Re: Food thread ... another serving ... : Tue Dec 20, 2011 10:14 am  

We haven't deep-fried at home for at least 20 years but, in the New Year, could be in the market for a deep-fryer.

I'll be taking a look at Which? but does anyone around here have any hints/tips on what features/drawbacks to watch for/avoid?

Re: Food thread ... another serving ... : Tue Dec 20, 2011 12:06 pm  

A very timely request, I am looking at deep fryers also. Never had one before but lots of things I want to make would benfit from deep frying rather than baking. I have looked at one of these http://www.amazon.co.uk/Magimix-11606-Litre-Deep-Fryer/dp/B001CWIILI/ref=pd_sxp_f_r A friend who does a lot of cooking has used one for years and recommends it though it does get a few negative reports on the Amazon site. I'll be interested to know the results from Which.

A very timely request, I am looking at deep fryers also. Never had one before but lots of things I want to make would benfit from deep frying rather than baking. I have looked at one of these http://www.amazon.co.uk/Magimix-11606-Litre-Deep-Fryer/dp/B001CWIILI/ref=pd_sxp_f_r A friend who does a lot of cooking has used one for years and recommends it though it does get a few negative reports on the Amazon site. I'll be interested to know the results from Which.

Re: Food thread ... another serving ... : Tue Dec 20, 2011 12:29 pm  

Again look for a lincat, they have a range that is more affordable than the out & out industrial stuff. Whatever you buy, get one with a removeable batter plate. This one should tick most boxes

Again look for a lincat, they have a range that is more affordable than the out & out industrial stuff. Whatever you buy, get one with a removeable batter plate. This one should tick most boxes

Re: Food thread ... another serving ... : Tue Dec 20, 2011 12:42 pm  

Yes I'd forgotten about Lincat I still get their magazine through the post from time to time.

Re: Food thread ... another serving ... : Tue Dec 20, 2011 1:24 pm  

peggy wrote: A very timely request, I am looking at deep fryers also. Never had one before but lots of things I want to make would benfit from deep frying rather than baking. I have looked at one of these http://www.amazon.co.uk/Magimix-11606-Litre-Deep-Fryer/dp/B001CWIILI/ref=pd_sxp_f_r A friend who does a lot of cooking has used one for years and recommends it though it does get a few negative reports on the Amazon site. I'll be interested to know the results from Which. That one scores 63% in a well-known consumer magazine . Drawbacks are that it needs four litres of oil and the temperature light goes out too soon (before the temperature has risen to the level you chose). Best buys from the same tests are three from De Longhi and two from Tefal. DeLonghi PremiumFry F24502CZ .... 75% (£76) ... 2 litres of oil, tap drainer. DeLonghi RotoFry F18304 .............. 74% (£84) ... this one dips in and out rather than immersing, and only uses 1.4 litres. Tefal Actifry ............................... 73% (£112) ... slow but only uses 14ml !!!!! of oil, but they taste like oven chips. DeLonghi PremiumFry F34412CZ ..... 71% (£46) ... 3 litres, no real drawbacks Tefal Oleoclean Deluxe ................. 71% (£120) ... 2.1 litres, dismantle-able for cleaning. cod'ead wrote: Again look for a lincat, they have a range that is more affordable than the out & out industrial stuff. Whatever you buy, get one with a removeable batter plate. What exactly is a batter plate?

peggy wrote: A very timely request, I am looking at deep fryers also. Never had one before but lots of things I want to make would benfit from deep frying rather than baking. I have looked at one of these http://www.amazon.co.uk/Magimix-11606-Litre-Deep-Fryer/dp/B001CWIILI/ref=pd_sxp_f_r A friend who does a lot of cooking has used one for years and recommends it though it does get a few negative reports on the Amazon site. I'll be interested to know the results from Which. That one scores 63% in a well-known consumer magazine . Drawbacks are that it needs four litres of oil and the temperature light goes out too soon (before the temperature has risen to the level you chose). Best buys from the same tests are three from De Longhi and two from Tefal. DeLonghi PremiumFry F24502CZ .... 75% (£76) ... 2 litres of oil, tap drainer. DeLonghi RotoFry F18304 .............. 74% (£84) ... this one dips in and out rather than immersing, and only uses 1.4 litres. Tefal Actifry ............................... 73% (£112) ... slow but only uses 14ml !!!!! of oil, but they taste like oven chips. DeLonghi PremiumFry F34412CZ ..... 71% (£46) ... 3 litres, no real drawbacks Tefal Oleoclean Deluxe ................. 71% (£120) ... 2.1 litres, dismantle-able for cleaning. cod'ead wrote: Again look for a lincat, they have a range that is more affordable than the out & out industrial stuff. Whatever you buy, get one with a removeable batter plate. What exactly is a batter plate?

