that is not a fancy package, but it’s a very effective deep fryer. This has a basic bucket design, but it’s very effective because when cooking, the heat is distributed evenly throughout the cylinder. And while this cooker is very basic, the fact there are no electronic features, problems are virtually non-existent.
This fryer is 1500 watts of power, and because of its smaller size, this means the oil will heat up faster. An internal thermostat keeps the oil at an optimum temperature. While this is a smaller unit, you can fit six cups of oil, or three pounds of shortening, in the cooking bucket.
Another great feature is the magnetic power cord to allow the cord to attach magnetically. If the cord becomes caught on something, it simply pops off the back of the unit, eliminating the possibility of hot oil flying everywhere.
There are a couple of downsides to the GranPappy. First, you can’t control the temperature due to the automatic thermostat. Also, it does not have a bucket like bigger fryers, so you’ll have to use the provided slotted spoon to place and remove food in and out of the fryer.
Fourth Place: Presto FryDaddy Deep Fryer
The next deep fryer we’re going to review is the Presto FryDaddy Deep Fryer. With this fryer, you get 1200 watts that power the heating element. There is a four-cup oil capacity, and you don’t have to worry about the oil not heating to the correct temperature, as that is automatically managed by the internal thermostat. The ideal temperature for frying is between 350 and 375 degrees.
This deep fryer is a smaller unit, so it will store easily in your kitchen. It’s not ideal for big families, but it’s perfect if there’s just one or two of you in the family.
There are a couple of downsides to this model. First, it does not have a basket to remove food with, instead, it comes with a slotted spoon to lower and raise your food in and out of the oil. Also, because it is non-stick (an advantage), you can’t put it in your dishwasher.
Fifth Place: Presto CoolDaddy Deep Fryer
Our next review is of the CoolDaddy by Presto. This is more of a classic fryer, popular among cooking enthusiasts for years. This fryer uses eight cups of oil and a good-sized basket, so you can feed an average family a decent amount of food. This fryer has a 1500 watt heating source, and because it’s a smaller fryer, the oil will heat up quickly.
The CoolDaddy has some safety features as well, such as a lid that stays closed to keep users safe from hot oil splattering. It also has a viewing window, so you can check your food as it cooks. A charcoal vent filter absorbs the smell that would otherwise stink up your home.
The one downside to this particular fryer is that it is on the small side, so while big enough for an average family of four, it’ll be too smaller for larger gatherings, unless you want to cook food in multiple batches.
Conclusion
The above fryers all have great features when it comes to fried food on a budget. You don’t have to spend hundreds of dollars to experience the tastiness of fried foods.
When considering a deep fryer for your home, consider the size and particular needs that you have. Consider the types of food you’d like to cook, the safety features you’re looking for, and your budget. If you’re going to use the unit on a daily basis, you’ll want to consider choosing one that looks well in your kitchen decor.
If you don’t have a lot of room for storage, you’ll want a unit that is more compact and easy to put away quickly. No matter what you’re needs are, there are plenty of deep fryers out there for you to choose from.
Reviews such as those posted above can certainly be helpful when it comes to selecting. Once you have the perfect fryer, you and your family will certainly enjoy the wonderful food that it will make.
