Dockside Chat - deep fryer suggestions

I just had my third deep fryer poop out on me in like 5 yrs. this one was a Rival. I've had DeLonghi and one other brand. I see quite a few "ultrex" brand fryers on ebay. Any suggestions??

My advice - get rid of the electrics and get gas. There is no way an electric can detect the drop in temp. when you put in the fish/shrimp/fries/hushpuppies and recover to the thermostat setting without the contents soaking up oil. I use a gas burner/ 2 1/2 gallon pot and a wire basket. Load with about 1.5 gallon peanut oil - it can cook hotter without smoking. If you let one drop of water fall off a spoon into the hot grease and it doesn't make it to the bottom before sizzling back up - then the temp is right to cook. Sometimes I just spit in mine if I don't have a spoon handy. If its fish your cooking - be sure and take them out just before they float - otherwise they will be too dry. The sizzle in the frying is the moisture cooking out of them- when the sizzle slows down they are done.

Go gas..... plan on throwing the pot away before you have to replace the burner...... Faster to heat the oil and faster to recover..... When will the food be ready???????? Got cold beer?????? What was that address again???????

Ditto on the gas fryer, got one at outdoor world, $30. w/o tank, use my grill tank works great :thumbsup:

i have an elec, stopped using after got gas fryer, no comparison

I appreciate the suggestions on gas.........however...the kids use it more then I do for french fries etc. I want something that sets on the countertop and they can use. I can see the gas for big fish fry's etc...but not for just frying up one small batch of fish or fries. Besides..i'm in ohio and it gets a bit cold to run out and fry up a batch of french fries in middle of winter! lol
thanks guys,
mike

If you're wanting something that sits on the counter, then tha old, trusty Fry Daddy is the only way to go. I think it's made by Rival, but don't quote me on that.

My wife and I have been married 35 years, and I just retired the one that was given to us as a wedding presant. If the one I have now lasts as long, I won't have to buy another because someone will inherit this one in my will.....

You didn't mention that use in the first post..... When most of us think deep fryers we're thinking 30# of fish or 100# of hush puppies, etc. etc. ..... sorry we misunderstood... Fry Daddy would be the best for the situation you describe.......

BoatP2Lee - 3/8/2005 4:47 AM

If you're wanting something that sits on the counter, then tha old, trusty Fry Daddy is the only way to go. I think it's made by Rival, but don't quote me on that.

My wife and I have been married 35 years, and I just retired the one that was given to us as a wedding presant. If the one I have now lasts as long, I won't have to buy another because someone will inherit this one in my will.....

I still have my Fry Daddy from college. it worked hard during those years and still works today

Does the Admiral do garage sales? ;?

My wife found an electric fryer for a buck, and I laughed, because it looked like something that you would see on Antiques Road Show!

Four years later it still works like a champ, and when it craps-out, I'm only out $1!!! :thumbsup:

just my 2 cents...

I have used my Charmglow Turkey fryer. It says to do most things at 400 degrees.

Well it will only get up to about 357 according to 2 remote infrared thermometers I have. (However, it does seem to be able to sense the temperature cause it does go back on as soon as it drops about 5 degrees.) I think that explains why it took so long to do the turkey and the french fries were sorta oil soaked by the time they got brown....

for what its worth... Maybe the gas ones or other brands can get hotter

375 is the best temp for frying most things


french fries, properly done, are a two step process......fry them at a lower temp, offhand i'd say 300 or so, but you could look it up in a good cookbook.......when they are nice and limp, take them out and drain them and let them sit a bit.....turn the oil to 375, fry in small batches.....the low temp stage turns the starch into sugar....the high temp stage browns the sugar and makes them crisp and golden....it really does make better fries this way

I've got a really simple one from Wal-Mart. I think it's made by GE. Just a resistance heater, a temp probe and a double walled stainless steel bucket with a cover. As with most things in life KISS principle is best. There is nothing to break and it was around $30.00.

I just picked up a DeLonghi at Sams Club for 60 Bucks and really like it.
Boataholic , what happened to yours and how long did it last.
Thanks Dave

bought he wife a presto at wallyw for x-mas! $20, it can go down to 150/175 deg up to 400 so you can use it for a crock pot too.it comes with the glass lid. i think they make fry daddy's but this one is bigger and holds more grease so it will stay hot when you add the fish.that's as long as you don't put in too much at one time. bode

Ditto on the fry daddy. Very litle oil, very easy clean up, and does a great job for small amounts. And it only costs about 20 bucks. :thumbsup:

I asked this question on another message board a few months ago. The Fry daddy was mentioned a lot & it is well known. The retail cost is around $20. I opted for a slightly better unit from Presto. It has a removable heating element, magnetic electric cord & basket. Its a little bigger too. I got mine at Sears for $30.00 with tax but I recently saw one at Wal-mart on sale for $20.00. Check out www.GoPresto.com

BTW, I don't work for Presto or Sears or WM. :grin:

Bailey....
What on earth are ' hush puppies', and whatever they are, what would a person do with 100 lb of them ;?
Inquiring Canadian minds want to know!
Unless these H-puppies are some kind of national secret, lets hear it.

Cheers... Tyee :) .

Yea I thought Hush Puppies were shoes????? ;?

Actually, according to Dictionary.com

"n : deep-fried cornbread ball (Southern)"

I guess they're realted to the (in?)famous GRITS.... :grin:

Well, gotta go to my polo lessons as soon as windsurfing week is over on New England Sports Network......

dave,
my old delonhi was the kind with the element built into the unit, not the "pro" style that i think you probably have where element is actually in the oil. not sure what happened but like most things these days...cheaper to buy a new one then have fixed.
I ended up buying a cheap fryer on ebay. so far so good , kids are happy!
mike

LI Sound Grunt - 3/29/2005 8:51 AM

Yea I thought Hush Puppies were shoes????? ;?

Actually, according to Dictionary.com

"n : deep-fried cornbread ball (Southern)"








I guess they're realted to the (in?)famous GRITS.... :grin:


NOT!!, nothing like grits, think of a cruller made with cornbread and not sweet, in essence it's fried bread(cornbread) don't knock 'em till you 've tried 'em




Well, gotta go to my polo lessons as soon as windsurfing week is over on New England Sports Network...... :thumbsup:

A few years ago we walked into a restaurant for breakfast. A friend of mine asked the waitress, "Do ya'll serve grits?" She replied, "Why yes we do". He said (no kidding) "Well here we are!"

Boataholic, yeah mines the one with the element in the oil, I like it so far .

The term hush puppies comes from when the old cajuns were frying fish they used to throw small amounts of extra batter into the hot oil to feed the dogs that were sorta begging for something.
So the term hush puppies was born, they are pretty good with fish and cole slaw and beer. But 100 lbs of hush puppies is a quite a pile.

Dave

Ahhhhhh.....

Well it's no wonder you guys are getting biten down there :o !
Your eating the poor bugers hush puppies :grin:

Cheers... Tyee.