All-CladElectric Deep Fryer with Basket and Lid, Stainless Steel Deep Fryer for Home Use, 1700W, Dishwasher Safe

Like many home chefs I've avoided frying foods just because of the hassles and the mess inherent in the process. If I wanted fried chicken I would simply get in the car and head to the local chicken shack. I do have a Fry Daddy and I'd use it to fry up some French fries, but, again, the hassles were always a serious impediment. I finally got more serious about the idea of fried foods and decided to research the subject. I took about a week to make my decision, but when all the dust cleared I was the proud owner of this All Clad EZ deep fryer. I like All Clad a lot and own their waffle iron that has never failed to produce perfect waffles. So, I've known about All Clad quality for a very long time. I was just reluctant to pay the premium for most of All Clad's offerings, so my kitchen is equipped with an eye on quality, but not going overboard in my spending. There are certain items that I don't scrimp on, though, and this deep fryer is one of them.I received the deep fryer yesterday and last evening I fried up some batter dipped chicken tenders. They turned out perfectly crisp and juicy. That I expected given the reviews I had already read. There are a few other deep fryers out there that handle the oil in the same manner as the All Clad. T-Fal is the main one and it's also got glowing reviews. Except for the better build quality of the All Clad there's not a nickels worth of difference between the two units from what I can tell. I'd say the main advantage of the All Clad is that it's shiny. I don't mean to sound facetious, but to my eye the All Clad has outstanding looks. Is that worth the extra $90 over the T-Fal? It was to me.But, it's the oil handling that really sets this fryer apart from the rest of the pack. So long as you don't overfill the fryer you won't have an overflow problem. Overflowing of the removable oil reservoir due to user error is the only serious complaint I've ever read. That and oil spillage while maneuvering the oil tank after draining the fry basin. It's true that the oil drain container could be better designed to avoid spillage, but so long as you have a good grip on it with both hands there really shouldn't ever be a real issue.There is one other thing that qualifies as a shortcoming. Filling the oil to the "max" line give you about 1 1/2 inches of depth under the food you're frying. A thick chicken breast might not get fully submerged when the basket is lowered into the oil. There is a workaround for those who absolutely must fry a turkey leg, but it's a little tricky. On those occasions just fill the fry basin to the depth required and when you're finished "do not" drain the oil through the filtration system. If you do you're going to have oil all over your countertop and floor. My thought is to ladle out the excess oil into a separate container until the level is down to the max line and then go ahead and complete the process through the automatic filter/drain system. It shouldn't be a big deal to go this extra step provided you remember the ladle out the excess oil so as to not overfill the drain reservoir. That's about the only way I can see getting into trouble with this fryer.Here are a few more observations that might help in your decision making process.1. The instructions say to not use the fry basket if you're going to fry certain kinds of foods like donuts or batter dipped meats. The reason is the food tends to want to stick to the basket and that's not good. I found if I grip the meat with tongs and drag it across the surface of the hot oil a few times before dropping it the batter then it doesn't stick to the basket. Giving the basket a little shake helps, too.2. Be CERTAIN to allow the oil to cool at least 2 hours before draining it into the reservoir. Hot oil and plastic don't mix well. I've read where others have actually melted their reservoirs. The unit also has an automatic drain function that detects when the oil is cool enough to drain. I've not tried it, yet, but will.3. It's little awkward to carry the fryer and keep it level. The drained oil wants to slosh around like it's trying to escape. I recommend that when you've cleaned up after a fry session that you remove the oil reservoir and store it separately from the body of the fryer. The oil is still going to slosh around with any tipping from perfectly level, but it's a lot easier to manage while out of the fryer housing. I'm going to store my fryer in the pantry and keep the oil reservoir on a shelf in the garage. Without the oil the fryer is remarkably light, so ladies don't worry about being strong enough.4. The handle on the basket can pivot or collapse to make the basket more compact for storage. That's handy if you're short on storage space.I have read the instruction booklet and while it is adequate it could be better. The real insights you need are to be found in written reviews. You'll find that many of those reviews are well thought out and helpful.

This is a really good counter top fryer! I have a lengthy career in foodservice and actually have two 40 lb commercial floor model gas fryers at my camp house. However, I needed a new fryer for my home. After reading the reviews, I bought this fryer. I’m extremely pleased with this unit. The food quality and oil savings alone make it worth the money.While I love the filter system (which itself works perfectly), I wish the oil tray had some type of clamping system to keep the lid on it. I initially tried pouring the oil from the spout using only the pour hole and made quite a mess. However, once you learn how to handle that issue, it’s not a huge deal. Just hold the top tightly.Either way, it’s not enough of an issue to reduce my review by a star, maybe a 1/4 star though.Don’t hesitate to buy this fryer.

This fryer is extremely well made and gets to 350 degrees with no problems. I owned a T-Fal Ultimate EZ-Clean fryer before this one. They look the same but they are so different. The T-Fal is so flimsy compared to this unit. The walls are a much thinner metal, no bottom to the main body and the heating unit never got the oil hotter than 290 degrees. Because of the low operating temperature, the preheat and reheat back to cooking temp took a while. The side handles felt cheap and flimsy when carrying the unit full of oil. After years of use the heating element could only heat the oil to around 220 degrees. The only replacement part available is the magnetic power cord. So, it was time to get a new one.I was interested in the All-Clad when I bought the first one but couldn’t find any difference in the reviews other than the price and they looked like the same thing.Right out of the box I was impressed with everything I saw. The built quality was so superior than the T-Fal. The body and handles are strong and secure. I have a real confidence carrying this full of oil. The cooking bowl and basket are basically the same. The bowl is stainless steel and the fry basket is a cheaper chromed metal that will rust in the dishwasher. That’s right my T-Fal basket rusted. I ruined my basket in the dishwasher. Don’t believe the dishwasher safe line. Hand wash for the maximum life. It really doesn’t take that long to clean this unit up.That’s another thing, after several washes the bright chrome finish will still have oil smudges and smears. My solution, after washing it with soap, was to wipe the unit down with full strength vinegar, rinse and dry. It cut off all the oil and made it shinny again.The heating element is a superstar compared to the T-Fal. It got to 350 degrees effortlessly and reheated amazingly fast back to 350 while cooking.The plastic oil box is basically the same, though the T-Fal box doesn’t fit in the All-Clad. Hold the oil box with both hands when you’re pouring the oil out of it. I hold it a little lower than half way, closer to the drain port, with my thumbs holding the top on. Yes, failure to do this will cause a massive cleanup. The lid broke free and oil spilled everywhere my first time.I did call T-Fal about the low cooking temp when I first got it. They weren’t much help. They said only the elements get to 350 not the oil. Yeah, I didn’t get it either. I used my Thermoworks Thermopen MK4 so I know my readings were good and I never got more than a 290 degree reading. I guess the heating element turns off when it hits 350. I don’t know. I learned to cook with it.I’m very happy with this purchase and wished I’d went with this All-Clad the first time.