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See why.Deep Fry Baskets
We found this option to buying an electric deep fryer definitely worth considering.
Published Apr. 1, 2005. Appears in Cook's Illustrated May/June 2009
What You Need To Know
Frugal fryers don’t bother with an electric deep fryer; they simply use a heavy Dutch oven. It offers the ultimate in heat control, easy access to the food being fried, and can multitask as, well, a Dutch oven. Of course, you don’t get a thermostat (a big drawback) or fry basket. But one company has attempted to deal with the second issue. For years, we’ve used (and liked) Lodge’s cast-iron Dutch ovens in the test kitchen. They do not break the bank, and an occasional deep-fry is a great way to keep them seasoned. We recently noticed that Lodge was selling chrome frying baskets for use with its Dutch ovens. Was this option worth considering?
The Lodge Deep Fry Basket (about $25 to $30, depending on size) saves you time spent fishing around for that last onion ring, and the tailor-made fit utilizes the space efficiently. The basket handle collapses for easy storage. The mess on the stove is unavoidable, but you have fewer parts to wash than with an electric deep fryer. Also, adjusting the flame offers much more control than the thermostats on electric fryers.
Everything We Tested
Recommended
This nickel-plated steel basket (available in three sizes, from 9" to 11") saves you time spent fishing around for that last onion ring, and the tailor-made fit utilizes the space efficiently. (Nine-inch basket is 3 3/8" deep, larger baskets are 4" deep). The basket handle collapses for easy storage. The mess on the stove is unavoidable, but you have fewer parts to wash than with an electric deep fryer. Also, adjusting the flame offers much more control than the thermostats on electric fryers.
Reviews you can trust
Reviews you can trust
The mission of America’s Test Kitchen Reviews is to find the best equipment and ingredients for the home cook through rigorous, hands-on testing. We stand behind our winners so much that we even put our seal of approval on them.