The 7 Best Deep Fryers of 2024, Tested and Reviewed

Our Favorites

The Breville Smart Fryer is our standout choice for its capacity, heat retention, and ease of use, thanks to presets and customizable programming. If you're looking for a no-frills workhorse fryer under $100, the Hamilton Beach Professional-Style Deep Fryer is an excellent option for cooks of all skill levels for its even heating and easy setup.

Our Deep Fryer Tests

We researched the best deep fryers on the market to select 15 indoor deep fryers and six turkey fryers to test. In our lab, we assessed the indoor deep fryers based on temperature control and retention before using them to fry potato chips, frozen chicken fingers, and French fries. Likewise, we evaluated the turkey fryers on temperature as well as the time it took for the turkey to reach an internal temperature of 165°F. Finally, we cleaned everything up to evaluate how easily the tools come clean after a day of splatters.

Factors to Consider

Safety

Frying will always come with some risk. Hot oil is no joke in the kitchen, and you want to be sure that you are set up for maximum personal protection. Cords that attach with magnets so that they automatically disengage if they get caught on something can help prevent accidental tip over. Handles and exteriors made with materials that regulate temperature can prevent burning if touched, and some allow you to carefully shift the unit while in use. A clear lid lets you see how your food is browning without risking spatter, and automatic temperature regulators will prevent the oil from getting so hot that it ignites.

Functionality

It's always important to think about how you intend to use the fryer when deciding between units. If you fry frequently, and for a crowd, you might want a larger unit with more bells and whistles. If you have limited storage, a compact unit might be a better fit for you. If you are not an intuitive fryer, one that has presets for different foods or a digital display and a built-in timer might up your confidence. And if you have some picky eaters in your house, multiple baskets mean that the fish folks and chicken folks don't have to have their proteins mingling.

Cleanup

Working with oil is always going to be messy, so finding a unit that helps to mitigate the excessive cleanup is always something to look at when choosing a deep fryer. Features like a spatter lid or screen, removable oil containers, and dishwasher-safe parts will all make frying the focus, not the aftermath.

Other Deep Fryers We Tested

Strong Contenders

Presto Dual Basket ProFry (Amazon)

This decent fryer for under $100 isn't a "mini" fryer as many of its similarly priced counterparts are. The presto rates as average in time to reach temperature. To its credit, in our testing, it never took a dramatic dive in temperature after adding food to the oil, but it never quite returned to temperature in any test. The two baskets that allow you to fry different foods simultaneously are the strongest feature of this model, as the safety features are pretty standard, with an emergency temperature cutoff and the requisite magnetic power cord. It scored low on cleanup ratings, primarily due to none of the pieces being machine-washable.

Presto FryDaddy Deep Fryer (Amazon)

The FryDaddy has been around since 1977, and there have been few design changes since then. There are no bells and whistles with this small-capacity fryer. It stands out, though, in quick heating, recovery, and overall heat retention. There is no temperature gauge, so a thermometer is a necessary piece of extra equipment for this fryer. It doesn't give much of a showing in safety features, either. Cleaning is also not a high-rating category. It fries well and is easy to set up; just take it out of the packaging, and it's ready to go. Some better temperature control and perhaps a pour spout to drain the oil would make this rank higher. It's a basic model that makes good fried food.

Results Still Simmering

Cuisinart 4-Quart Deep Fryer (Amazon)

Heat retention is the main issue with this Cuisinart appliance. Where many of the models fought to maintain or recover temperature, this model possibly retains heat too well, racing past the desired temperature in many of our tests. An experienced cook with an accurate thermometer would have no problems adjusting to the temperature variations, but it would prove difficult for a beginner. It has a deceptively high capacity, compared to its physical footprint, holding enough food for three to four people at a time. With the correction of the temperature variations, this would be worth every bit of the price.

T-fal Deep Fryer (Amazon)

The strongest feature of the T-fal is the automatic oil filtering and storage that adds safety and convenience and extends the life of the oil. Setup instructions could use some improvement, but overall assembly is intuitive. Its major downfall is the thermostat calibration; testing with a thermometer versus the control settings showed that it is necessary to set the thermostat higher than the desired temperature. Recovery times were, unfortunately, slow for its medium capacity. It comes with standard safety features, including an automatic shutoff and magnetic power cord. Resolution of the temperature issues would significantly improve this fryer's performance and overall ratings.

Low Performers

Cuisinart Compact Deep Fryer (Amazon)

This Cuisinart reached its initial temperature quickly. After that, it didn't fare well in our testing. Although it's essentially a ready-to-wear unit, requiring almost no effort to set up, the controls' composition is rather flimsy plastic with a short life expectancy. Temperature recovery and heat retention scored pretty low, dropping temperature and never quite returning to the set temperature after adding food. The lid is problematic. Steam is produced from water vapor leaving food as it fries. Water leaving hot oil is good; water entering is dangerous. Lacking good venting, the lid collects steam, which is prone to dripping back into the hot oil, causing spatters and pops.

Our Expertise

Greg Baker is an award-winning chef, restaurateur, and food writer with decades of experience in the food industry. His written work appears in Food & Wine, Food Republic, and other publications.

This piece was also updated by Stacey Ballis, a freelance writer, recipe developer, and product reviewer. Stacey has been published on Food & Wine, Eating Well, Allrecipes, MyRecipes, Delish, and more.