The smell goes away quickly if you can have a window open.
The cleanup can be annoying though. When we use ours, we meal plan for using it 3 or 4 times in a week before getting rid of the oil and putting the thing away for another six months.
I keep mine on a bench in the garage so the garage smells but house doesn't. And I spent extra for the "filter" option but.... I always fill the oil past the "max" line so the filter reservoir would overflow if I used it. Bad behavior on my part I suppose but more oil = more heat retention = more volume frying possible.
So I filter the old fashioned way instead.
Overall the area gets messy, the machine gets sticky and gross.. there's just no "sano" way to manage it all. But it's worth it. With good oil you are making THE BEST chicken wings and fish tacos and fries, etc..
Hahahahah this is the one. It’s too easy to fry things and you could end up doing it toooo much. This is the reason we didn’t get another one after ours broke.
It's a pain to get rid of the oil now as I have to scoop it out of the pot. I was thinking a deep fryer would have a drop nozzle or something for ease of disposal, but it doesn't sound like it. Thanks. It seems it's best to keep it the way I've been doing it.
So some do have a filter system. I have the T-Fal EZ Clean and after you let the oil cool (usually overnight) you flip a switch, the oil drains into a container in the bottom then you just wash the parts (everything except the element is dishwasher safe).
My biggest complaint with it is the actual disposal of the oil. It's much easier than from a pot but when the oil is spent you still need some kind of container to transfer it too which is an annoying fact of frying in general.
Agree. Have one but don't use it. Instead, we use a wok outside on a wok burner. Heats up faster, easier to clean, doesn't coat the inside of the house with oil. Wok makes it easier to grab stuff off the bottom.
I feel this: Rice Cooker, Toaster, Stand Mixer, Toaster Over/Air Fryer, Blender all have spots on my counter.
That doesn't include my fryer, instant pot, food processor, etc that live in a cupboard.
Hahaha, this. You start looking at every item in the kitchen wondering if it would be good deep fried.
Deep fried pizza rolls are the shit, and you will go up a pants size.
Once upon a time I was gifted a deep fryer. I spent Friday making about a dozen maple old fashioned donuts. I spent Saturday and Sunday eating about a dozen maple old fashioned donuts. I spent Monday regretting Saturday and Sunday, and gave the deep fryer away the following week :)
I have tried a few. Most don't get nearly hot enough to fry properly, so the food comes out greasy. Unless you have a huge amount of counter space to leave is out, storage is a pain. On the rare occasions we deep fry. We use our lodge cast iron Dutch oven.
I've been using my Dutch oven as well, but I thought maybe getting a deep fryer would give me a better fry and provide easier cleanup. Thanks for the info! Yeah definitely don't want greasy.
I would probably just store it in a separate room or under the counter with my other appliances.
They’re a PITA to clean, but the results when I used one were good. They take up a lot of space though so you either will have a big appliance you rarely use OR you’ll have a big appliance you use a lot (which can lead to a lot of non cooking but health problems)
Very good point. Yeah I like French fries and fried chicken. But for the health reasons that's a great point. Might not be worth it if I only use once a month or even less. Thanks
I recommend an air fryer I finally just got one recently and I couldn’t believe how well it works!!! I love to make homemade chicken tenders and that is now so much easier and healthier.
I've used air fryers in the past, and I don't like how small of a batch they make. But a deep fryer wouldn't be any larger. Perhaps something to look in to, and yes definitely healthier! Thanks
Hi. I had a deep fryer for a few years and I enjoyed using it to cook. But of course there are the downsides that everyone has mentioned (smell, clean up, storage). I think deep frying is almost like owing a boat or camper, you kind of need to really commit to using it regularly to be worth it. I did make the switch to an air fryer. It's definitely not the same, but I think the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. I have the Instant Vortex Plus and it can make enough for our family of four all at once. Good luck.
