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French fries. Onion rings. Nuggets. Donuts! So many tasty snacks, such long distances to find them. Wouldn’t it be nice to get them right from the comfort of home? Then it’s time to occupy that empty spot on your counter with a mini deep fryer, and treat yourself whenever you want!
See also: Before you add another appliances into the mix, check out these kitchen organizers for a fool-proof clean up and better use of your counter space!
Why Mini Deep Fryer Is Better
Aside from the money you save by cooking at home, here are a few more reasons to say goodbye to franchise-made French fries.
Fry Them, Eat Them, Whenever You Want Them
Need some finger foods for that late arrival? Movie night lacking appropriate snacks? Midday craving? All you have to do is stock up on ingredients, and you can whip up something tasty no matter the hour.
The Perks Of Specialization
Deep frying with a pot is not only messy (and often smelly), it’s dangerous! A mini deep fryer will be designed with your safety in mind: cool touch sides, carrying handles, lids to keep the oil from spilling out are only some of the features that make deep frying less daunting. You can even give yourself some extra free time by getting your older kids to prepare their own treats!
Don’t Worry, Snack Happy
Take control of your well-being without depriving yourself! You can greatly reduce the risk associated with deep fried food, simply by switching to any of the healthy oils recommended by the American Heart Association. That’s one key choice your local fast food restaurant will never give you.
Your Vegetables, Even Healthier!
I know, I know. I couldn’t believe it either, but it’s true! A study published in 2015 showed that vegetables that were deep fried in extra virgin olive oil increased their antioxidant capacity, boosting the presence of phenolic compounds such as chlorogenic acid and rutin. The paper even went on to specify that “oil in cooking water does not increase the antioxidant capacity of the vegetable”. In other words, to reap these benefits, it has to be oil or nothing!, and a very specific kind of oil too.
How To Tell Which One Is Right For You
Every person and every household will have specific needs. Here’s what you should keep in mind as you set out to find the best mini deep fryer to take home.
Size
We’re not looking for a large appliance: the main point is to treat ourselves to a nice snack without taking up too much space. Then again, maybe we want to cook for a larger number of people. Desired capacity (measured in cups) and available space are what counts here.
Frying baskets
In most cases, a single basket will do. If you prefer variety however, you might want to look for a fryer with 2 or more baskets so you can cook more than one course in a single round.
Wattage
The higher this goes, the better your fryer will be at what it does, although you should still be mindful of the impact on your utility bill. An average fryer will draw between 1800 and 2200 watts.
Temperature control
Any fryer will come optimized to generate the right temperature for the job (about 375°F), but you might still want the ability to regulate the temperature so your food will not be raw or burned.
Oil usage
We don’t want to use more oil than strictly necessary, especially if we like to deep fry our edibles more often than not. Some fryers will yield one serving of food per cup of oil. Can’t get much more efficient than that!
Oil Reusability
Certain deep fryers will let you reuse the oil up to 4, maybe as many as 5 times. When it goes rancid, that’s when you should dispose of it.
Controls
Granted, we probably won’t want the little ones messing with boiling oil. Still, we might want the unit to be operated by folks who prefer to deal with as few knobs and buttons as possible. With enough digging, you might find a fryer that will be very simple to operate.
Safety features
If it has a lid, you can tell the oil within won’t be spilling out on a whim. For safe handling, you need it to have sides cool to the touch. A carrying handle won’t hurt, either.
Cleaning
This is quite relevant, considering the sort of foods your appliance will routinely work with. If the deep fryer can be disassembled, it will be easier to clean. We cover another related feature on our next point.
Non-stick Properties
Some units come in stainless steel or anodized aluminum, which can be cleaned with warm soapy water. In certain cases, their interior will be coated with enamel.
Added Value
Odor filter, to keep the smells under control. Indicator lights to tell you when your food is ready. These and other perks can be a nice added bonus, depending on your taste and situation.
Some Great Choices Out There
What follows is a selection of mini deep fryers that might very well be worth choosing.
1. T-fal 8000035819
It is compact and therefore not particularly potent, at 850W; but it is still a reliable appliance. Top capacity is 1.2 liters of oil and 0.66 pounds (about a cup and a half) of food.
