The 12 Best Deep Fryers

Deep frying at home used to mean a cast-iron pot, a candy thermometer, and a stovetop covered in splattered oil. Modern countertop deep fryers changed all of that.

With precise thermostat controls, locking lids, built-in filters, and dishwasher-safe components, today’s electric fryers make it genuinely practical to turn out golden, shatteringly crisp french fries, fried chicken, donuts, and tempura in your own kitchen, with far less mess and far more consistency than the old stovetop method.

Whether you’re frying for one on a weeknight or feeding a crowd at a backyard cookout, there is a fryer sized and priced for the job.

At ProductFind, we researched every model in this list by synthesizing manufacturer specifications, expert review consensus from culinary and appliance authorities, and verified buyer feedback from thousands of confirmed purchasers.

If you’re also exploring healthier alternatives, air fryers use hot-air circulation to approximate crispiness with little to no oil, though serious deep-frying enthusiasts will tell you the texture is not quite the same.

Scroll down to see our top-ranked picks, each scored on our 0 to 10 PF Score scale.

Deep Fryers Buying Guide

Not every deep fryer suits every cook or every kitchen.

The range of products above spans compact budget models from Presto and Chefman all the way up to a premium All-Clad unit and a massive Masterbuilt XL designed for whole turkeys.

Before you buy, work through the criteria below so you end up with the fryer that actually matches how you cook, not just the one with the highest wattage spec.

Capacity and Oil Volume

Capacity is the most important spec to nail before anything else.

Consumer countertop fryers generally range from roughly 1 litre on the compact end up to 4.5 litres for large-family models, with the Masterbuilt XL sitting at 10 litres for true outdoor-scale jobs like turkey frying, boiling, and steaming.

As a rule of thumb, a 3 to 4 litre basket handles a full pound of french fries or several pieces of bone-in chicken at once, which is about right for a family of four.

Undersizing your fryer is a common mistake. When you crowd the basket, the oil temperature drops sharply and food steams instead of frying, producing soggy results.

If you regularly cook for more than two or three people, lean toward a 4 to 4.5 litre model. Compact fryers like the Presto FryDaddy make sense for solo cooks or occasional use, but they are genuinely limiting for batch cooking.

Also consider where you will store the fryer when it’s not in use. A 10-litre outdoor unit like the Masterbuilt is not a countertop appliance; it lives in a garage or on a patio.

Mid-size fryers in the 3 to 4.5 litre range fit most kitchen cabinets, but check the dimensions against your storage space before ordering.

Wattage and Temperature Performance

Heating power determines how fast the oil reaches target temperature and, critically, how quickly it recovers after cold food is added.

Most quality countertop fryers run at 1700 watts, which is sufficient to heat 3 to 4 litres of oil to 375°F in roughly 15 minutes and recover quickly between batches.

Cheaper models with lower wattage elements often struggle with temperature recovery, meaning the second and third batches come out noticeably less crispy than the first.

Adjustable temperature control is a must for any fryer you plan to use for more than french fries.

Different foods require different oil temperatures: donuts fry best around 360°F, fish benefits from a slightly lower 350°F, while thin items like chips or tempura can handle 375°F or higher.

Digital temperature controls, as found on the T-fal and All-Clad models in this list, give you precise settings with less guesswork than old-style dial thermostats.

Basket Design and Food Capacity

Single-basket fryers are the most common and cover the majority of home cooking needs.

Multi-basket designs, like the triple-basket Secura and the three-basket Hamilton Beach Professional Style, let you cook different foods simultaneously at the same oil temperature or drain one portion while the next batch fries.

This is particularly useful when you’re making a full meal, such as fries and fried chicken wings at the same time.

Pay attention to basket depth, not just volume. A wide, shallow basket works well for fries and onion rings but may not submerge thick chicken pieces adequately. A deeper, narrower basket is better for items that need full immersion.

The Presto Dual Basket Pro Fry uses an immersion element design where the heating element is submerged directly in the oil alongside the food, a layout that promotes even heat distribution around every piece.

Oil Filtration and Storage

One of the most underappreciated features in a home deep fryer is built-in oil filtration and storage.

Frying oil can be reused multiple times if it is filtered after each session to remove food particles, which cause the oil to break down faster and impart off flavors.