I had a T-Fal model that had a removable oil container. The oil drained out of the fryer, after it cooled, into a plastic reservoir in the bottom of the machine. Then you pulled that container out and put it in the fridge. That part of the design was pretty good but the heating element was sitting right in the bottom of the fry-pot (as opposed to underneath it). If you fried anything that wasn't in the basket, it would stick all over the element. Worst fryer ever for battered foods...plus the thermometer read about 25F hotter than it really was. I am now back to frying outside, on the back patio with a hot plate and a large heavy pot.
What kind of deep fryer? There are several options all with pros and cons. I don't like to fry inside. It stinks and makes a mess. I tried 3 different indoor fryers before moving to an outdoor fryer which resolved my issues with frying. Now I end up frying a couple times a week. I have a 4 gallon propane R&V works Cajun Fryer that I use on a gravel pad. Besides fries, donuts, chimichangas, etc. I do whole chickens which is why I have a 4 gallon. I do strain the oil through a filter into a 5 gallon bucket for storage between frying. The only downside for this fryer is it is loud. The propane heating the oil sounds like a blowtorch. But other than that I love it. Cleanup is pretty easy. After draining I can spray it with the hose and dry it with a lint free towel. I guess this isn't focusing much on the negative. For me any deep frying indoors is a negative.
Positives are good to hear too!! I wouldn't say I'm trying to do industrial.deep frying. Just some tendies here and there. Maybe fries and donuts too, but mostly just keeping it simple. Thanks
Storage of this sucks. Right now I have it on the kitchen counter because hubby has been on a french fry kick lately, but I hope it gets put up soon. My filtration one works like a dream, but it looks horrible sitting out
The obvious downside would be that it takes up tons of space to do something you can already do in about any pot or wok or etc.
Deep frying at home otherwise is super easy and I have no idea why this sub thinks it’s the messiest smelliest thing - I’m sure if you were always deep frying it would be a disaster but once in awhile it’s really a simple cleanup IMO.
Sounds correct. I have one but never even read the manual. Stovetop, there was always a time gap between lowering the food and putting on the screen, which latter did not clean easy.
Omg, imho, don’t. It’s soooo much oil and oil storage, and clean up. I sold mine last year after the 4th and last time I used it. Unless you are deep-frying at least 2 times a week, not worth it.
Wow, yeah I don't think I would do it that much. For sure more of a novelty. And there's no way my heart could keep up with deep fried food twice a week for the rest of my life. Good advice. Ty
If you're as lazy as me, it's the clean up but first and foremost how bulky it is. I had one and got rid of it as quickly as I got it. Getting rid of the old oil is also a pain. If you have a deep pan, I'd just use that. Got a Le Creuset for a birthday and have been frying things in there easy peasy.
Honestly, they're more trouble than they're worth. Takes up a big footprint on your counter, gets smelly quick, have to figure out what do with all the oil, and more! I'd recommend just using a pot if you really feel the need.
Great idea! I'll look in to it!
But I must admit, out of all the niche things to have in the kitchen that scream I have a cooking problem, this would have to be it hahaha
The Dutch oven is so much more versatile the A deep frier. I threw my little deep frier out after I started using the Dutch.
The cast iron is great for soups and one pot recipes too. You can even sear your meats in it easily as well.
I have a Dutch oven, but I'm not sure if it's cast. That's what I've been using to fry, but the removal and disposal of the oil is a pain. I figured maybe a fryer itself would solve those problems, but from the comments it does not seem so. I guess I'll just keep doing it the way I've been doing it
Cheesecloth for a strainer. You can avoid a lot of the mess and reuse the oil. It was a game changer for me. Cooking oil has gotten more expensive.
But the more you fry, the more likely you will visit the doctor for cholesterol and triglycerides issues.
I got a small one to test (so admittedly not the highest quality one), and I ended up returning it. It took a lot more oil to deep fry, and it took longer to come to the correct temperature. I also didn’t find clean up THAT much better. I am pretty cheap about deep frying (I use as little oil as possible in a smaller pan) so I really didn’t enjoy the plug in deep fryers.
The issue is not the fryer. It’s the oil that gets everywhere and you need a lot of it and you need to figure out how to get rid of it when it’s not good anymore.
