Fryer Or Chip Pan?

[daisya]

Hi

Which would really be the best for cooking chips occasionally? Chip pan with veg oil or deep fat fryer with veg oil. I ask because I got rid of my DFFryer recently as it was caked in oil round the controls and the numbers had worn off. Although I cleaned the inside of it (it was rectangular lift out one), I was fed up with the element having to be cleaned and the outside stained with oil even though I took care to wipe it down after use. I know it would get the same if we bought a new one.

OH says we would be safer replacing that but I'm beginning to think there wasn't as much mess with the old fashioned chip pan, the only thing with that is how do you know how high a temperature the oil has reached to start cooking the chips... We dislike oven chips though occasionally have them and chip shop chips really aren't as nice as they used to be we feel.

Would be nice to hear what others' thoughts are on this if you would like to say. Thanks.

[EcclesCake]

I've only cooked chips twice in the last 25 years or so.

I toy with the idea of getting a DFF as I like making samosas, bhajis and spring rolls but I seem to manage perfectly well frying them in my wok.

[furrypusscat]

If you ask a fireman, a fryer is what they would advise. Chip pans are dangerous, only need to be left a few minutes and you can have a fire. You don't very often hear of a fire being caused by a fryer.

[furrypusscat]

Must admit I hate cleaning the fryer out and replacing the oil but I will never have a chip pan again.

[daisya]

Yeh pusscat that's what really worries me but I'd really like another one lol..we never used to think of things like that with chip pans but I know where you're coming from.

[mazie]

Well I have one that has only been used twice daisy, if you're in the market and live anywhere near NW Leicestershire

[Mamyalynne]

A few years ago our local fire service ran a scheme where you could swap your chip pan for a free deep fat fryer, I scoured mine before handing it over. The nice guy said some he had picked up still had the lard/dripping in LOL

[mccfluff]

i either do oven chips or wedges

[murraymints]

Fryer all the time..although I remember grans old pan and cooked in lard ..loved her chips...

[daisya]

Very kind offer Mazie thank you but sadly nowhere near...I always miss out lol. Think it looks like the DFF because of what you're all saying...or give up on home made chips altogether ahem! Wish I liked oven chips but I don't, easy option though... Think I will have to give OH the job of finding the fryer because there are so many choices and if it's not much cop I can blame him .

[mazie]

That's the thing minty, the grandkids love my home made chips and when I made them in the DFF they wouldn't eat them. They said "These aren't Nana's chips" and had the sulks for the rest of the afternoon

[mazie]

Good plan daisy get the OH to get the fryer :o)

[albaqwerty]

A deep fat fryer every time (although I do tend to go through them a lot)
Get a good potato for the chips, cook at 170 degrees for 10 mins or so, lift, turn heat up to max them lower when temp is reached.
Crispy golden chips.

[Kaytee26]

Oven chips done in a halogen oven are nice and crispy

[furrypusscat]

Useful to have one with a window in lid and also a basket that lifts while the lid is shut then you don't need to open whilst chips are in hot fat. Also one with a removable bowl which makes cleaning easier, mine hasn't got that facility but when I need a new one, that is what I will look for.

[fairycakes69]

We use the rectangular stainless steel fryer with exposed element. Those you don't keep the lid on while cooking it is so much easier to clean, just take out the element. Hubby makes a great job cleaning it, apparently I don't do it properly, bit like cleaning the car. Shame.