Nothing beats old-fashioned fried foods like fried chicken, fried plantains, scotch eggs, and doughnuts. While air fryers are still all the rage (and produce similarly crisp and juicy results with almost no oil), some foods may be better when fried properly. While most stovetop frying recipes can be prepared in a heavy-bottomed pan, an electric fryer is worth it when it comes to temperature control. Most allow you to choose the temperature you want and notify you when the temperature rises. An internal thermometer keeps the oil from overheating and regulates the temperature during cooking, so you don't have to worry about adding or subtracting heat like you would on the stovetop or with a finicky thermometer. Consistent temperatures result in more even cooking between batches.
Here are the top deep fryer machine brands:
- Cuisinart Deep Fryer
- Presto FryDaddy Electric Deep Fryer
- Cuisinart Compact Deep Fryer
- Presto Kitchen Kettle Multi-Cooker/Steamer
- Best Multi-Basket Deep Fryer: Hamilton Beach Triple Basket Electric Deep Fryer
Best Overall Deep Fryer: Cuisinart Deep Fryer
Pros: Lightweight, but sturdy and Dishwasher safe parts.
Cons: Bulky to store.
Cuisinart Deep Fryer
This 4-liter electric fryer is lightweight yet sturdy with dishwasher-safe parts. The oil container is easy to handle and has a spout on one of its edges for easy cleaning. Our pros love that its wide shape and corresponding frying basket create a large cooking area, allowing more food to be cooked in a single layer for the evenest results.
It's easy to use with a 60-minute timer (though you rarely need to fry that long at a time) and a 175°F to 375°F temperature dial. Large green and red indicator lights show when the fryer reaches temperature, a wide viewing window lets you see inside without opening the lid, and reduces the temperature while cooking.
Best Value Deep Fryer: Presto FryDaddy Electric Deep Fryer
Pros: Compact and Easy to use.
Cons: Only one temperature setting.
Presto FryDaddy Electric Deep Fryer
FryDaddy is a fan favorite and makes frying a breeze. It only takes up to four cups of oil to fry four batches of french fries. It also has a lid for oil storage and reuse and takes up minimal counter space. FryDaddy takes the guesswork out of frying by providing just one temperature.
Instead of a frying basket, it has a slotted spoon that can be used to scoop out fried food. Note that if you don't have a frying basket to hold all the fries or mozzarella sticks, you will need to carefully scoop out all the frying contents at the end of frying and before the next batch. Our pros also found that using a splash guard while frying helps prevent staining, as the included lid is for storage only. If you need a larger frying capacity, try GranPappy with six cups of oil.
Best Small Deep Fryer: Cuisinart Compact Deep Fryer
Pros: Compact and Easy to use conrols
Cons: Oil vat is not removable
Cuisinart Compact Deep Fryer
This small 1-liter fryer is perfect for occasional fryer use. It has a small footprint, is easy to store, and can fry up to 3/4 pounds of food. This comes in handy when you want to fry a few fish for a taco or a handful of mozzarella sticks as a snack.
It can reach 375ºF, and red and green lights let you know when it's warming up. Its hinged lid is equipped with an odor-absorbing filter, and its fuel tank is not removable but can be wiped clean after emptying the used oil. Our professionals love how easy it is to use, clean, and store in tight spaces.
Most Versatile Deep Fryer: Presto Kitchen Kettle Multi-Cooker/Steamer
Pros: Can also be used as a steamer and Reaches up to 400ºF
Cons: Small capacity
Presto Kitchen Kettle Multi-Cooker/Steamer
The Presto Kitchen Kettle is like a quick-heating pan that doesn't require a flame. It heats up quickly and can be used for a variety of purposes from frying and steaming to browning and soups. You can fry up to six batches of fries, making it a great option for families.
It heats up to 400ºF and comes with a tempered glass lid that lets you see the inside of the pot while you cook. Our pros love that once you remove the heat controls, the entire pan and lid are dishwasher safe.
Best Multi-Basket Deep Fryer: Hamilton Beach Triple Basket Electric Deep Fryer
Pros: Large capacity and Includes multiple baskets
Cons: Large footprint
Hamilton Beach Triple Basket Electric Deep Fryer
The Hamilton Beach Electric Triple Fryer offers frying versatility by offering three baskets - one large basket holds 12 cups and two smaller baskets hold 6 cups. With this deep fryer, you can choose to fry large quantities of food at once, like mozzarella strips, or you can easily fry two different foods at the same time but in separate baskets. However, the two sections of the fryer cannot be programmed for different temperatures, which means you have to fry foods with similar cooking temperatures together.
The fryer reaches 375ºF with an adjustable temperature controller and ready light and eliminates oil spills through the lid and viewing window. The detachable power cord is another great feature for added security. The basket is dishwasher-safe and easy to clean.