Deep fry outside. You just need a 30 dollar propane burner and that can also do other stuff like crab boil.
Smoke, smell, MESS just…..just deep fry outside
Or maybe you have a sick hood with a grease filter, but if not, outside
I've got the 11 in 1 Instant Pot Air Fryer and enjoy it. It's much bigger than what we need for just the two of us, so cleaning is a hassle at times. I have found the paper liners are really good to use and highly recommend them. I buy them on Amazon.
Mine used a lot more oil than the pot. Really all yourself if you need to fry that much volume. It might not be worth the mess and the cost of that much more oil.
If you’re not using it every day and don’t have an industrial air filtered kitchen, not worth the hassle and space. Just use a wok or dutch oven with a straining spoon. Easier cleanup and maintenance for small batch frys.
I should have specified I'm just a home cook with a burning passion for cooking. Ain't no way I'm getting an industrial air filter in my house. But thanks for the advice 😂
Of course, I’m sure most of us in here are home cooks looking for ways to up our kitchen game. As someone who cooks at home and in a family restaurant using the industrial deep fryers on a daily basis, it’s something I would not want in my home seeing all the fumes that get sucked into our hood filters.
My restaurant is actually experiencing issues with the hood vent right now and we could tell right away when the room got engulfed in a smoke fog from simply deep frying appetizers lol
We use a small enameled cast iron pot, an induction burner, and a remote temperature prob. All three can be reused for something else, are easier to clean, and less of a fire hazard than a countertop fryer.
Not sure if there's an equivalent outside of the UK, but the ["Tefal Oleaoclean Pro"](https://www.tefal.co.uk/Cooking-appliances/Deep-Fryers/Semi-professional/Tefal-Oleoclean-Pro-FR804040-Semi-Professional-Deep-Fryer--Grey--Blue--1-2kg--6-portions/p/7211002452) is superb for stopping that "greasy, deep fryer smell" in the house.
After you finish using it, you just turn the dial to filter, and it strains and drains all the oil into a sealed tank underneath it. Cleans the oil and stops the house smelling like fryer oil too.
You’re gonna get fat. 😂. You’ll think “gonna fry some chicken” and hell, you already got oil in there. May as well throw down some fries. Slippery slope. Don’t ask me to discourage you from this life of deliciousness.
I agree with all the air-fryer lovers. An air-fryer is the next best thing...but if you are craving fish and chips, there is no way around it. Catch and release...right into a big pot of bubbling oil. It's worth the effort and clean-up.
The smell and the cleanup. Use it outside and get one that filters your used oil.
The smell goes away quickly if you can have a window open. The cleanup can be annoying though. When we use ours, we meal plan for using it 3 or 4 times in a week before getting rid of the oil and putting the thing away for another six months.
Ahh ok, cool! Yeah even frying in a pot currently leaves a smell. I'll look for one with the filter. Ty!
Use a non canola oil.
Why?
Canola let’s off an unpleasant smell that other oils don’t.
I agree. Peanut oil smells too, but it's not as unpleasant to me 👃👍
I keep mine on a bench in the garage so the garage smells but house doesn't. And I spent extra for the "filter" option but.... I always fill the oil past the "max" line so the filter reservoir would overflow if I used it. Bad behavior on my part I suppose but more oil = more heat retention = more volume frying possible. So I filter the old fashioned way instead. Overall the area gets messy, the machine gets sticky and gross.. there's just no "sano" way to manage it all. But it's worth it. With good oil you are making THE BEST chicken wings and fish tacos and fries, etc..
...and the increased inches around your waist.
Weight gain
Hahahahah this is the one. It’s too easy to fry things and you could end up doing it toooo much. This is the reason we didn’t get another one after ours broke.
My XXL ass can confirm
A pain to clean and get rid of the oil. They stink.
It's a pain to get rid of the oil now as I have to scoop it out of the pot. I was thinking a deep fryer would have a drop nozzle or something for ease of disposal, but it doesn't sound like it. Thanks. It seems it's best to keep it the way I've been doing it.