The T-fal model on this list includes a patented oil filtration system that drains and filters used oil back into a sealed container, extending oil life significantly and simplifying cleanup.

Fryers without filtration require you to cool the oil completely, then strain it manually into a storage container. This is messy and adds 20 to 30 minutes to your cleanup routine.

If you plan to fry more than once a week, a filtration-equipped model is worth the premium.

If you fry only occasionally, a simpler design like the Presto FryDaddy or GranPappy, which hold a fixed charge of oil and have fewer parts to clean, can make more sense.

Some models, including the Secura, also include an odor filter in the lid that helps contain cooking smells in the kitchen. This is a practical feature for apartment dwellers or anyone frying strongly aromatic items like fish.

If kitchen ventilation is a concern for you, the same logic applies when choosing a toaster oven with a convection setting as an occasional alternative for lighter frying tasks.

Safety Features

Hot oil is the most dangerous element in any kitchen, and the safety engineering of a fryer deserves serious scrutiny. Look for a lid with a viewing window so you can check doneness without opening and releasing steam or splatter.

Cool-touch exteriors are standard on most modern electric fryers, meaning the outer housing stays safe to handle even when the oil inside is at full temperature.

The Hamilton Beach Cool Touch model in this guide makes this feature a central selling point.

The Masterbuilt XL includes a breakaway safety cord, a critical feature for any high-capacity fryer. If the cord is accidentally pulled, it detaches cleanly rather than dragging a vessel full of hot oil off the table.

Look for this on any large-format fryer. Overheat protection and auto-shutoff are also worth confirming in the spec sheet before you buy, particularly for households with children.

Cleanup and Maintenance

Cleaning a deep fryer is where many home cooks give up on the appliance entirely. Fryers with fully removable oil containers, removable heating elements, and dishwasher-safe baskets cut cleanup time dramatically.

The All-Clad stainless steel fryer in this list is explicitly dishwasher safe, which is a meaningful convenience premium at its price point.

Stainless steel construction, found across several models here including the Secura, Chefman, and T-fal, is easier to degrease thoroughly than plastic-body designs.

Fixed-bowl designs like the Presto FryDaddy are actually simpler to maintain than they appear. Because the oil capacity is fixed and the bowl is non-stick coated, you can wipe it out after each use without fully draining it.

This simplicity is a genuine advantage for cooks who find the full teardown of a larger fryer discouraging. The tradeoff is less flexibility in food types and batch sizes.

Why You Should Trust Us

ProductFind is an independent editorial platform. We do not manufacture, sell, or distribute any of the products we cover, and we have no commercial relationship with the brands in this list that influences our rankings.

We do not conduct our own product trials; our evaluations are grounded in research, published data, expert review consensus, and verified buyer feedback.

Each product on ProductFind is assigned a PF Score on a 0 to 10 scale.

The score aggregates multiple weighted dimensions: heating performance and temperature accuracy, build quality and materials, basket design and usable capacity, safety features, ease of cleaning, value relative to segment, and the consistency of verified buyer satisfaction over time.

Every model in this list was assessed against the same framework, so scores are directly comparable across brands and price points.

For the fryers in this guide, we drew on published appliance specifications from manufacturers, independent culinary review consensus, and thousands of verified purchase reviews from confirmed buyers.

ProductFind may earn a commission if you purchase through links on this page. That affiliate relationship does not affect our rankings, PF Scores, or editorial recommendations in any way.

Our editorial decisions are made independently of commercial considerations, and no brand can pay to improve its position in our lists.

If you’re weighing other kitchen appliance investments, our coverage of air fryer toaster ovens and home espresso machines follows the same research methodology.

Final Thoughts

After evaluating all twelve models in this guide, here is how we assign standout recognition based on PF Score and specific strengths:

