Kitchen Tools

A deep fryer will make deep frying much easier and more consistent, but it is also another piece of equipment that costs money and takes space in the kitchen. Buying a deep fryer should depend on how often you fry. I fry about once a month, so it has been totally reasonable for me to get a deep fryer. If you are not frying that often, a deep fryer is not the way to go.

If you decide to buy a deep fryer go ahead and select a basic commercial one. They are still compact and run on a regular 120V circuit. You can get them for around $100 dollars (not much more than household versions). There are many reasons to go commercial. They are more durable than the household versions and will last significantly longer. They are more powerful and better at holding consistent oil temperatures. They are also not made from plastic, so it is much easier to keep them clean. Cleaning is a snap since they are always easy to take apart. Cheap plastic deep fryers made for home usage will give you too many headaches and will break faster than you wish. So, buy commercial or don’t buy a deep fryer at all.

If you don’t want to purchase a deep fryer, you can use any sauce regular 5 – 8 QT pot you have. Or a special fryer pot is great for deep frying, too. Either option should be followed by a frying basket (sometimes called a drain basket), which is very inexpensive and is sold in multiple sizes (make sure to buy one which fits into the pot / frying pot).

Another tool you will need is a deep fry thermometer (sometimes also called a candy thermometer) to be able to control the temperature during frying (the thermometer needs to be able show temperatures between 100 – 400°F). It is also a very cheap item. Do not confuse the deep fry thermometer with a basic food thermometer. While you can use any food thermometer to replace a deep fryer thermometer if it displays temperatures up to 400°F, most food thermometers are only able to show 200°F max.

A wire or mesh skimmer (similar to an Asian strainer) is a great helper in the kitchen (do not confuse it with a fine mesh skimmer). A small size is the most useful for frying: helps you remove individual pieces from a fryer without removing the basket. Large size is most useful for removing objects from boiling water. It is very inexpensive.

Visit section “Deep Frying” here.