Re: Food thread ... another serving ... : Tue Dec 20, 2011 1:40 pm  

Steve-O wrote:

We have one at work - biggest waste of time and money in the whole place

Fortunately, we've got a decent toaster at work - heaven alone knows how many times I'd have to put my crumpets through otherwise!

El Barbudo wrote:

... In the canteen here, the canteen ladies go all shrill and strict if you twiddle with the toaster controls.
They say they have set it to the setting that suits most people ... but they are mistaken, if you put it through once, you get bread in a state of accelerated staleness. Put it through twice and you've got charcoal.

It takes an age to get charcoal. I know. and then you get shocked responses when you explain that's how you like it, and completely stunned expressions when you suggest it's good or the digestion - after all, why do they make charcoal biscuits for dogs? And anyway, I also like Morbier cheese too.

Re: Food thread ... another serving ... : Tue Dec 20, 2011 1:54 pm  

Mintball wrote:

... anyway, I also like Morbier cheese too.

So do I but I do get a bit sniffy about adding stuff to cheese, whether it be apricots, seeds, wine ... or ash.
But, hey-ho, I know that, effectively, "blue" gets added so I'll shut up before I disprove my own argument.

I have only ever met one cheese I definitely, definitely didn't like.
Gjetost.

God, that's filthy stuff.

Re: Food thread ... another serving ... : Tue Dec 20, 2011 2:08 pm  

Is that that brown Norwegian sludge?

Terrible stuff.

Re: Food thread ... another serving ... : Tue Dec 20, 2011 3:45 pm  

El Barbudo wrote:

That one scores 63% in a well-known consumer magazine . Drawbacks are that it needs four litres of oil and the temperature light goes out too soon (before the temperature has risen to the level you chose).

Best buys from the same tests are three from De Longhi and two from Tefal.
DeLonghi PremiumFry F24502CZ .... 75% (£76) ... 2 litres of oil, tap drainer.
DeLonghi RotoFry F18304 .............. 74% (£84) ... this one dips in and out rather than immersing, and only uses 1.4 litres.
Tefal Actifry ............................... 73% (£112) ... slow but only uses 14ml !!!!! of oil, but they taste like oven chips.
DeLonghi PremiumFry F34412CZ ..... 71% (£46) ... 3 litres, no real drawbacks
Tefal Oleoclean Deluxe ................. 71% (£120) ... 2.1 litres, dismantle-able for cleaning.

All consumer-type (and probably mickey-mouse built), Lincat make their name with catering equipment, not in arty-farty, posh-bird kitchens. And those dry-fry things are garbage, if you want to deep fry something, then deep fry it, don't bugger around dipping it in & out.

My Lincat takes 9 litres of oil

El Barbudo wrote:

What exactly is a batter plate?

A removeable plate that sits over the element and prevents bits of batter, breadcrumbs etc sticking to the element and burning, thereby reducing the life of the fat.

Re: Food thread ... another serving ... : Tue Dec 20, 2011 4:33 pm  

cod'ead wrote:

All consumer-type (and probably mickey-mouse built), Lincat make their name with catering equipment, not in arty-farty, posh-bird kitchens. And those dry-fry things are garbage, if you want to deep fry something, then deep fry it, don't bugger around dipping it in & out.

I do wish you'd come right out and say what you think.

cod'ead wrote:

My Lincat takes 9 litres of oil

Good grief.

cod'ead wrote:

A removeable plate that sits over the element and prevents bits of batter, breadcrumbs etc sticking to the element and burning, thereby reducing the life of the fat.

Sounds essential to me.
Good tip.