Can you recommend a good electric deep fryer?

[fzxdoc]

OK, here's where I am this morning.

One reason I wanted an electric fryer was the ability to lower all the food into the hot oil at once and cook it. The second reason was to find a less messy way for frying chicken in the kitchen. I'd like to fry, say, 6+ nice sized pieces of chicken at once--breasts, thighs, legs with maybe some room for the wings.

From what some of you have said and from my research, it sounds as though none of the kitchen-friendly electric fryers have the basket volume to fry more than maybe 3-4 pieces of chicken at a time. For the 6+ pieces I'd like to fry, it looks like I need to look at Steve B 's 30 quart Cajun Injector Fryer recommendation. The electric version doesn't seem to be available any more, but the propane gas ones are. They're meant for outdoors.

So for the volume I want to cook, I need something between the kitchen-friendly electric fryers (the TFAL8000 is at the top of my list), and the 30 quart gas Cajun Injector Fryer.

A friend here recommended the Tramontina Stovetop Deep Fryer as a consideration. I looked at it online. It's $90 on Amazon. It looks good--deep fryer with a basket, volume 5.5 quarts, dimensions 21x9x9 inches. That 21" dimension includes the pot's long handle. Basically it's a 9 inch round tapered cook pot. It also has a splatter screen lid and a regular lid. It can be used for cooking other things like pasta or beans or whatever. But it may have the same volume as the TFAL 8000, chickenpiecewise. And I'm back at the stovetop again.

I'm going to take a trip "uptown" as we here in the mountains say and go to Kitchen and Company or Bed Bath and Beyond and look at the fryers I'm interested in IRL.

But I have the sinking feeling that if I want to fry more than 3-4 pieces of chicken at a time in the kitchen I'd better stick with my old school CI skillet and Staub Dutch Oven methods and continue to live with the messy cleanup. Sigh.

Kathryn

[ComfortablyNumb]

fzxdoc Give this page a look. I doubt most fall into your budget, but that Avantco is moderately priced and commercial quality.

Just found this one.

[HouseHomey]

fzxdoc see that butterball fryers advertised on the same page? Why can that be used? It says it takes up to a 14lbs turkey. That's what I was referencing below.

[HouseHomey]

fzxdoc Hey Kathryn, point of clarification please. Do you at home "Deep fry" whereas you completely submerge the snicker in fat..... say like a restaurant deep fryer?

Or do you put your chicken in and one side" is submerged then you flip 5 minutes later?

i understand the volume thing which is why I use castiron as I fry a lot too.

Question:

​​​Is there a reason why we can't use an indoor electric turkey fryer for chicken instead of a whole turkey 🦃?

I don't thein the 5.5qt listed above will give you the volume you are looking for. By the time you get the chicken in there that fill up pretty quick.

what size chickens are you using? Broiler, roasters, fryers, stewing birds etc... little one or big ones? I ask as I am wondering how big your pieces are.

i think your staub is likely 6-8quarts.

Fyi I know nothing about turkey fryers but it seems to me like the volume should be more.

HouseHomeys helpful kitchen tip of the day:
Dont fry chicken breasts. they take up too much space.

I do cut up the breasts and fry strips or nuggets for the princess because... she's a 👸

[fzxdoc]

I looked at one similar to the Butterball Turkey Fryer that you mentioned previously, HouseHomey (Presto Turkey Cooker) , but the turkey was not fully submerged in the oil, from what I could see. I'll research it some more.

I'm talking about real deal deep frying where the whole piece is submerged in the hot oil. I can do that in my Staub. In the skillets, I fry and flip.

Kathryn

[RonB]

I looked at some electric turkey fryers. If they can hold a 15 lb turkey, you should have no problem with two 5 lb chickens. The question is do you have room to store it?

[HouseHomey]

Interesting. I had not considered the size. Doh!!

[fzxdoc]

Yes, I'm looking into that as well. I don't want a huge footprint. It'd like to store it in my pantry and take it out only when needed. So it has to be easy to move and store.

It's not allowed to have any countertop space in my kitchen. I have nothing on my countertops except a coffeemaker and a small 2 slice toaster, tucked away. I like clean and clear surfaces when not cooking.

Kathryn

[fzxdoc]

I watched this you Tube video on the Butterball XL Turkey Fryer: (I goosed the speed up to 1.5 to listen to--you can still understand it and it goes quicker.)

If I can sidle up to the size of the thing, it just might work.

I still have to look up safety aspects of using it. I don't want to have a Cornballer on my hands. Hahaha. (Arrested Development reference )

Kathryn

ETA: After watching the video, there is a danger with lowering the turkey in, holding your hands directly over the popping, foaming oil. Of course you could wear gloves that cover the forearms as well. I could see someone getting some hot grease popped up on their arm, panicking, and dropping the bird the rest of the way into the oil, causing a foam over. Yikes.

Other kitchen fryers have a handle that sticks out horizontally so your hands are never over the hot oil.

[HouseHomey]

Awesome Kathyrn. I can't hear it now at work. I will check it out when I get home.

Thank you for the video.

[jfmorris]

I just found that fryer on Amazon fzxdoc, and here are the dimensions: 16.5 x 18.4 x 14.8 inches. Weight is 19.6 pounds (shipping weight is 25.4 pounds).

[jfmorris]

Here's the link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B072JFY8MN...a-362711421539

[HouseHomey]

Gracias!

