Best deep fryers 2024: top electric fryers for tasty treats

Best deep fryers 2022: Top electric fryers for tasty treats
(Image credit: Getty)

The best deep fryers are perfect for creating delicious fried food from the comfort of your own kitchen. With these efficient and effective fryers, you can make crispy french fries or chicken wings for you and your family. You can even make sweet treats, like hot, fresh donuts, with these handy models. A lot of these models have a self-contained design and an auto drainage system to avoid spills and make cleanup as easy as possible. 

Before buying a deep fryer, it is important to think about what you're going to be frying up, as this will often dictate how big your new appliance should be. There's also the question of where your fryer will be stored and where it will fit in your kitchen when it is being used. As far as capacity is concerned, options range from 1.4L to 3.5L, so you may want to go for a larger size if you are creating fried dishes for your whole family. 

With size considered, you can start thinking about the features that make the best deep fryers convenient and easy to use. Some have clear digital displays for temperature readings with adjustable thermostats. For people new to deep frying, some models feature viewing windows that allow you to pay close attention to your food without disturbing the process. Make sure to consider how easy your top choice is for cleaning, too, with many models having removable elements to keep things simple. 

Finally, you will want to look at which of the best deep fryers have safety functions that can prevent any accidents. Look into cool-touch handles and auto power-off modes if you have young children around - it is important to be vigilant and never leave the appliance unattended. If you love cooking, then check out our guides to the best air fryers and best turkey fryers.

The best deep fryers we recommend in 2024

Why you can trust Top Ten Reviews Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.

We're on a mission at Top Ten Reviews to review everything we feature in our buyer's guide. While we haven't been able to test every entry in this guide in person, we've instead honed in on top-rated brands and used our knowledge of the best deep fryers to help you make the right decision.

The best deep fryer overall

Best deep fryers: T-fal Ultimate EZ Clean Fryer

(Image credit: Amazon)

1. T-fal Ultimate EZ Clean Fryer

The best deep fryer overall

Specifications

Power: 1700 W
Capacity: 3.5 liters
Features: Patented clean oil filtration system, viewing window, adjustable thermostat

Reasons to buy

+
 Large capacity 
+
 Auto-oil drainage system 

Reasons to avoid

-
 Expensive 
-
 No digital display 

The T-fal Ultimate EZ Clean Fryer offers power and an array of innovative features, making it one of the best choices for deep frying. It can cook two pounds of chicken or fish fillets in no time and has precise temperature controls and heating functions, giving you perfect, crispy food in under 30 minutes. The fryer itself is very easy to operate, with a simple dial on the front that allows you to change modes from frying to automatic oil filtration. 

Power and size matter when it comes to the T-fal Ultimate EZ Clean Fryer. Equipped with a 3.5-liter oil capacity, this allows plenty of space to cook large family dinners and big portions. It comes with an adjustable thermostat for precise temperatures, a handy two-position basket for cooking and draining, and a viewing window in the lid. The more impressive feature is its Ultimate EZ clean oil filtration system that automatically drains leftover oil into a plastic container for reuse. This also makes maintenance much easier. 

Perhaps the only disappointment is it doesn’t have an auto-off timer, meaning you would have to turn off the fryer manually. It also has an expensive price tag compared to other models. So, if you wanted a basic fryer that was budget-friendly, this may not be for you. But for those who regularly cook up a feast or enjoy big family meals, this is a great investment with a ton of features to make it worth the price tag. 

The best compact deep fryer

Best deep fryers: Presto GranPappy Deep Fryer

(Image credit: Amazon)

2. Presto GranPappy Deep Fryer

The best compact deep fryer

Specifications

Power: 1500 watts
Capacity : 1.4 liters
Features: Cool-touch handles, non-stick interior, non-stick surface

Reasons to buy

+
 Compact design 
+
 Easy to clean 

Reasons to avoid

-
 No manual temperature control  
-
 Plastic lid that can get hot 

If you cook for a small household or have limited kitchen counter space, the Presto GranPappy Deep Fryer is ideal. Not only is it stylish and compact, but it also has sufficient power to fry all your favorite fried foods evenly within just 15 minutes. It has a six-cup capacity, which is great for a small family, and comes with a heat-resistant handy scoop for moving your food around or taking it out of the hot oil without the risk of burns or damage. 

The Presto GranPappy Deep Fryer is incredibly easy to use and maintain. It features a good-sized opening at the top to get food in and out easily, cool-touch handles, and non-stick surfaces for easy cleaning. Another impressive feature is the magnetic safety connection, which automatically turns the fryer off if it’s accidentally knocked. 

