If you are amongst those that believe deep frying is a process that makes food oilier than it normally would be, you are being misinformed. Since deep frying is actually a form of dry cooking, it shouldn’t make it oily. I am going to go a bit more in-depth so that you can understand the reason behind this.
To make a long story short, when you deep fry your food, as long as you have the best deep fryer by your side, you’re not going to find it time-consuming or complicated. Basically, all you have to do is heat the oil between 325-400 degrees Fahrenheit, then put the food in the cooker. Take note that the time it takes to cook it will depend on the type of food. Just don’t overcook it for too long, because this is what makes it greasy.
The Best Deep Fryers for Outdoor Cooking
We’ve selected our top three picks for the best outdoor deep fryers currently available if you are short of time you can see the three we have picked in the chart below.
Our top pick is the King Kooker not only is budget-friendly but its durable and high quality as well, the majority of reviews online are extremely positive about this product and we feel it meets most backyard cooking enthusiasts needs.
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Bayou Classic Four gallon Bayou Fryer – Most Efficient Deep Fryer
If you’re out there looking for an efficient deep fryer, then look no further than the Bayou Classic 700-701 four gallon Bayou fryer – this is a stainless steel fryer.
The Bayou Classic Includes:
With this fryer, you will also receive a temperature gauge (this will come in handy), a total of 2 stainless steel fry baskets, extension legs, drain valve, and a 10-PSI regulator kit that has a handy hose that is stainless-steel braided.
Features
Temperature Control
One of the features I really like about this fryer is the temperature control. Due to the spacious area you have for cooking, you’re not going to get burned and you will be able to easily fry food.
The heat from the Propane
As the heat travels from the propane through the rear tube that is on the fryer, the oil will roll.
V-Bottom Design
The V-bottom design is useful due to the fact that while the top frying temperature is hot, the base oil temperature will be cooler. This makes it so that the batter on the food isn’t going to burn and I also noticed that it helps the oil stay cleaner.
Pros
• 2 Fry baskets
• Durable stainless steel
• V-bottom design
Cons
• The user manual isn’t all that helpful, but for me, that wasn’t a big deal.
Again, if you’re looking for an efficient outdoor fryer, then this one right here might just be suitable for you. It comes with 2 fry baskets, so you can cook even more food and don’t forget about the V-bottom design and the fact that it’s made of durable stainless steel.
- One of the most reliable and efficient outdoor deep fryers currently on the market.
- Features two stainless steel fry baskets, a temperature gauge, extension legs, drain valve and stainless steel braided hose.
- Designed not to scorch
- Dimensions: 38-1/2 by 14-1/2 by 11-1/2 inches including stand
- Includes a V-bottom design which keeps the base oil temperature cooler than the top frying temperature to prevent batter from burning and keeping the oil cleaner
Cajun Fryer 4 Gallon Deep Fryer – Most Handy Deep Fryer
I must say, the Cajun Fryer 4 gallon deep fryer is incredibly handy. It takes 4 gallons of oil and combines it with 90,000 BTU of heat, so it’s definitely something you can count on.
Features
Portable
This deep fryer is portable, which means you can take it with you for tailgating parties, patio cookout, small fish fries, camping, or wherever you choose.
Great for Crowds
What I like about this fryer is the fact that it is capable of feeding between 25-30 people per hour.
Multi-Basket Fryer
This is a multi-basket fryer, which is one of the reasons I labeled it the handiest deep fryer on this list. Since it’s a multi-basket fryer, this means that you will be able to cook different foods at the same time.
Oil Won’t be Scorched
The way this fryer works is pretty cool. The Burner Flue hovers over the cooking vat and is positioned in a way that the extra batter falls to the bottom of the fryer, and that just so happens to be where the oil is cooler. This technique makes it so that there is a 70 percent reduction in the amount of oil being used when compared to many of the other frying systems currently on the market.
Easy to Transport
When it’s all said and done, once things have cooled down, the fryer can be taken off of the stand. This makes it easy to transport and store the fryer.
Thermometer
I also like how the fryer has a built-in thermometer. The thermometer is easy to read.
Wheels
The fryer is on wheels, which makes it even easier to move.
Pros
• Wheels
• Easy to transport
• Built-in thermometer
• Can cook for a lot of people
• Multi-baskets
Cons
• Be careful when you take the item out of the box because one reviewer reported being cut during this process.