You get the standard ready and power on lights, but the only way you have to find out how your food is doing is by looking through the window on the lid. Operation is through a single knob to adjust the temperature, ranging from 300 to 375°F.
Its sides are not cool to the touch, but the handles allow you to move it around risk-free.
Pros:
- Its size makes it ideal for small kitchens.
- Easy to use.
Cons:
- Temperature range is not as wide as with other units.
- Difficult to clean.
2. Hamilton Beach 35021
This is a good pick for letting others make their own snacks: its sides stay cool to the touch, and the lid is designed so you don’t have to open it when you want to lift the basket; this helps keep you safe from splatters at all times.
There is no alert to tell you when your food is ready, which makes the window on the lid quite useful. You do get lights to indicate if the unit is powered on, and to signal that it is ready for cooking. Temperature is adjustable in range between 265 and 375°F, and its 1500W potency means it won’t take long to heat up and to finish cooking. It can hold 8 cups of oil and cook 6 cups of food.
The heating element and the lid are removable; so is the tank, which is also coated with enamel to simplify cleaning.
Pros:
- Safe to handle.
- Easy to operate.
- Cleaning it is simple.
Cons:
- Lid can be a bit fragile and might not sit well on the unit.
3. Presto 05411 GranPappy
This is an unconventional design, but it works well. It looks like a bucket and handles like one, which should preserve you from any burns. A scoop is included to handle edibles within the appliance. 6 cups of oil will cook 6 cups of food.
An internal thermostat keeps the temperature optimal within the unit, keeping the oil at boiling point so your food will be appropriately cooked.
The lid snaps on to keep oil stored safely and odor-free. The unit is not submersible, but both the interior and exterior are non-stick and can be cleaned with warm soapy water.
Pros:
- Optimal oil efficiency, 1 cup per cup of food.
- Oil can be stored for reusing.
- Temperature is self regulated.
- Interior and exterior are easy to wipe clean.
Cons:
- Might feel unwieldy since there is no basket and food has to be scooped up.
4. Oster CKSTDF102-SS
From a brand that might be familiar to you or people you know, comes this unit with 1.5 liter capacity and power ranking at 900W. The lid comes with a window to check on your food, and a filter to reduce odors and splatter.
A light will tell you if the appliance is powered on. It is operated through a knob which can be used to turn the unit off, or set to a temperature between 300 and 375°F. Body is stainless steel, and its parts are dishwasher safe.
Pros:
- It can be turned off without unplugging it.
- Cleaning has been made quite easy.
Cons:
- Priced a bit high for its size and power.
5. Cuisinart CDF-100P1
This one will fry ¾ pounds of your food with 1.1 liters of oil. Its power might be considered reasonable for its size, at 1000W. Odors are kept under control by way of a removable charcoal filter.
Indicator lights are available for telling you if the unit is powered on and when oil is hot enough to begin cooking. Temperature can be controlled manually between 325 and 375°F. The bowl is non-stick die cast, and the body is brushed stainless steel. The sides are bound to get very hot, which makes it important to touch only the handles at the sides.
Pros:
- Easy to clean.
- Effective at dealing with odors.
Cons:
- Very limited temperature range.
- Potentially unsafe, as it does not feature cool sides.
Best Mini Deep Fryer: Hamilton Beach 35021
Its oil-to-food ratio may not be the best, but it is still fairly decent. Beyond that, this unit packs quite a bit of functionality: its range of temperature is among the widest you will find, 265-375°F; potent as it is at 1500W, it is also remarkably safe to handle thanks to its sides which stay cool to the touch, and, since its lid does not have to be opened to lift the basket, there is no need to worry about oil splatter. Lid, tank and heating element are removable, and the latter is coated with enamel, which simplifies cleaning.
See also: While we’re talking appliances, are you looking for a better way to clean your microwave? Check out these natural, effective grime cleaning solutions, here!
It doesn’t have a timer, or an on/off switch, but you still get the indicators to let you know if the unit is powered on and for when the oil is ready to cook. 6 cups of food is a pretty good capacity for an appliance this compact, too.
You may find this is worth spending on. And your snacks will be all the better for it!
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