However, a downside is the plastic lid can often get too hot, so you’d need to handle it with care. The Presto GranPappy Deep Fryer only has an inner automatic thermostat, which is quick heating, but the lack of a manual temperature control could be disappointing for some. If you’re looking for the best compact deep fryer, though, the Presto GranPappy Deep Fryer is a great choice. If you have a large family, the Presto GranPappy Deep Fryer won't be the best option for you, but if you are cooking for yourself or for you and your partner, then it is a nifty, convenient appliance. This appliance is also highly rated among users, with an average rating of 4.8/5 stars on Amazon. 

The best value deep fryer

Best deep fryers: Cuisinart CDF-200P1 Deep Fryer review

(Image credit: Amazon)

3. Cuisinart CDF-200P1 Deep Fryer

The best value deep fryer

Specifications

Power: 1800 watts
Capacity : 4 quart
Features : Ready light indicator, filter on top of fryer, safety magnetic cord

Reasons to buy

+
 Good price 
+
 Long warranty 

Reasons to avoid

-
 Small basket 
-
 Safety cord is short 

If you’re looking for a simple yet powerful deep fryer at an affordable price, this is our top pick. At 1800w, the Cuisinart CDF-200P1 Deep Fryer features a powerful heating system that delivers evenly crisp foods. It comes with a handy ‘ready’ light indicator to let you know once the oil has reached its desired temperature for your favorite foods. The Cuisinart CDF-200P1 Deep Fryer has an immersion element that heats up the unit quickly to cook dishes such as chicken, fries, onion rings, and even donuts or churros to perfection - the possibilities for sweet treats are endless with a number of delicious deep-fried desserts to choose from. 

While it doesn’t come with the largest capacity, it does perfectly cook smaller portions evenly in less time. What’s more, it doesn’t use a lot of oil, which is much healthier and less messy. There is also a small filter on the top of the fryer to trap rising grease and all parts are detachable and dishwasher safe. It also features a removable oil container with a pouring spout to safely dispose of oil hassle-free.

It may not be ideal for large family-sized feasts, and the power cord is shorter than most, but it does come with an impressive three-year warranty. For a budget-friendly deep fryer, this gives you everything you need and more. If you have a small family, or if you are cooking for yourself and your partner then this deep fryer should be more than enough and will make a great, convenient addition to your kitchen. 

The best deep fryer for chicken wings

Best deep fryers: DeLonghi D44528DZ Livenza Easy Clean Deep Fryer

(Image credit: Amazon)

4. DeLonghi D44528DZ Livenza Easy Clean Deep Fryer

The best deep fryer for chicken wings

Specifications

Power: 1800 watts
Capacity : 1 gallon
Features : Digital display, large removable basket, easy clean oil draining system

Reasons to buy

+
Easy Clean oil system
+
Digital control display 

Reasons to avoid

-
Expensive 
-
Magnetic plug could be problematic

For those who enjoy regularly cooking tasty chicken dishes, the DeLonghi D44528DZ Livenza Easy Clean Deep Fryer is the best pick. With a powerful 1800w, the fryer quickly heats up and retains its high temperature for perfectly crisp chicken and other favorites.

In addition, it comes with an exceptionally large removable basket, offering plenty of capacity for cooking huge quantities at one time. This is ideal for large family meals or gatherings. During our testing process, we were impressed with how quickly the fryer heats up and still retains the temperature for cooking multiple batches of food. Things like fried chicken were cooked evenly and had a perfect crisp every time. The amount of oil left on the food was minimal, as very little was absorbed during the cooking process, making it perfect for those who wish to indulge in delicious fried meals on occasion. 

It also comes with impressive features, including the stylish LED temperature controls that are simple to operate at just a touch of a button and its ‘Easy Clean’ oil drainage system tap that filters any leftover oil to store for future cooking. This also means no messy clean-ups, and most removable parts are dishwasher-safe, which is a bonus.

Minor drawbacks include that the timer needs to be set before the fryer can start, and the magnetic power cord can become disconnected when the fryer is slightly moved. However, these can be overlooked by the quality, top features, and premium standard of the cooking results. 

