We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Shopping Kitchen Products The 6 Best Deep Fryers We Tested on French Fries, Chicken Tenders, and Yes, Even Whole Turkeys Whip up deep-fried delicacies right at home By Melanie Rud Melanie Rud Melanie Rud is a freelance beauty writer, editor, and expert living in Chicago. People Editorial Guidelines and Lizzy Briskin Lizzy Briskin Lizzy Briskin is a contributing writer and product reviewer for PEOPLE. She's the former food editor at Real Simple and Food Network Magazines and has a culinary arts degree from Cambridge School of Culinary Arts. She's been a food, travel and lifestyle writer for nearly a decade and her work has appeared in Wirecutter, Bon Appetit, Insider, Women's Health, SELF, and other publications. People Editorial Guidelines Updated on November 14, 2024 02:04PM EST In This Article View All In This Article Our Top Picks Reviews What to Know Behind the Scenes Why Trust PEOPLE? What Is PEOPLE Tested? Photo: People / Russell Kilgore Fries. Doughnuts. Wings. Many of our favorite foods are made in a deep fryer. If you want to make these crispy delicacies at home where you can enjoy them hot and fresh, you need a hard-working deep fryer. These appliances are designed for indoor or outdoor use. They heat and maintain cooking oil at a precise temperature, so when you drop your food into the basket, you can watch your potatoes turn into golden, curly chips and your frozen tenders become juicy and crunchy. If you love air frying at home and are ready to advance to the real thing, we tested the most popular deep fryers for home cooks to find the best options for every kitchen. We also consulted experts to identify the most important features to consider when buying a deep fryer. Our Top Picks Best Overall: Breville Smart Fryer at Amazon $180 Jump to Review Best Budget: Chefman 4.5-Liter Deep Fryer at Amazon $70 Jump to Review Best Multi-Basket: Secura Triple-Basket Deep Fryer at Amazon $65 Jump to Review Best with Oil Filter: All-Clad 3.5-Liter Deep Fryer at Amazon $150 Jump to Review Best for Turkey: Bayou Classic 44-Quart "Big Bird" Turkey Fryer Kit at Amazon $329 Jump to Review Easiest to Clean: SALE DeLonghi Livenza Deep Fryer at Amazon $234 $161 Jump to Review Best Overall Breville Smart Fryer PHOTO: Amazon $180 at Amazon $180 at QVC View on Abt.com Our Ratings Setup 5/5 Heat Retention 5/5 Size 4.5/5 Features 4.5/5 Safety 5/5 Star Qualities Easy setup and assembly Presets for both fresh and frozen food Multiple safety features Red Flags Not as large as other options The Breville Smart Fryer earned perfect scores in heat retention and safety. It has a wide temperature range that makes it highly versatile for a variety of foods. The oil temperature is displayed on an LCD screen, and the fryer beeps when it reaches temperature, which helps with efficiency in the kitchen. For safety, an error message pops up if the oil rises above 410 degrees, and a magnetic lid and cool-touch handles make this model one of the safest we tested. The Breville Smart Fryer includes presets for commonly cooked items, though we had to scour the user manual to figure them out. Still, setup and assembly were a breeze, and the fryer is large enough to accommodate multiple servings at a time. While this isn’t the cheapest fryer we tested, it’s also not the most expensive, and the price feels justified given the smart features and ease of use. Type: Basket | Dimensions: 16 x 10.4 x 11.4 inches | Weight: 8.6 pounds | Capacity: 4 quarts | Dishwasher Safe: Yes | Temperature Range: 140-385°F PHOTO: People / Russell Kilgore PHOTO: People / Russell Kilgore PHOTO: People / Russell Kilgore PHOTO: People / Russell Kilgore PHOTO: People / Russell Kilgore Deep Fryers vs. Air Fryers Deep fryers cook by immersing food in hot oil. “The hot oil makes moisture in the food vaporize and simultaneously cooks the food,” says Laurie Klein, a food consultant and the former test kitchen manager for Hamilton Beach Brands. Air fryers technically do not fry. Klein says air fryers usually have a heating mechanism and fan at the top of the cooking chamber. Hot air circulates the food to cook it. "The rapid air movement produces a convection effect to cook and brown the food by causing the moisture in the food to evaporate,” she explains. Best Budget Chefman 4.5-Liter Deep Fryer PHOTO: Amazon $70 $60 at Amazon $11 at Walmart Our Ratings Setup 4/5 Heat Retention 3/5 Size 4/5 Features 3/5 Safety 4/5 Star Qualities Compact size for easy storage Dishwasher safe Easy to remove basket Red Flags Lacks extra features The price and performance of this budget-friendly deep fryer can’t be beaten. While it doesn’t come with the extra features of some pricier models, it does its job well and is straightforward to use. The