Looking for advice on buying a deep-fat frier

[Snoop Puss]

I've been thinking for a while about buying a stove-top deep-fat frier. It can't be an electric one as we have solar power only and the draw would be too great. Ideally I'd be looking for something I could cover with a metal lid in the event of fire.

Do you have any tips on what I should look for? The pans marketed as deep fat friers aren't as deep as I thought they'd be (8.5 cm, for example). Does that seem deep enough to you? And would I be better off with something like a big saucepan with one handle off to the side or one more like a wok but with two upright handles to the sides (so long as I can fit a lid on)? I have a wok, but it's rather large to deep fry just for us (Mr Snoop and me, plus friend who visits regularly), plus it's OK for stir-frying but feels a bit unstable for deep frying.

So far I've bought a thermometer to avoid overheating the fat and causing a fire...

All advice welcomed.

[Bren In Pots]

Snoop before electric fryers were popular I used a cast iron saucepan with a basket it worked fine.

[greenishfing]

Snoop, do you get Am***n deliveries in Spain? If you type in chip pan, there's lots of choice.

[Snoop Puss]

I can buy things off Amazon Spain, GF, but shopping off the Amazon UK site is terrible. Import taxes, paperwork and deliveries simply not arriving. I've given up. The ones I've seen on the Spain site don't look good and get pretty poor ratings. And the best ones on the UK site don't seem to be available in Spain.

I was looking more for general tips to help me make a decision. A saucepan sounds like a decent possibility, Bren. I had wondered about that. My current saucepans are quite small in diameter for deep frying - I use them more with a steamer. What do you reckon, 24 cm diameter? Or not big enough?

Plus, how deep do you think would be advisable?

[Florence Fennel]

My chip pan is 8" diameter and about 4" deep, with a net and a lid. Bought years ago in a set of non-stick pans. It's rarely used, but always on Boxing Day for "proper" chips with turkey and pickles. It does a great fried egg too. Perfectly adequate for us, but you might want something more advanced Snoop?

[Florence Fennel]

That was in old money, so About 20 cm x 10 cm ?

[Nicos]

Looking at most chip pans, they seem to be about 22cm in diameter.
We used to use an old Le Creuset pan with a stainless steel basket . Worked a treat.

I guess it depends on what you are wanting to deep fry when deciding the diameter.
Depth-wise…well, I am always a bit concerned about how high the fat rises initially when the chips etc go in…hence adding a few at a time.
Are you planning on using a basket?…that diameter and depth might be something to factor in?

One thing I would suggest though is to get something with a thick base for heat transference, and heat resistant handles for safety.

[Snoop Puss]

All good things to think about. Thanks so much.

Really useful to hear the diameter and depth of your pan, Flo. I thought 8.5 cm was a bit low because I have the same concern as you, Nicos, about the rising fat level.

Good to know 20-22 cm is sufficient for chips, though I was thinking of larger items such as croquettes and samosas. So maybe 24 cm diameter might be better.

Rather than a basket, I was thinking of using one of those spider/skimmer things, as much as anything to save depth in the pan.

Edited to add: useful advice about the heat resistant handles. That suggests the kind of pan with the two short handles at the side is less than ideal. Thanks.

[bramble]

Snoop Premier Home Wear have one 27 cm..Two handles, chip basket and pyrex lid...

[Snoop Puss]

Thanks, Bramble. That one does exist on the Spain Amazon site. I'll check it out.

[Snoop Puss]

Just to say thanks for all the help. Comments on depth were especially useful.

In the end, I've opted for an Ikea one. Deeper than the others I looked at (5 inches) and quite a bit cheaper. Comes with a basket (if I want to use it), plus lid.