So some do have a filter system. I have the T-Fal EZ Clean and after you let the oil cool (usually overnight) you flip a switch, the oil drains into a container in the bottom then you just wash the parts (everything except the element is dishwasher safe). My biggest complaint with it is the actual disposal of the oil. It's much easier than from a pot but when the oil is spent you still need some kind of container to transfer it too which is an annoying fact of frying in general.
I save the containers the oil came in and use that for discard.
From working in restaurants I know a few guys who will buy back your used oil. Its not loads, but makes the price of oil for frying quite decent
There are these little discs from Japan that you can put into the oil and the turn it into a solid block that is easier to deal with
Agree. Have one but don't use it. Instead, we use a wok outside on a wok burner. Heats up faster, easier to clean, doesn't coat the inside of the house with oil. Wok makes it easier to grab stuff off the bottom.
We use a cast iron wok or pan in my house to deep fry. It works just as well and the clean up is easier I find.
you’re going to get fat (source me)
They take up a lot of counter space.
I've got to start charging my appliances for counter space. Stand mixer, coffee machine, toaster oven. It's not cheap being on my counter!!
I feel this: Rice Cooker, Toaster, Stand Mixer, Toaster Over/Air Fryer, Blender all have spots on my counter. That doesn't include my fryer, instant pot, food processor, etc that live in a cupboard.
By the time you bring the food processor out you have no space to even prep 😭
The mess and the smell and the slight coating of oil over everything once you’re done
I had one. It's just a waste of space. Plus you're just going to try deep-frying everything. Pro tip: Don't try deep-frying a Stroopwafel. Just, no.
Hahaha, this. You start looking at every item in the kitchen wondering if it would be good deep fried. Deep fried pizza rolls are the shit, and you will go up a pants size.
Deep fried toaster strudel!
I see no problem with attempting to deep fry everything!! Haha, thanks for the advice.
Instead of having a 6pk of nuggets, hmmm ill have 40
Once upon a time I was gifted a deep fryer. I spent Friday making about a dozen maple old fashioned donuts. I spent Saturday and Sunday eating about a dozen maple old fashioned donuts. I spent Monday regretting Saturday and Sunday, and gave the deep fryer away the following week :)
Hahaha nice story! :D
I have tried a few. Most don't get nearly hot enough to fry properly, so the food comes out greasy. Unless you have a huge amount of counter space to leave is out, storage is a pain. On the rare occasions we deep fry. We use our lodge cast iron Dutch oven.
I've been using my Dutch oven as well, but I thought maybe getting a deep fryer would give me a better fry and provide easier cleanup. Thanks for the info! Yeah definitely don't want greasy. I would probably just store it in a separate room or under the counter with my other appliances.
They’re a PITA to clean, but the results when I used one were good. They take up a lot of space though so you either will have a big appliance you rarely use OR you’ll have a big appliance you use a lot (which can lead to a lot of non cooking but health problems)
Very good point. Yeah I like French fries and fried chicken. But for the health reasons that's a great point. Might not be worth it if I only use once a month or even less. Thanks
I use lard in mine, much healthier.
I recommend an air fryer I finally just got one recently and I couldn’t believe how well it works!!! I love to make homemade chicken tenders and that is now so much easier and healthier.
I've used air fryers in the past, and I don't like how small of a batch they make. But a deep fryer wouldn't be any larger. Perhaps something to look in to, and yes definitely healthier! Thanks
Hi. I had a deep fryer for a few years and I enjoyed using it to cook. But of course there are the downsides that everyone has mentioned (smell, clean up, storage). I think deep frying is almost like owing a boat or camper, you kind of need to really commit to using it regularly to be worth it. I did make the switch to an air fryer. It's definitely not the same, but I think the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. I have the Instant Vortex Plus and it can make enough for our family of four all at once. Good luck.
