Cooking with Your Deep Fryer

All deep fryers are slightly different, so it is important that you at least glance through your owner’s manual before cooking with your deep fryer. With that said, there are some general methods that work with nearly all deep fryers.

 

First, assemble your deep fryer according to your owner’s manual, and then set it on a level countertop and plug the cord into the wall outlet. Next, fill the deep fryer cooking pot with oil to a level between the minimum and maximum marks on the inside of the cooking pot. Nearly any type of oil will work for deep-frying, but vegetable and peanut oil are among the best options.

 

After adding oil, cover the cooking pot and set the thermostat to the desired preheating level. With many models, an indicator light will alert you when the fryer has reached the appropriate temperature. While the fryer preheats, fill the wire mesh basket with food. Do not completely fill the basket, and for best results, only fill the basket about halfway.

 

Once the fryer has preheated, lift the lid and lower the basket slowly into the oil. Let the basket remain in the oil until the cooking time has elapsed, then lift the basket onto the hooks so that the oil will drain off the food and back into the fryer. After letting the oil drain for one minute, unlock the basket (if it is locked), and transfer the food onto paper towels.

 

If you want to fry more food, reheat the oil in the deep fryer before you begin frying again. If your food is not a crispy, golden brown, try frying it at a higher temperature, with more oil, or with less food in the basket.

 

Recipes designed for the deep fryer often appear in your owner’s manual, but you can also find recipes on the Internet or in cookbooks. If you use frozen food, make sure you defrost it as much as possible so that the food will cook quickly and effectively. Fish fillets usually fry in less than ten minutes, and chicken fries in less than twenty minutes.