fryer has an easy-to-remove basket that’s smaller than most. We had to cook one recipe of homemade potato chips in two batches. That said, we still found this fryer large enough to handle most tasks (though if you’re cooking for a bigger group, it may not get the job done). The smaller size makes it easy to store, plus, it's dishwasher-safe, so cleanup is quick and easy. Type: Basket | Dimensions: 12 x 6.25 x 11.25 inches | Weight: 7.13 pounds | Capacity: 4.8 quarts | Dishwasher Safe: Yes | Temperature Range: 0-375°F PHOTO: People / Russell Kilgore PHOTO: People / Russell Kilgore PHOTO: People / Russell Kilgore PHOTO: People / Russell Kilgore Choosing the Right Oil Since deep frying is done at high temperatures, you’ll want oil with a high smoke point, preferably above 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Canola, peanut, soybean, and vegetable oils all have a smoke point of 400 degrees or higher, so they’re appropriate to use in a deep fryer. Best Multi-Basket Secura Triple-Basket Deep Fryer PHOTO: Amazon $65 at Amazon Our Ratings Setup 3/5 Heat Retention 3.5/5 Size 4/5 Features 4/5 Safety 4/5 Star Qualities Affordable Comes with two small baskets and one larger one Great for cooking frozen food Red Flags Exposed heating element at the top This is the best model for those prepping multiple courses of deep-fried deliciousness. The Secura Triple-Basket Deep Fryer comes with three baskets. You can use the two smaller bins simultaneously for two different recipes, or use the single large basket for a bigger batch. This fryer was a top performer in the crispiness department. While the baskets aren't super spacious and the heat retention didn’t wow us, the affordable price and solid performance make this fryer more attractive than other fryers we tested. Be aware that the top heating element is exposed, which does pose a safety risk if you’re not paying attention. Type: Basket | Dimensions: 15.5 x 14.5 x 9.5 inches | Weight: 11.65 pounds | Capacity: 4.2 quarts | Dishwasher Safe: Yes | Temperature Range: 0-375°F PHOTO: People / Russell Kilgore PHOTO: People / Russell Kilgore PHOTO: People / Russell Kilgore PHOTO: People / Russell Kilgore PHOTO: People / Russell Kilgore Changing the Oil Depending on what you’re frying, you should change your cooking oil after eight to 10 uses at most. If you’ve been cooking fish or breaded ingredients, you may need to change the oil more frequently. To keep the oil usable for as long as possible, filter out any burned bits and food particles after the oil is cool and store it in a sealed container. If the color starts to turn or the oil has a strong odor, replace it immediately. Best with Oil Filter All-Clad 3.5-Liter Deep Fryer PHOTO: Amazon $150 at Amazon $159 at Wayfair $210 $150 at Sur La Table Our Ratings Setup 5/5 Heat Retention 3/5 Size 3/5 Features 3/5 Safety 4/5 Star Qualities Built-in filtration system makes cleaning a breeze Quick and simple to set up Dishwasher safe Red Flags Only appropriate for single (possibly double) batch cooking The All-Clad 3.5-Quart Deep Fryer impressed us with its ease of use and smart design. As avid cooks, we would purchase this product based on the built-in oil filtration system alone. The removable fryer bowl automatically filters used oil into a bin so you can store it for reuse or dispose of it. The fryer bowl is also dishwasher-safe, which is always a win in our books. The setup took minimal time and effort. The basket on this fryer is on the smaller side, so our potato chips cooked unevenly. We’d recommend this model for smaller households. We’d also note that the metal handles can get hot during a longer frying session. We love that the fryer’s clear glass lid lets you keep an eye on your food while shielding you from splatters. Type: Basket | Dimensions: 18.2 x 13.7 x 14.7 inches | Weight: 16.5 pounds | Capacity: 3.5 quarts | Dishwasher Safe: Yes | Temperature Range: 0-385°F PHOTO: People / Russell Kilgore PHOTO: People / Russell Kilgore PHOTO: People / Russell Kilgore PHOTO: People / Russell Kilgore The 6 Best Meat Thermometers We Tested for Grilling, Roasting, and Stovetop Cooking Best for Turkey Bayou Classic 44-Quart "Big Bird" Turkey Fryer Kit PHOTO: Amazon $329 at Amazon $319 at Walmart View on Shop.com Our Ratings Setup 2/5 Heat Retention 5/5 Size 5/5 Features 3/5 Safety 3/5 Star Qualities Impressive heat retention Pot made of durable 20-gauge stainless steel Great for entertaining Appropriate for cooking a turkey Red Flags Assembling the stand is time-consuming If this is the year you finally deep-fry your Thanksgiving turkey, this outdoor model is the ticket. The 44-quart pot is made of 20-gauge stainless steel, so it's great for feeding a crowd. The Bayou Classic (outdoor only) model landed a perfect score in