I shouldn't be doing this I know :(, but does anyone have a recommendation for a deep fat fryer? I promise I shall only use it once a fortnight!
We have had a long discussion about making our diet more healthy and added to this was building in treats. My offspring have never tasted home made chips so this is what I am having for christmas - I have been told!
There are five of us so it will probably have to be a bigger one.
Any help would be most gratefully received, thanks. I haven't had one since 1988.
Can't add any comments on the fryer as we don't have one, but I would suggest you try pink fir apple chips when you have the opportunity (if haven't already tried them) - most delicious chips I have ever tasted.
Oooh, will do. Thanks! :)
Wouldn't it sound much better if they were called deep oil fryers?
My fat fryer is one of my favourite things - nothing tastes like home-made chips & it's also great for deep fried Goats Cheese (in breadcrumbs, served on home-grown salad with a balsamic dressing & some home-made jam or even better red-currant jelly mmmm). Health-wise, this is a world apart from the processed convenience cr@p that so many people live off.
I can recommend NOT getting our one (DeLonghi Rotofryer) - it's just big enough for 2 large portions of chips & would never work for a family of 5.
Over the years I've had all types of deep fat fryer's. But none were satisfactory, until I came across the magic mix deep fat fryer. The cost is £100, expensive but worth every penny. The beauty of it is they can be taken apart for cleaning, and that is essential to me. The only draw back is they do need about 3 1/2 litres of oil. My fryer is at least 15 years old, and still going strong. And we are a family of four. Hope this information helps.
The problem is they make the kitchen/house stink of hot fat even with extractor fans on full. Most unpleasant. I do mine in the oven and buy frozen organic chips because they're an occasional treat that needs to be as healthy as possible. My deep fat fryer has been sat on a shelf in the garage for a bout 6 years. Maybe time to chuck it.
Obbelix, I shall definitely go for one with a charcoal filter, I too don't like the smell, but will not be using it that often.
I like the idea of knowing which cooking oil I am using etc, what we are eating.
My children have never tasted home-made chips, and they can't be bad for them if only eaten very occasionally, they can't be that much worse than roast potatoes, and we do have a very healthy diet normally that a little treat won't go amiss.
I felt bad about even asking the question because people would think I was a bad mum... :-[
Arumlily, I was wondering about one that can be taken apart for cleaning, they do sound good. I think you can get them with oil filters too which sounds good.
Ollie, I hadn't even thought about cheese, wow, you are leading me into bad ways... I agree with you over the healthwise comment, it is what I thought.
Tim - I agree!
Thank you all for taking the time to answer my query.
T.
We've got a Tefal one which costs £100 normally but was £70 from Argos.http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/4227731.htm (http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/4227731.htm)
It is clean, doesn't smell when not in use and just about all of it goes in the dishwasher (except the electrical bits). It's great for all sorts of things but especially pink fir apple chips. There are six of us and it produces enough chips or parsnip or celeriac crunchies for even more if need be.
We don't use it that often but when we do it does exactly what we want it to.
I have a Kenwood dff tulippa, bought about 3 years ago and Which best buy at the time. It was about £40 from Argos, I have binges occasionally - maybe three times a year - and will probably use it to do artichokes next year <drool>
the whole thing disassembles and goes into the dishwasher ;D
A deep oil fryer (thanks Tim) is not necessarily the unhealthy option. The amount of fat absorbed by the food depends largely on the length of time it's in there, and things like potatoes, if the oil is the right temperature, tend to form a skin or a seal which prevents further absorption. You can often see chips 'inflate' as you dunk them for the final time, which demonstrates this. It's my belief that deep frying is far better in this respect than (say) shallow frying in too-cool oil. And anyway, what else would I do with all those spuds which never made it to a useable size? I wouldn't feel guilty tulippa, it's not as if you're going to live out of it is it?
Geoff.
you wont go wrong with a professional small fryer try here the falcon ones are very good and we used to have 2 in our restaurant http://www.nisbets.co.uk/products/ProductList.asp?TopGroupCode=C25&ParentGroupCode=S134&GroupCode=1570
Mine is similar to the one in Iggys post. It all goes into the dishwasher and comes up a treat! I like nothing more on a Friday night that a lovely piece of haddock, dunked in good thick beer batter, deep fried until souffled, sealing in moist tender fish, with a good side order of crispy home made chips, and a slice of white bread with lashings of butter. You aren't on the planet for long - I know - so I now live by, a little of what you fancy does you good!
Mine is a Magimix, cost about £100. Use it probably couple of times a month and it works very well. I am afraid I opted for taste rather than healthy eating so always use Beef Dripping rather than oil.
Tried the Blumenthal technique of par boiling the chips first but couldn't be bothered with the fridge stage. Just cooked them slowly at 160/70 degrees for about 10 mins and not allowed to turn brown, then drained and left out of the fat for about 20 mins and then cooked for about 2-3 mins at 190 degrees until brown and crispy. Worked OK.
Thank you everyone for your help, I feel much better now. I am depriving my kids not having one and will have a good look over the weekend. Thanks ever so much. ;D
Oh Toadspawn, just seen your post, that's just how my Mum used to do them, Do you think my lot will want chips on Christmas Day? Will have to make them wait!
T.
ooooooooooooooooo and homemade doughnuts! :P
EJ: perfect in every way. Chips from King Edwards here. I believe there's a posh name for beer batter but it escapes me at the mo.
Geoff.
Deep oil fryers (thank you tim II) are a LOT safer and more reliable that my gran's chip pan. Every bit of roasting grease went into that pan - beef dripping, lamb chop fat, pork fat. The fat was never changed, brown crusty bits were mixed in with the chips and the pan boiled up alarmingly when the chips went in. It was certainly dangerous, especially as she got older, filled the house with frying fumes, and was probably filling us with home-made degenerated saturated fat :-[
But I LOVED Nanna's cooking and would wangle visits whenever I could for love and chips :P ::)
Thanks everyone for your all your help. I went for the Tefal (thanks Grawrc) and it is amazing, there was hardly any smell and the chips were wonderful. I love the way it all goes in the dishwasher, I never imagined it would come apart so well, and the oil filter so the oil stays clean, deep fat/oil fryers have come a long way. Everyone was really pleased to find it under the christmas tree!
I note today it has gone back up to £99 but was £69 before christmas! :(
Thanks once again...
T.
Hey! Glad to have helped! :) :-*
We havn't had a deep fat fryer for years. Usually deep fry stuff in a huge pot on the stove if we ever fry. Probably only fry once-twice yearly - if that
I do miss home mad chips though - cant be beaten :P
Quote from: ktlawson on December 29, 2006, 23:32:11
I do miss home mad chips though - cant be beaten :P
As I have mentioned elsewhere, if you get the chance to make chips from pink fir apple ...
Not sure if all fryers now come with a themostat but I think its a good idea. I brought mine about 3-4 year ago the plastic handle came off the lid but it brilliant. Long silver one with themostat so you an adjust temp for cooking its a Magimix could be the same one as Toadstoal. Comes apart for easy cleaning everything in the dishwasher expect the element. I really like it after a plastic one I tried.