[fzxdoc]

The TFAL8000 is 18" x 14" x15" . So basically this Butterball Turkey Fryer is 4 inches wider and 1 inch shorter front to back. Thanks jfmorris , for the dimensions.

[HouseHomey]

fzxdoc Wow Kathyrn, great video, guess what? I'm starving now! Seems to me this is a better way to go for chickens. Or this type of fryer anyway. A couple of observations.

1. This might be an issue for some one not as tall to safely go in n out of the top with the basket while the unit is on a countertop.
2. He was holding a 20lbs turkey straight out in front of him and holding it while lowering it slowly into the oil.
3. The corner piece that pops out is easy to wash sure, but is the back of the electric unit sensitive to water while washing the coil?
4. The drain spout is awesome but you have to be strong enough to hold the vessel which the oil is draining into as the unit is likely on the countertop.
5. Ihink the "no extension cord." Thing is more of a safety issue for the user just like a crock pot and toaster. I use heavy duty cords all the time the circuit thingy at home for parties.

im seriously considering one of these thes types of fryers.

Thanks again for this thread.

Erik

[Steve B]

You’re always starving 🤙

[hoovarmin]

He clearly does a lot of exercising, mostly developing his traps, hence #2

[fzxdoc]

The TFAL 8000 and the Butterball XL Turkey fryer are both $110 on Amazon, so price is not a consideration--no savings advantage, that is.

For just my husband and me, the TFAL 8000 is perfectly fine, but when the kids come to visit or for entertaining, it won't be able to handle the load. I could always get out my CI skillets and Staub Dutch Oven, I guess.

I watched Emeril demo the TFAL on You Tube. He got 10 chicken drummettes into the basket.

I'm heading uptown tomorrow and am eager to have eyes on these toys.

Kathryn

[HouseHomey]

Be careful. They are so shiny. ✨🌟âï¸ðŸŒˆðŸŒˆ that's how they get you.

[richinlbrg]

Late to the thread, fzxdoc , but if it is helpful at all, we have what is most likely the least elegant of any member, namely, a butterball electric turkey fryer (pronounced Masterbuilt).

We rarely use it, but are happy with it when we do use it. Certainly simply, but works well and cleans easily. I've actually used it as a faux sous vide - the thermostat is +/- 2.5*F.

While we've used veggie oil, peanut oil is best, IMHO, but we have a peanut allergy in the family.

Hope that helps.

[fzxdoc]

Hi, richinlbrg , good to hear from you again! Thanks for the input on the Butterball Electric Turkey Fryer. I saw one on Friday when I went shopping. Golly, that thing is a behemoth!

Do you store it somewhere or does it have pride of place on your countertops? Have you fried chicken in it? How much oil does it take?

I have yet to rest my peepers on the TFAL 8000. I ran out of time on my trip to town but will look for it again when I go on Tuesday. I saw a few other electric fryers, but none had that oil drainage/storage feature that the TFAL has. That's the biggest draw for me.

Kathryn

[richinlbrg]

fzxdoc , We've had ours for quite a while, so it is not the XL you had mentioned previously. ROUGH dimensions are 13"hx13"wx15"d and holds 2 gallons. Should be able to do a 14# turkey (we usually shoot for about 12 which it handled with ease).

I spends the VAST preponderance of time on a shelf in the basement! REALLY, we RARELY use it.

I have not fried a chicken in it. Another

I know nothing of the Tfal....at least not yet. I'll try to go check it out.

On my Masterbuilt, the front right corner which has the controls slides up and out easily and brings the heating element with it for cleaning. The oil basket also comes out for cleaning as I recall.

The oil drain is in the back right. It has a removable panel which stores the electric cord and oil drain extension. Since this seems to be an important function for you I'll post poor quality pics.

Hope this all helps!

[richinlbrg]

The black back panel removed, you can see the cord and drain extension storage. To the left, inside the unit you can seethe drain into which the extension screws and the drain stop toggle lever.

[richinlbrg]

Here is is the drain extension installed. Put the unit on the counter and the receptical in the sink and open the spigot.

[fzxdoc]

Thanks so much, richinlbrg, for posting the photos. The drain system on the TFAL8000 is incorporated into the fryer and the oil is stored or at least collected within the fryer. It's a neat idea.




While the XL Turkey Fryer will meet/exceed my needs, I really don't want something that huge lurking/languishing on a shelf somewhere in the house.

Kathryn

[richinlbrg]

I took a quick look at the Tfal FR8000; is that the model you are looking at? If so, here is my thought. Compared with the Tfal FR8000, the Butterball is a child's toy (but this child is happy with it, none the less). The Tfal looks like a serious kitchen accoutrement!

[fzxdoc]

Yes, that's the one, richinlbrg . The TFalFR8000. Supposedly they sell them at Sam's too, which is where I hope to see one.

Kathryn

[texastweeter]

My dad has one. the only problem is, you can fry in lard/tallow. it has to be a thinner oil. Also the size is limiting (i have a wife and 4 kids). I love my farberware which is the same as the butterball.

[RonB]

Please don't forget that dropping a single piece of chicken in hot oil will drop the oil's temp. The more pieces you add, the greater the effect. The larger the oil to chicken ratio, the less effect adding chicken will have. Of course, the more oil, the harder it is to store....