... And lo, we came home with a Moulinex silver and black rather attractive number, along with the requisite bag of potatoes from our local supermarket. After 3 attempts at badly peeling and preparing chips (cutting decent looking chips is not all that easy) and managing to firstly burn, then ... Read review
Advantages: compact with good capacity Disadvantages: cannot remove filter or bowl to clean, need to place near an extractor as odour and vapour not controlled
...we came home with a Moulinex silver and black rather attractive number, along with the requisite bag of potatoes from our local supermarket. After 3 attempts at badly peeling and preparing chips (cutting decent looking chips is not all that easy) and managing to firstly burn, then undercook and finally get it exactly right, I thought, hang on, wouldn't it have been easier to have bought a traditional fryer you just put on the hob. Well, being a little ... ...as I cook, I think that for safety reasons alone, a stand alone contained fat fryer is the better option, no matter what make you're looking for.
Anyway, here's the lowdown on what this fryer offers:
thermostatic temperature settings (160,170,180,190
dishwasher safe basket
1.2kg capacity (enough for 2 large portions, or 4 small)
permanent metal filter
clear viewing window
nice black ... more
My partner had been whingeing on for ages about getting a deep fat fryer, mainly because neither of us liked oven chips as they're full of additives. So, off we went to the shops to find our perfect bubbling bundle of oil boiling joy. And lo, we came home with a Moulinex silver and black rather attractive number, along with the requisite bag of potatoes from our local supermarket. After 3 attempts at badly peeling and preparing chips (cutting decent looking chips is not all that easy) and managing to firstly burn, then undercook and finally get it exactly right, I thought, hang on, wouldn't it have been easier to have bought a traditional fryer you just put on the hob. Well, being a little paranoid and with a toddler constantly cliinging to my legs as I cook, I think that for safety reasons alone, a stand alone contained fat fryer is the better option, no matter what make you're looking for.
Anyway, here's the lowdown on what this fryer offers:
thermostatic temperature settings (160,170,180,190 dishwasher safe basket 1.2kg capacity (enough for 2 large portions, or 4 small) permanent metal filter clear viewing window nice black and chrome look on/off switch with led easy open lid
So as you can see, it's quite basic, but it does the job once you get the hang of it. I believe that some fryers come with timers...not this one, I relied on my own timer for the first lot which I triumphantly burned although not to inedlibility, by following their guidelines in the instruction booklet. I reckon this should be taken with a pinch of salt, it is more trial and error, and just keeping an eye on things. You shouldn't really leave it unattended anyway, just in case.
I found the temp guide useful, as I had no idea what temp to do my chips at (170). It heats up in a matter of miuntes, much quicker than a conventional fryer.
The lid opens easily and the basket sits nicely on the side to let the fat drip, so good design, apart from the fact that it does get very hot, which I think is emphasised by the chrome effect sides, which get burning hot when it'sbeen on a while.
The size is the max capacity for this standard of fryer, and is just about enough for a family of 3, but more mouths to feed and you'd be serving them in shifts I think.
I don't understand the metal filter, apparently you can remove the lid to clean it, but this doesn't seem very hygienic to me as I can't get to every bit. Also, still smelt quite chip fatty in the house afterwards, and huge amounts of steam came out even though my chips were quite dry, so you need to have an extractor if you're going to use this one really.
The viewing window is a nice idea, but once it is constantly covered in steam from the food and surrounging atmosphere I always end up having to lift the lid anyway.
So, from this you would think I don't like the product...well, for the price against it's competitiors, it does seem a bit too basic but what do you expect for £40. If you can get it for less then I recommend it as a good basic buy.
In all, it does cook fried food in an aesthetically pleasing container which doesn't take up much space in my kitchen, however I would only recommend this to smaller familes.