Designed to transform everything from beer-battered fish to apple fritters into crispy, browned goodness, the best deep fryers cook foods quickly and uniformly. We recommend All-Clad’s deep fryer for most home cooks, but the right model for you depends on how many people you typically feed and which additional features you want. Below, find the rest of our top picks.
- Best Deep Fryer Overall: All-Clad Deep Fryer
- Best Value Deep Fryer: Elite Gourmet Deep Fryer
- Best Small Deep Fryer: Bella 0.9-Liter Deep Fryer
- Best Large Deep Fryer: Cuisinart 4-Quart Deep Fryer
- Best Multi-Basket Deep Fryer: Hamilton Beach Triple Basket Deep Fryer
- Easiest-To-Clean Deep Fryer: T-fal Odorless Stainless Steel Deep Fryer
- Best Deep Fryer On Amazon: Presto CoolDaddy Deep Fryer
- Most Versatile Deep Fryer: Presto Kitchen Kettle
Best Deep Fryer Overall
A Sleek, Feature-Packed Option That’s Best For Most People
All-Clad Deep Fryer
Dimensions: 14 x 18 x 15 inches | Capacity: 3.5 liters | Power: 1,700 watts
All-Clad’s deep fryer is packed with features that allow you to create restaurant-style food at home with ease. With a 3.5-quart capacity, this sleek stainless model is sizable enough to handle family-sized portions of your favorites. It offers straightforward and intuitive controls, including a temperature dial and “ready” indicator to let you know when it’s time to fry. Meanwhile, a push-button timer helps you keep track of cooking time while an automatic oil filtration system cleans and stores oil after each use, reducing waste in the process. There’s even a clear glass topper so you can safely monitor the cooking action. Also, this model couldn’t be easier to clean; the cooking basket, bowl and oil storage container are all dishwasher safe.
Best Value Deep Fryer
A Popular, Compact Model That’s Less Than $50
Elite Gourmet 1.6-Quart Electric Immersion Deep Fryer
Dimensions: 8 x 10 x 8.4 inches | Capacity: 1.6 quarts | Power: 800 watts
Not everyone wants to shell out hundreds for a deep fryer. Thankfully, you can find great budget options, the best of which is this model from Elite Gourmet. While this small appliance is pretty bare-bones, it has all the tools you need to fry your favorites at home. Featuring a 1.6-quart oil container, this machine can churn out up to 4.5 pounds of food at once. Meanwhile, an adjustable temperature controls help you get that just-right level of doneness, plus the glass-paneled lid allows you to keep an eye on the action (while containing dangerous splatter).
Best Small Deep Fryer
A Petite Fryer That’s Perfect For Small Households
Bella 0.9-Liter Stainless Steel Deep Fryer
Dimensions: 9.3 x 9.1 x 9.1 inches | Capacity: .9 liters | Power: 1,800 watts
Cooking for one or two? This compact model from Bella might be perfect for you. Made from durable stainless steel, this deep fryer can hold around one cup of food—i.e. a few chicken tenders or a decent portion of fries—and requires just 0.9 liters of oil. It also features cool-touch handles and an odor filter to keep that tell-tale frying scent from getting out. And, once it’s cleanup time, you can toss the lid, basket and basket handle in the dishwasher. This model is also ideal for those who are short on space, as it can easily fit in a cabinet or pantry.
Best Large Deep Fryer
A Roomy Model That Can Feed Parties
Cuisinart 4-Quart Deep Fryer
Dimensions: 17 x 10 x 11 inches | Capacity: 4 quarts | Power: 1,800 watts
Cuisinart’s deep fryer offers up ample room to feed your family and friends, thanks to its sizable 4-quart capacity. In this powerful 1,800-watt machine, you can whip up two pounds of foods at once; if you’re cooking for the whole neighborhood, this deep fryer heats up and recovers quickly so you can move onto the next batch in no time. Plus, “ready” LED lights and a digital timer make it easy to keep track of the whole cooking process. Another nice added perk: The frying basket has a cool-touch handle so you don’t have to worry about accidentally burning your fingers.
Best Multi-Basket Deep Fryer
A Versatile Model That Can Fry Two Foods At Once
Hamilton Beach Triple Basket Deep Fryer
Dimensions: 16 x 14 x 10.5 inches | Capacity: 4.7 quarts | Power: 1,800 watts
Fry up several dishes at once with this multi-basket deep fryer from Hamilton Beach. Featuring a 4.7-quart capacity, this model comes with two half-size baskets as well as one large basket that can cook up to 12 cups of food at once. A vented lid helps contain smells while a built-in window allows you to watch the cooking process unfold. There are also some nice safety features in the mix, including a breakaway cord to keep the fryer from tipping. Once it’s time to clean up, you can put the oil tank, lid and baskets all in the dishwasher.
