I talk a lot about fried food on this blog. Today I’m going to talk about the piece of kitchen equipment that makes it all possible, the deep fryer. This is my T-Fal deep fryer review.
I’ve worked with a lot of different deep fryers in my day, both home and commercial models. As such, I am a pretty tough critic when it comes to this type of equipment.
I purchased the T-Fal Easy Clean deep fryer about three years ago. I had been working at a fish house for the previous year, and after working with oil filters at work I wanted to be able to filter my oil at home.
The T-Fal model caught my eye, and after reading up on it I decided to give it a shot. I will tell you right up front that after three years I do not regret that decision! This piece of equipment has been a joy to work with. It’s one of the reasons I have deep fryers listed as one of the 5 appliances you need in your kitchen.
Specs Of The T-Fal Deep Fryer
The T-Fal works like most electric deep fryers. You’ll recognize all the usual controls. What sets this model apart is the oil filtration system.
Before we talk about oil filtration, let’s look at the specifications. The Model FR8000 is a 1700-watt deep fryer. It holds 3.5 liters of oil and up to 2.65 pounds of food. Most of the components are dishwasher safe.
The different components include a removable heating element with a connected control panel. A standard 110-volt plug attaches to the back of the control panel to give the unit power. The heating element sits in the oil well, which is also detachable from the main structure, which is basically a shell holding everything together.
The final component is a plastic container at the bottom of the unit to store the grease. After cooking and allowing the grease to cool, you can drain the grease into the container and store it there.
Oil Filtration – What Makes This T-Fal Fryer The Best Model
The oil filtration system is what makes this unit special. The ability to easily drain the oil through the bottom of the well into the plastic container makes cleaning up a breeze. It also allows you to easily store your oil in a safe location.
Draining the oil is very simple. On the front of the fryer is a switch with three settings. One of the settings is for cooking, one is for draining the oil, and the last one is for sliding the plastic container out of the unit.
All you have to do to drain the oil is slide the switch to the drain setting. Over a period of 10 to 15 minutes, the oil will drain into the plastic container. Just make sure to give your oil a chance to cool after using it before attempting to drain it.
Once the oil is drained, you can remove the heating element and well for cleanup. The element should only require a simple wipe down. As for the well, depending on what you have been cooking it can be a mess. Follow proper grease guidelines when cleaning the unit. Specifically, try and get as much leftover grease and buildup into the garbage and not down the drain. This grease can solidify in your plumbing and sewage lines and cause massive headaches later.
Placing the oil back in the well when you need it is quite simple. There is a small-cap on the far side of the plastic container that unscrews to allow easy pouring.
On top of easy cleaning, the oil filtration system will help extend the life of your oil. The well has a filter that keeps particles from getting into the plastic container. The more often you filter your oil, the longer it will last.
The Verdict – The Best Deep Fryer For Home Use
As I indicated earlier in this review, I am a big fan of this product. The oil filtration system alone is a game-changer. On top of that, it is just a very solid deep fryer. It has a good basket size, holds a decent amount of oil, and has held up well under moderate usage.
I’ve cooked everything in this fryer, from southern fried chicken, french fries, and even pork chops.
If you do a lot of frying, the T-Fal Easy Clean deep fryer is a good buy. It’s also a great product for someone that wants to get into frying but doesn’t want to deal with all the mess. This piece of equipment makes a messy job a lot cleaner and a lot more organized.
So that’s my T-Fal deep fryer review. If a deep fryer doesn’t sound like it’s for you, check out my reviews on a pair of air fryers. I’ve got a detailed review on the PowerXL air fryer complete with a demonstration video you can check out here. I also recently reviewed the Aumate air fryer.
