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Deep Fat Fryers

The deep fat fryer is a standard device found in most fast food establishments like McDonald's and chip shops. They are usually industrial sized fryers, so are not exactly the type of device found in a household kitchen. The fryers popular for home use are a slimed down replica that contains a much smaller basket where the food is put in to fry, and operate at a temperature range of about 140-200 °C. The images below show the typical size differential between stand alone commercial fryers, and a work top home use fryer.

Commercial - Home use -

Although fryers are popular in most homes, a deep fat fryer does represent a fire hazard, most modern fryers come with a safety cut out feature so are less dangerous than traditional frying methods, like the hove top chip pan. But once a problem has occurred it's difficult to extinguish, the logical approach of pouring water on a fire can cause an explosion due to the oil. Therefore the government has launched many advertising campaigns highlighting the dangers of home frying, most notable expressing the message that fryers should never be left unattended. Therefore the main thing to look for when buying a deep fat fryer is the safety features included, a cut out is essential when the device is in risk of overheating and an audible alarm is also ideal. A cool touch wall is another safety option which means that the body of a fryer will not heat up, and will be safe to the touch. The capacity of the basket is also important, and dictates how much the fryer can hold. Beyond this a see-through glass body is now available for some fryers, and allows improved visibility of the food while cooking. And finally variable temperature controls allow you to adjust the temperature of the fryer for better cooking.