Easiest-To-Clean Deep Fryer
An Odorless Model With Dishwasher-Safe Parts
T-fal Odorless Stainless Steel Deep Fryer
Dimensions: 17.5 x 9.5 x 10.5 inches | Capacity: 3.5 liters | Power: 1,500 watts
As seasoned deep fryers know, cleanup is one of the trickiest parts of the whole cooking process. And while no deep fryer can make the process totally effort-free, this stainless steel deep model from T-fal model comes with plenty of features that make cleaning less of a chore. It features a secure lid to contain oil splatters as well as cool-touch handle, meaning you won’t have to dirty up an oven mitt to control the action. Plus, T-fal’s oil tank, lid, frying basket, aluminum filter, charcoal filter cover and excess oil tray are all dishwasher safe, making cleanup as easy as opening and closing your dishwasher. This model is also great for those who can’t stand the smell of frying oil that lingers after cooking: It features a filtration system that slashes up to 74 percent of odors.
Best Deep Fryer On Amazon
A Simple Model That Makes Deep Frying Easier Than Ever
Presto CoolDaddy Deep Fryer
Dimensions: 15 x 11 x 9 inches | Capacity: 6 cups of food | Power: 1,500 watts
Presto made a name for itself in the deep frying world when it released the FryDaddy, a compact machine that went on to become a bestseller. Now, the cult-favorite machine has gotten an upgrade in the form of the CoolDaddy. This fryer is cool to the touch and features a locking cover to prevent splatters. Meanwhile, an adjustable thermostat helps you control the action while a charcoal air filter absorbs smells. The outside basket handle also allows you to lower food into the oil with the cover closed, helping you keep the cooking action contained. Once your food is done, simply grab the comfortable grip handle and lift.
Most Versatile Deep Fryer
A Handy Pick That Can Boil, Steam And Fry
Presto Kitchen Kettle
Dimensions: 6 x 8 x 6 inches | Capacity: 5 quarts | Power: 1,200 watts
Because it offers so many additional features, Presto’s Kitchen Kettle isn’t actually billed as a deep fryer. Rather, it’s technically a multi-purpose cooking appliance. If you want to use this top-rated model for deep frying, you can cook up to six servings of fries and other fried goods at once. If you’d rather use it for soups, pasta, steamed vegetables or roast beef, you can do that, too. Its tempered glass cover contains splatters and gives you a full view of the interior action. And once you’ve wrapped up with cooking, the appliance can go in the dishwasher.
MORE FROMFORBES VETTED
How We Chose The Best Deep Fryers
To determine the best deep fryers the market currently has to offer, we started by identifying the most popular top-rated models from trusted kitchen brands like All-Clad, Cuisinart, T-fal and Hamilton Beach. Then, we took a closer look at each of those deep fryers, analyzing their build, ease of cleaning and use, capacity and additional features. During this step, we also took into consideration customer reviews to get a better sense of how these devices perform in a range of households.
What To Look For In A Deep Fryer
From value to capacity, here are the most important features to consider when shopping for a deep fryer.
Price
As is often the case with small kitchen appliances—blenders, toasters and the like—deep fryer prices vary widely. Generally speaking, the larger and more advanced the machine, the higher the price. For example, if you’re in the market for something small and basic, you can snag a model for as low as $35. If you’re seeking something smarter or larger, expect to spend up to $200 or more.
Size/Capacity
To determine the right capacity for your household, start by asking yourself how many people you’re typically feeding at once. If you want a deep fryer to occasionally make French fries for you and your partner, you don’t need a massive machine; you can get away with something that holds around two cups of food at once to reduce waste and frying time. On the other hand, if you’re a regular fryer and have a larger family, you’ll likely need a model in the 3.5- to 4-quart range.
Additional Features
In terms of functionality, deep fryers aren’t the most versatile kitchen appliance out there. That said, some premium models come equipped with additional features. The Hamilton Beach Triple Basket Deep Fryer, for example, comes with multiple baskets, allowing you to fry two or more foods at once. Others, like the All-Clad Deep Fryer, feature an oil-filtration system to reduce waste. Just remember that the more features a machine offers, the higher the price tag will likely be.
What Is The Best Home Deep Fryer?
There is no singular best home deep fryer, as the right model for your household ultimately depends on a number of personal factors: the size of your family, the foods you like to fry, the size of your kitchen and your budget. While we believe the All-Clad’s deep fryer is the best option for most people, there might be a better model for you. Those who are short on kitchen and storage space may prefer the Bella 0.9-Liter Deep Fryer, a petite model that can easily fit in most cabinets. If you want a model that can do more than deep fry, the Presto Kitchen Kettle can also boil and steam foods.
Is It Worth Having A Deep Fryer?
Unlike chef’s knives and cutting boards, deep fryers aren’t a universal must-have kitchen appliance. If you want to recreate your favorite fried foods at home with any regularity, though, a top-notch fryer will certainly come in hand. While shallow frying in a cast-iron skillet is always an option, deep fryers are faster and offer better temperature control. They're also largely hands-off, as you don't have to worry about flipping your foods.