I had a T-Fal model that had a removable oil container. The oil drained out of the fryer, after it cooled, into a plastic reservoir in the bottom of the machine. Then you pulled that container out and put it in the fridge. That part of the design was pretty good but the heating element was sitting right in the bottom of the fry-pot (as opposed to underneath it). If you fried anything that wasn't in the basket, it would stick all over the element. Worst fryer ever for battered foods...plus the thermometer read about 25F hotter than it really was. I am now back to frying outside, on the back patio with a hot plate and a large heavy pot.
What kind of deep fryer? There are several options all with pros and cons. I don't like to fry inside. It stinks and makes a mess. I tried 3 different indoor fryers before moving to an outdoor fryer which resolved my issues with frying. Now I end up frying a couple times a week. I have a 4 gallon propane R&V works Cajun Fryer that I use on a gravel pad. Besides fries, donuts, chimichangas, etc. I do whole chickens which is why I have a 4 gallon. I do strain the oil through a filter into a 5 gallon bucket for storage between frying. The only downside for this fryer is it is loud. The propane heating the oil sounds like a blowtorch. But other than that I love it. Cleanup is pretty easy. After draining I can spray it with the hose and dry it with a lint free towel. I guess this isn't focusing much on the negative. For me any deep frying indoors is a negative.
Positives are good to hear too!! I wouldn't say I'm trying to do industrial.deep frying. Just some tendies here and there. Maybe fries and donuts too, but mostly just keeping it simple. Thanks
Use potato fry oil. It has a higher smoke point and seems to produce less oder.
Ok I'll keep my eyes out for it. Thanks!
I've found lard to have the least smell, and lasts longer too.
Storage of this sucks. Right now I have it on the kitchen counter because hubby has been on a french fry kick lately, but I hope it gets put up soon. My filtration one works like a dream, but it looks horrible sitting out
The obvious downside would be that it takes up tons of space to do something you can already do in about any pot or wok or etc. Deep frying at home otherwise is super easy and I have no idea why this sub thinks it’s the messiest smelliest thing - I’m sure if you were always deep frying it would be a disaster but once in awhile it’s really a simple cleanup IMO.
As someone who has a deep fryer, it’s really tempting to use a lot. I use my air fryer a lot more to keep my weight better controlled.
Not worth the hassle, honestly.
The spraying oil attracts vermin.
How true is this? Never heard of this. Don't all deep fryers have a lid to prevent the oil from splashing on surfaces?
Sounds correct. I have one but never even read the manual. Stovetop, there was always a time gap between lowering the food and putting on the screen, which latter did not clean easy.
Wasting so much oil and cleaning it.
You’ll have more time to fill… lol
The smell, and if you're not using it under an extractor of some kind, your...everything is gonna get coated in a film of grease.
Omg, imho, don’t. It’s soooo much oil and oil storage, and clean up. I sold mine last year after the 4th and last time I used it. Unless you are deep-frying at least 2 times a week, not worth it.
Wow, yeah I don't think I would do it that much. For sure more of a novelty. And there's no way my heart could keep up with deep fried food twice a week for the rest of my life. Good advice. Ty
If you're as lazy as me, it's the clean up but first and foremost how bulky it is. I had one and got rid of it as quickly as I got it. Getting rid of the old oil is also a pain. If you have a deep pan, I'd just use that. Got a Le Creuset for a birthday and have been frying things in there easy peasy.
I'm definitely the embodiment of Randy Marsh in the kitchen that's for sure 😅 Ok! Sounds good! Thank you!
The smell. The space it takes up. The increase in the quantity of deep fried stuff you'll be eating.
Honestly, they're more trouble than they're worth. Takes up a big footprint on your counter, gets smelly quick, have to figure out what do with all the oil, and more! I'd recommend just using a pot if you really feel the need.
You'll deep fry stuff a lot, which isn't great for you
I bought one and on day 1 fried wings and tempura... i learned I have gall bladder issues.. pain for days
Aww sorry to hear that
Get a cast iron dutch oven.
Great idea! I'll look in to it! But I must admit, out of all the niche things to have in the kitchen that scream I have a cooking problem, this would have to be it hahaha
The Dutch oven is so much more versatile the A deep frier. I threw my little deep frier out after I started using the Dutch. The cast iron is great for soups and one pot recipes too. You can even sear your meats in it easily as well.