• Best Overall: All-Clad Electric Deep Fryer. The highest PF Score in this entire roundup. Its all-stainless construction, 1700-watt element, dishwasher-safe design, and premium build quality make it the most well-rounded fryer here for cooks who want a long-term kitchen investment.
• Best for Large Batches and Versatility: Masterbuilt 3-in-1 10 Liter XL Electric Turkey Fryer. Its XL capacity handles whole turkeys, large seafood boils, and steaming jobs that no countertop fryer can touch. The breakaway safety cord adds meaningful peace of mind at this scale.
• Best Mid-Range Pick: Hamilton Beach Professional Style Electric Deep Fryer with 3 Baskets. The highest PF Score among fryers in the mid-range price tier. Three baskets, solid wattage, and wide availability make it an outstanding value for families who fry regularly.
• Best Budget Pick: Presto 05420 FryDaddy Electric Deep Fryer. The simplest, most foolproof fryer in the list. Its fixed-oil design, compact footprint, and non-stick bowl make occasional frying genuinely low-effort at a very accessible price point.
• Best for Oil Management: T-fal 3.5L Stainless Steel Deep Fryer with Oil Filtration. The built-in oil filtration and drain system set it apart for cooks who fry frequently and want to extend oil life and simplify cleanup between sessions.

Whatever your budget or cooking style, there is a strong option in this list. For general household frying, the Hamilton Beach and T-fal models hit the most useful combination of features at sensible price points.

For the cook who demands the best and wants an appliance that will still look and perform beautifully years from now, the All-Clad earns its premium without apology.

And if you want to explore other ways to get crispy results with less oil, our guide to the top-rated air fryers is a logical next read.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much oil does a home deep fryer typically need?

Most countertop fryers in the 3 to 4.5 litre range require roughly 2 to 4 litres of oil to operate properly.

The fill line marked inside the bowl or on the heating element is there for a reason: too little oil and food won’t submerge fully, resulting in uneven cooking; too much and hot oil can overflow when food is added.

Compact models like the Presto FryDaddy use a fixed, smaller oil charge by design, which is one of the reasons they’re so easy to manage for casual users.

How many times can I reuse deep frying oil?

Quality frying oil can typically be reused six to eight times if it is properly filtered after each session, stored in a sealed container away from light, and not overheated.

Signs that oil needs to be discarded include a dark color, a heavy or rancid smell, excessive foaming during frying, or visible sludge at the bottom of the container.

Fryers with built-in filtration systems, like the T-fal model in this list, make this maintenance routine much easier and help maximize oil life.

Is a deep fryer safer than frying on the stovetop?

For most home cooks, yes. A dedicated electric deep fryer is generally safer than stovetop frying because it maintains a consistent, controlled temperature rather than allowing oil to overheat unpredictably.

Electric fryers also feature cool-touch exteriors, locking lids that contain splatter, and in many cases overheat protection or auto-shutoff. That said, hot oil remains a serious hazard regardless of the vessel.

Always keep children away from an active fryer, never leave it unattended, and ensure the unit sits on a stable, heat-resistant surface away from edges.

Can I use an indoor electric deep fryer outdoors?

Standard countertop fryers are designed for indoor use and require a grounded electrical outlet. They are not suitable for outdoor use in most cases.

If your goal is outdoor frying, particularly large-format tasks like whole turkey frying, the Masterbuilt 3-in-1 XL in this list is specifically designed for that purpose and includes safety features appropriate for outdoor, high-volume use.

Always keep any electric appliance away from wet conditions and covered outdoor environments where moisture can be a factor.

What is the best oil to use in a deep fryer?

The best oils for deep frying have a high smoke point and a neutral flavor. Refined peanut oil, canola oil, vegetable oil, and sunflower oil are the most common choices for home fryers.

Peanut oil is widely considered the gold standard for fried chicken because of its clean flavor and very high smoke point.

Avoid unrefined oils like extra-virgin olive oil or unrefined coconut oil, as their low smoke points cause them to break down rapidly at frying temperatures, producing off-flavors and potentially harmful compounds.

If you enjoy cooking and are investing in kitchen appliances, a quality countertop toaster oven can complement a deep fryer well for tasks where oil is not the right tool.

How do I clean a deep fryer properly?

Allow the oil to cool completely before you do anything else, which typically takes two to three hours. Drain or transfer the oil, then remove the basket and any detachable components.

Wash the basket and oil container with hot soapy water or place them in the dishwasher if the manufacturer confirms they are dishwasher safe.

Wipe the interior of the bowl with paper towels to remove residual oil, then clean with a mild dish soap solution. Never submerge the main electrical unit or the heating element in water.

For stainless steel fryers, a degreasing spray followed by a wipe with a damp cloth keeps the exterior looking clean.

Regular cleaning after every two to three uses dramatically extends the life of the appliance and keeps fried food tasting fresh.

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