heat retention. It heated quickly, dropped just 20 degrees when a turkey went in, and quickly returned to temperature. The turkey came out with beautifully crispy skin and moist meat that wasn’t oily. Setting up this model was more challenging and took longer than our indoor fryers. Importantly, the pot can easily be bumped off the stand, so give it a wide birth and keep kids and pets indoors while frying. While the frying pot is dishwasher-safe, it can't fit in most standard dishwashers. There are also no digital temperature settings, so you’ll have to keep tabs on your cook using the included thermometer. Type: Basket | Dimensions: 16 x 16 x 21 inches | Weight: 35 pounds | Capacity: 44 quarts | Dishwasher Safe: Yes, although the basket is too large to fit in most standard dishwashers | Temperature Range: Up to 375°F PHOTO: People / Russell Kilgore PHOTO: People / Russell Kilgore PHOTO: People / Russell Kilgore PHOTO: People / Russell Kilgore PHOTO: People / Russell Kilgore The 9 Best Grills of 2024, Tested with 9 Types of Meats and Vegetables Easiest to Clean DeLonghi Livenza Deep Fryer PHOTO: Amazon $234 $161 at Amazon $16 at Walmart $180 at Wayfair Our Ratings Setup 5/5 Heat Retention 3.5/5 Size 3.5/5 Features 3.5/5 Safety 3.5/5 Star Qualities Front-facing spigot makes it easy to drain oil Includes a built-in oil filter All removable parts are dishwasher-safe Red Flags Some cooking tests yielded greasy results Deep fryers can be a pain to clean, but not this De'Longhi model. It has a unique oil drain that siphons out the oil for disposal. Draining the oil takes longer than dumping it directly from the frying bowl, but this method is mess-free and the oil is directed through a built-in filter. The fryer will also notify you when the oil needs changing and the removable parts are dishwasher-safe. This is one of the priciest fryers we tested, and we had slightly higher hopes for performance. While it cooked frozen French fries nicely, homemade potato chips and fried chicken tenders clumped together in the basket and came out oily. We don’t recommend cooking more than two to three servings at a time. Given its smaller size, we're also surprised by how long the oil took to reach temperature in this machine. Type: Basket | Dimensions: 11 x 18 x 12.5 inches | Weight: 10.8 pounds | Capacity: 5.7 quarts | Dishwasher Safe: Yes | Temperature Range: 248-374°F PHOTO: People / Russell Kilgore PHOTO: People / Russell Kilgore PHOTO: People / Russell Kilgore PHOTO: People / Russell Kilgore Cleaning Your Deep Fryer First, dispose of all of the oil. Private chef Lexis Gonzalez suggests dumping it into a heavy plastic container once it's completely cooled. “I mix Dawn dish detergent and Ajax or baking soda to help get all of the grime and grease out, then wash the oil bowl thoroughly,” she says. Next, wipe your fryer with a paper towel and make sure it’s fully dry before packing it away. Wipe down the base with hot, soapy water, but take caution not to completely immerse the heating element in water, as this could cause damage, notes Klein. What to Know About Deep Fryers Benefits With a deep fryer in your kitchen, you can make your favorite crispy, golden treats at home. It’s a fun way to experiment with meals typically reserved for eating out. Plus, you can put your own seasonings and spin on your fries, chicken tenders, doughnuts, and more. “Deep frying can go as far as your imagination,” says celebrity chef Cordell Robinson. You can deep-fry almost anything edible. Frozen foods are easy to fry, but you can also batter things such as veggies, lobster tails, and even ice cream before throwing them in your fryer. If you plan to fry a turkey, you’ll need an extra-large fryer, like the Bayou Classic 44-Quart “Big Bird” for outdoor frying. Features Our favorite fryers come with features that make cleaning, setup, use, and safety easier. Oil filters and drainage mechanisms, like those on the De’Longhi Livenza Deep Fryer and the All-Clad 3.5-Quart Deep Fryer, make oil removal easy and clean. Temperature presets can be handy for commonly cooked items, and alarms that indicate when the temperature is reached are great for keeping you in the know and efficient in the kitchen. Other handy features include dishwasher-safe parts, safety alarms for unnecessarily hot temperatures, and splatter screens. Capacity Consider how much food you’ll need to fry at once to find the right-sized fryer for your home. The oil capacity listed is higher than the food capacity since more oil is needed to completely cover the food in the basket. For example, a deep fryer with a 12-cup capacity can fry up to eight cups of food. Larger capacity fryers will also usually take longer to heat and you’ll need more oil, even if you’re preparing a smaller batch. Regardless