Just got mine about 1 week ago.Made fish and chips just tonight.Figured it's time to put some back into the review pool and share the knowledge.
The reasons I chose this fryer turned out to be not the reason why I like it.But I do like it.
I bought this fryer because I thought it had a digital read out for temperature.This was Alton Brown's idea.But the digital read out does not serve this purpose!It is only for a timer countdown feature which works ok, but my handheld timer works better.The temperature control is actually a lacking feature because there are only four preset temperatures this fryer will lock in to (320, 3338, 356, 374) degrees F.This is fine for me since all I care about is the high temperature.
What turned out to be a very cool feature that I assumed might be a gimmick is the oil storage tray/filter system.Normally when you operate a fryer like this, you do your frying business and then let it cool down (takes 2 hours or more), then somehow "transfer" the oil back into a canister.You would need to strain the oil to get the debris out yourself. Likely, you would spill some of it.
This fryer, on the other hand, has a covered plastic "drawer" that sits underneath. When you are finished frying, you turn off the fryer, and turn the knob to "drain".Once the temperature cools down (approx 1-2 hours), the valve automatically opens up and fills up this drawer.There is a filter in the bottom of fryer bucket that keep the oil clean for you so you don't have to strain.When you're ready to use the oil again, you pull out this "drawer", open up a small valve on the end of it, and pour it back into the top and then BAM!, you're good to go. No mess.Very cool.
The drawer has a lid that enables you to disassemble it for the dishwasher.In fact, the element lifts off the top and then every piece in this thing goes right into the dishwasher for easy cleanup.
These big plusses that make this fryer worth buying: 1) Well built. 2) The automatic oil storage/drain/filter feature and the ability to break down everything for the dishwasher make this thing worth it hands down.3) This unit also holds almost a gallon of oil, which is good since that means a fast recovery time - temperature will stay hot which is the key to proper deep frying. 4) Can `dishwasher' everything except the element, including the oil drawer.
Not so great: the `digital' read out /timer is gimmicky but works to maintain one of the four temperatures. There is a fill line that you MUST NOT exceed that is only about halfway up the fryer,leaving you with a frying `depth' of only about 3".This is about normal for a fryer in this class through, so if you want a deeper basket, you'll need to get an entirely different class of fryers that don't have this no-clean up feature. The window on the top of the lid is useless since it fogs up in one nanosecond of frying.There's also a feature that reminds you to change your oil after TEN uses, which is totally lame since after about FIVE you'll want to change your oil, and that depends on how heave you fry.Since this thing has no way of telling if you fried 5 lbs of fries or one chicken nugget, it counts them as ONE and that counting feature is useless.
Also, there's a non-Emerilware version of this for about $35 less - I'd go for that since the only difference is this `digital' readout which is useless.
And remember, with any fryer, unless you want your house to smell like a burger king, you'll want to operate this thing directly under a vent or better yet, outside.
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Emerilware FR7009001 3-2/7-Liter Deep Fryer by T-FalProduct Description: For enjoying perfectly fried foods at home, this 1700-watt deep fryer features easy-to-use controls and a digitally controlled adjustable thermostat for selecting the perfect cooking temperature. After setting the thermostat, a "temperature-ready" light indicates when the oil has reached the selected frying temperature. The large-capacity unit holds 3-2/7 liters of oil, and its removable stainless-steel pot accommodates up to 2-2/3 pounds of fresh food--great for large families. Not only does the fryer offer simple operation and flexibility, but it also provides several safety features. The unit's design includes cool-touch handles, external basket control to ensure splatter-free frying, and a magnetic safety plug.
The fryer also comes equipped with an integrated oil filtration and drainage system for easy cleaning, storing, and economical use of the oil, extending the life of oil up to 15 uses. An automatic oil-replacement control indicator takes the guesswork out of determining when oil needs to be changed. Other thoughtful details include an extra-large frying basket, a digitally controlled timer for precision frying and multi-tasking in the kitchen, an extra-large viewing window to check on food without losing important heat while frying, and a permanent filter that helps reduce cooking odors. All parts except for the heating element are dishwasher-safe for quick cleanup. Attractively housed in brushed stainless steel, the deep fryer measures 18 by 12 by 14 inches and carries a one-year limited warranty.
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I bought this for the purpose of deep frying more than the other features but it surpassed what i expected I would recommend this item to anyone that needs a little more frying area than what you have with a so called single basket without the excess of a dual basket unit