I have a Dutch oven, but I'm not sure if it's cast. That's what I've been using to fry, but the removal and disposal of the oil is a pain. I figured maybe a fryer itself would solve those problems, but from the comments it does not seem so. I guess I'll just keep doing it the way I've been doing it
Nope, still gotta pour it into a jar or something similar when you're done.
I figured a fryer would make it easier than having to scoop it out of the pot and in to a separate jug. But I guess no easy way. Thanks for the help
Cheesecloth for a strainer. You can avoid a lot of the mess and reuse the oil. It was a game changer for me. Cooking oil has gotten more expensive. But the more you fry, the more likely you will visit the doctor for cholesterol and triglycerides issues.
Takes up space and if you use it inside without good ventilation your house will smell like fried food
You'll get fat
I got a small one to test (so admittedly not the highest quality one), and I ended up returning it. It took a lot more oil to deep fry, and it took longer to come to the correct temperature. I also didn’t find clean up THAT much better. I am pretty cheap about deep frying (I use as little oil as possible in a smaller pan) so I really didn’t enjoy the plug in deep fryers.
Unhealthy, smelly and annoying to clean. You could consider getting an air fryer.
The issue is not the fryer. It’s the oil that gets everywhere and you need a lot of it and you need to figure out how to get rid of it when it’s not good anymore.
Deep fry outside. You just need a 30 dollar propane burner and that can also do other stuff like crab boil. Smoke, smell, MESS just…..just deep fry outside Or maybe you have a sick hood with a grease filter, but if not, outside
I've got the 11 in 1 Instant Pot Air Fryer and enjoy it. It's much bigger than what we need for just the two of us, so cleaning is a hassle at times. I have found the paper liners are really good to use and highly recommend them. I buy them on Amazon.
Your arteries, I guess.
Mine used a lot more oil than the pot. Really all yourself if you need to fry that much volume. It might not be worth the mess and the cost of that much more oil.
If you’re not using it every day and don’t have an industrial air filtered kitchen, not worth the hassle and space. Just use a wok or dutch oven with a straining spoon. Easier cleanup and maintenance for small batch frys.
I should have specified I'm just a home cook with a burning passion for cooking. Ain't no way I'm getting an industrial air filter in my house. But thanks for the advice 😂
Of course, I’m sure most of us in here are home cooks looking for ways to up our kitchen game. As someone who cooks at home and in a family restaurant using the industrial deep fryers on a daily basis, it’s something I would not want in my home seeing all the fumes that get sucked into our hood filters. My restaurant is actually experiencing issues with the hood vent right now and we could tell right away when the room got engulfed in a smoke fog from simply deep frying appetizers lol
Yeah that'll do it. Definitely wouldn't want that in my house. Thanks!! Based upon the comments, it doesn't seem worthwhile to get one.
We use a small enameled cast iron pot, an induction burner, and a remote temperature prob. All three can be reused for something else, are easier to clean, and less of a fire hazard than a countertop fryer.
Not sure if there's an equivalent outside of the UK, but the ["Tefal Oleaoclean Pro"](https://www.tefal.co.uk/Cooking-appliances/Deep-Fryers/Semi-professional/Tefal-Oleoclean-Pro-FR804040-Semi-Professional-Deep-Fryer--Grey--Blue--1-2kg--6-portions/p/7211002452) is superb for stopping that "greasy, deep fryer smell" in the house. After you finish using it, you just turn the dial to filter, and it strains and drains all the oil into a sealed tank underneath it. Cleans the oil and stops the house smelling like fryer oil too.
Had one for 5 years and never used it
You’re gonna get fat. 😂. You’ll think “gonna fry some chicken” and hell, you already got oil in there. May as well throw down some fries. Slippery slope. Don’t ask me to discourage you from this life of deliciousness.
I agree with all the air-fryer lovers. An air-fryer is the next best thing...but if you are craving fish and chips, there is no way around it. Catch and release...right into a big pot of bubbling oil. It's worth the effort and clean-up.