Deep fat frying - cheap oil/fat ? good fryer ?

Edwardia

I'm kinda embarrassed to admit this as an ex-chef, but I have never owned a domestic deep-fat fryer (and grew up in a family which didn't have one) so I need some help here please, from experienced deep-fat fryer users

Extra Virgin olive oil has too low a smoke point to use in a deep fat-fryer and would cost ££ too. Sunflower oil is only polyunsaturated until heated and I'm dead set against against blended vegetable oils and corn oils.

So anyone use anything else ? Are lard or dripping feasible ? Rapeseed oil looks a promising option - anyone know where I can get some cheap please ?

And other than safety features, what makes a deep-fat fryer a good deep-fat fryer please ?

Thanks xx

A._Badger

Quite often supermarket own-brand oil sold as 'vegetable oil' actually is rapeseed oil and is identified as such if you peer closely at small print on the label;.

Can't help with the fryer, though.

Haffiana

In the UK, bog-standard 'vegetable oil' is rapeseed oil.

Broke_n_Broken

Edwardia wrote: »

And other than safety features, what makes a deep-fat fryer a good deep-fat fryer please ?

IMO, air filter, easy to pour out the oil, long-ish cord, extra deep, 'cause the oil rises (especially with chips), check that you can get your fingers round the temp control, get the right size for no. people using it.
I find metallic ones easier to clean, but can get hot.

Personally, I'd suggest NOT getting one though, they make you lazy, they stink, changing the oil & cleaning out are a pain, it's difficult to judge frozen, breaded or battered stuff & everything looks & tastes different.
Yeess, I'm a hypocrite.

dasophster

Haffiana wrote: »

In the UK, bog-standard 'vegetable oil' is rapeseed oil.

Not necessarily. It can also be soyabean oil and some of the brands used in takeaways and popular with the Asian community say this on them but often in teeny tiny writing. Stuff fried in soyabean oil brings me out in hives! Waitrose vegetable oil is rapeseed not sure about others xx

Edwardia

I'm learning to examine labels more closely thank you, I didn't know some veg oils were rapeseed oil and I want to avoid soya.... but Broke n Broken is putting me off the idea of having a deep fat fryer.. home-made swede oven chips just aren't crunchy enough Maybe I should just try dripping..

Broke_n_Broken

Just been to check, Crisp & Dry is rapeseed oil. Good stuff & it doesn't cost much more than own label, I stock up when it's on offer.

Broke_n_Broken

Swede oven chips, hmm...must try. I like parsnip chips.

Not sure if deep-fried would be much better. May help if you dry them out, or salt water overnight maybe?

Edwardia

I can't eat parsnips they make me dizzy I shall experiment with them further, thanks, I was just following a Rose Elliot recipe..

I thought Crisp n Dry was corn oil but maybe I'm confusing it with Mazola..

Broke_n_Broken

Getting a bit off topic here I know, but...
Swede crisps? Can work for other veggies too.
I'm no expert, but i find cooking things in a different way can change / cancel-out negative effects. I'm mostly going by sprouts though, iykwim, so PLEASE don't eat parsnip chips on my word.

Edwardia

I see your point Broke n Broken and agree. I loathe brussels sprouts, but fresh raw ones with the outer leaves removed, quartered and mixed with mayo and walnuts are yummy. However, parsnips and blueberries are the two things which send my blood sugar sky high however I eat them.

Swede crisps.. now you're tempting me...:D