of the size of the bowl, it’s key to never overfill a deep fryer to avoid a dangerous overflow at the worst and soggy chips at best. Temperature Settings Some deep fryers offer temperature presets for specific items like potatoes and chicken fingers. While this is a nice-to-have feature, it’s more important to have a clear and legible temperature display. Gonzalez says it’s imperative to easily see and keep tabs on your fryer's temperature to avoid burning or undercooking your food. Our top pick, the Breville Smart Fryer, has seven preset settings as well as an easy-to-view digital temperature display. The outdoor Bayou Classic 44-Quart "Big Bird" Kit notably does not have a temperature display. People / Russell Kilgore Ease of Cleaning Eating fried foods can be a fun, nostalgic experience, but cleaning up grease? No one enjoys that. “No one likes a high-maintenance appliance, so make sure you consider how easy it is to clean and maintain,” says Robinson. Most deep fryers on our list have removable dishwasher-safe parts, and some — like the All-Clad 3.5-Quart Deep Fryer, which has a built-in filtration system — catch debris from the oil to make cleanup a tad easier. The De'Longhi Livenza Deep Fryer also has a filter and a spout to drain off the oil without splatter or spills. Safety Whether you're using a pot or a deep fryer, frying with hot oil requires close attention. Never leave your fryer unattended, and always keep it out of reach of children. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for how much oil to use, proper temperature settings, and other safety precautions. Make sure the deep fryer is on a flat, stable surface away from other items; electrical cords should not be placed where someone might trip and accidentally move the fryer. Be mindful of hot surfaces, and do not overcrowd the fryer, as this can lead to the oil overflowing or splattering. Price Range The cheapest fryer on our list, the Chefman 4.5-Liter Deep Fryer, costs less than $60, and though it’s on the smaller side, it wasn’t the smallest fryer we tested. The priciest model, the Bayou Classic 44-Quart "Big Bird" Kit, is also the largest, but because it can only be used outdoors, it’s not the most practical if you live in a colder climate. In the middle, our overall favorite, the Breville Smart Fryer comes in at $180, and the De’Longhi Livenza Deep Fryer at $161. People / Russell Kilgore Behind the Scenes We tested 17 deep fryers in our PEOPLE Tested lab to find the best ones for any home cook. Setup: We first compared the ease of setup for each deep fryer and considered the temperature settings, capacity, and any helpful features, such as coking presets, clear lids, splatter screens, LCD temperature displays, and oil filtration mechanisms. We then recorded how long each model took to reach 300 degrees Fahrenheit.Performance: To evaluate each deep fryer's performance, we prepared one 8-cup batch of homemade potato chips, 12 ounces of frozen chicken tenders, 12 ounces of frozen French fries, and, when applicable, a whole turkey. Each test was performed at a different temperature and we noted how quickly the oil heated up, how much it dropped, and how long it took to return to temperature after adding food. Of course, we checked how everything tasted and gave more points to crispy, golden chips and fries that weren’t greasy. After cooking, we made note of how easy it was to clean each fryer, including removing the oil. After conducting the tests, we used a standardized grading system to rate each model for ease of setup, heat retention, size, extra features, safety, ease of cleaning, and overall value. We also asked ourselves if we'd buy the fryer for ourselves or recommend it to family or friends. People / Russell Kilgore Why Trust PEOPLE? Lizzy Briskin is a trained chef, recipe developer, and food writer. She is a contributing writer for PEOPLE, Real Simple, Delish, The Kitchn, and other outlets. She loves making cider donuts in her De'Longhi deep fryer every fall and thick-cut onion rings in the summer. To curate this list of the best deep fryers, she reviewed and synthesized the testing insights from the PEOPLE Tested team. Melanie Rud, the original author of this article, is a freelance shopping editor, writer, and expert. She tapped celebrity chef Cordell Robinson, private chef Lexis Gonzalez, and food consultant Laurie Klein for their takes on what makes for a great deep fryer. Our Expert Panel Cordell Robinson is a celebrity chef known as "The Culinary Diva." Lexis Gonzalez is a private chef at Lady Lexis Kitchen and was a contestant on Food Network's Chopped Sweets. Laurie Klein is a food consultant and the former test kitchen manager for Hamilton Beach Brands. 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