The best large capacity deep fryer

Chefman 4.5 Liter Deep Fryer

(Image credit: Chefman)

5. Chefman 4.5 Liter Deep Fryer

The best large capacity deep fryer

Reasons to buy

+
Huge 4.5L capacity
+
Perfect for savory and sweet food
+
Removable oil container

Reasons to avoid

-
Less safety features than other models
-
Stainless steel exterior gets very hot

The Chefman 4.5 Liter Deep Fryer has an XL capacity of 4.5L, making it the perfect deep fryer for families who frequently have guests or friends around for meals. This impressive deep fryer will make huge portions of your favorite fried chicken, shrimp, french fries, potato chips, mozzarella sticks, donuts, churros, and other delicious fried goodies. 

The basket is removable with a heat-resistant handle for easy draining and cooking and features a lid with a viewing window to keep things safe but convenient. The temperature dual adjusts easily for precise frying with no extra tools needed, and the 1700-watt heating element and air filter frie food quickly and evenly. The magnetic breakaway cord prevents spills and accidents, so you can worry less about accidents and focus entirely on what you are cooking. 

The removable oil tray helps with clean-up - simply remove the tray and pour your oil out to dispose of it. The stainless steel basket is also removable and easy to clean. Both the oil tray and stainless steel basket are dishwasher safe - this is by far one of the easiest to clean deep fryers on our list, and considering the size, this is a pleasant surprise to us. The whole unit weighs 7.13 pounds, which is actually quite light considering its hefty capacity and potential frying output. Overall, for the price, you get a huge deep fryer that is perfectly suited to large families or special occasions. It may not be the most fancy on our list, but it will give you delicious, crispy fried food and a lot of it. 

How to choose the best deep fryer for you

Everyone will have a different priority in mind when it comes to buying one of the best deep fryers, from what they put in it to how intuitive it is to use. Of course, the most important feature to nail down when purchasing a fryer is capacity, as it’s no good investing in a product that can’t fit in the foods you want it to.

Safety is also of paramount importance when shopping for a deep fryer so that you can have peace of mind while cooking. Auto-shutoff features are valuable when it comes to using one, in case the task slips your mind. We’re also a big fan of the magnetic safety connection of the Presto GranPappy Deep Fryer, meaning the appliance will shut off automatically if it’s knocked out of place. Deep frying can be a messy business, so look out for removable elements too, so you can keep your appliance in the best possible condition for longer. 

Deep fryer FAQs

Which is the best small deep fryer?

If you don’t have a lot of countertop space to spare and can afford to deep fry your food in smaller batches, then the Presto GranPappy Deep Fryer is our top choice for you. With a 1.4 liter capacity, it holds the smallest amount of oil within this guide, which makes it the most compact choice to pack away when your frying is all done. Its small size means it can also cook food in a flash, so you only have to wait 15 minutes before tucking into your fried food of choice.

How much do deep fryers cost?

Deep fryers vary in price depending on their capacity and features. In this guide, we've got options that cost $42 right up to $160. A well-designed deep fryer that cooks well and gives you helpful safety features doesn't have to be expensive. We had good results with mid-priced fryers in our testing.

How to safely use a deep fryer

Countertop deep fryers make delicious, crispy foods, but it’s best to take a few precautions when using them since they can cause serious burns or even start a kitchen fire – hot oil can reach 400 degrees Fahrenheit and is quite flammable.

You should avoid getting water in the hot oil since it instantly creates dangerously hot steam. Also, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, if a fire breaks out, you should use a fire extinguisher designed for kitchen fires, not water.

The USDA also recommends the following:

  • Read the owner’s manual first.
  • Use the correct type of oil.
  • Leave at least two inches of space at the top of the container.
  • Heat to the recommended temperature for specific foods.
  • Don’t overcrowd food in the fryer.
  • Unplug the machine and let it cool completely before cleaning.

In addition, some deep fryers get hot enough on the outside to burn your hands. During our testing, we gave deep fryers with lower exterior temperatures higher scores than models that run hot. 

It’s also a good idea to buy a deep fryer with a lid since it cuts down on grease splatter. Even better, vented lids allow steam to escape. The best fryers have breakaway magnetic electrical cords you can disconnect quickly if anything goes wrong. In addition, we preferred fryers with sturdy, heavy-traction rubber feet since they help keep the machine safely in place on your counter, even when jostled.

Cynthia Lawrence

Cynthia Lawrence is a freelance lifestyle and interiors journalist, writing for national publications and websites. Obsessed with homes and garden content, she spends her time writing about interiors inspiration, savvy solutions, buying guides, and exciting product reviews. In more recent months she has written about dishwashers and other home appliances for Top Ten Reviews.