The fact that this Cajun fryer is capable of cooking for up to 30 people per hour definitely makes it handy – this combined with it having two baskets to fry different foods makes it even better. Each basket should be capable of holding up to 10 catfish fillets and I also like the way the burner/flue has been designed.
- Huge Capacity can cook enough to feed between 25 to 30 people per hour
- Handy Temperature Gauge
- Its unique design prevent oil from burning
- Features 2 frying baskets with stay cool handles
- USA MADE
King Kooker 1265BF3 – Great Fryer for Cooking Turkeys
If you’re looking for a good turkey fryer, then the King Kooker 1265BF3 offers just the right amount of room to fry that turkey. It’s also great for frying chicken, veggies, and any other type of food that can be deep-fried (almost any food is capable of being fried).
The King Kooker is popular and I must say, it’s also competitively priced. The cooking pot is 29 quarts and can handle up to 20 pounds. The heat resistant handles make it easy and safe to hold. The cast burner puts out a total of 33,000 BTUs and of course, it has been built for outdoor use. It even comes with a handy turkey rack as well as a lifting hook.
Features
Versatile
Regardless of what you want to fry, whether it’s to make a chicken, turkey, or anything else, you are going to find that this boiler/fryer comes in handy.
Easy to Assemble
Not only is the cooker easy to put together, but it’s also easy to use. Within only a matter of minutes, once you take the fryer out of the box, it will be ready to use. All you have to do is put the stand and burner together, then hook up the gas line and put batteries in the safety device, and you will be ready to go. To cook, simply fill a line in the pot. It really is that easy.
Heats Up Fast
I like how fast this fryer heats up. Long story short, this fryer isn’t going to keep you waiting around for long.
Solid Construction
The basket doesn’t sit directly on the bottom – it sits about 3 inches from the bottom. This is good because it means your food will cook right.
Pros
You can use this cooker to prepare many different types of food, even turkeys up to 20 pounds.
The fryer is easy to use
You can cook for a lot of people
Everything you need comes with this fryer [except the propane tank]
Cons
The biggest downfall I found with this fryer is that it is made of aluminum, not stainless steel, which means this is going to require more maintenance.
As long as you keep the cooker maintained, even though it is made out of aluminum, it will last for many years to come. If you’re looking for versatility, simplicity and yummy results, then this fryer might just be suitable for you.
- Heavy Duty Fryer at a Great Price
- 33,000 BTU
- 29 Qt. Aluminum Turkey Pot with Lid and Basket
- Comes Turkey Rack and Lifting Hook
- 11 Qt. Aluminum Fry Pan and Basket with Heat Resistant Handle
Bayou Classic vs Cajun Fryer Assembly Video
A More in Depth Look at Deep Frying – Indoor or Outdoor
The process of deep frying food outside can be done in four steps.
Step One: Heating
Starting out, you will need to heat the oil between 325 to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Once the outdoor fryer has been preheated, it’s time to move forward and put the food in the oil, and this is when it will start to deep fry. In this first step, the surface of the food will cook and seal the moisture in, making it juicy.
Step Two: Surface boiling
Remember how I told you the moisture will be sealed in the food in step one? Well, that moisture will now heat up inside it and transform into a vaporous form of water. The vapor is what is responsible for cooking the food. You can think of it as if you’re boiling an egg, carrot, or potato.
If you watch the process, you’ll see small bubbles appearing where the food meets the oil – this is forming a nice gas barrier. The barrier comes in handy because it helps keep the oil hot, and dry during the deep-frying process.
Not to worry, because those bubbles are actually water. You see, the water that is inside of the food transforms into gas when it comes in contact with the hot oil. Before the heat seals the water vapor that is inside it escapes.
As you probably already know, water and oil do not mix. This means that at this point, practically no oil is able to reach the surface of the food. The bubbles do a great job of ensuring no oil is able to get inside the food.
Step Three: Decreasing heat transfer
In step three, the last bit of liquid turns into steam in the food as the transfer of water from the food decreases.
Step Four: Bubble end point
During this time, there shouldn’t be any bubbles at the surface of the food. In order to prevent oil from getting into the deep fried food, you should remove it from the oil, because the bubbles will no longer be there in order to protect the surface.
Which Type of Oil Should be Used?
Choosing the oil you deep fry with is a bit like choosing the deep fryer itself. There are certain oils that will give better outcomes than others, and then there are ones that are super unhealthy. Long story short, the more saturated fats in the oil, the better it is.
Take coconut oil as an example – many have claimed that it is the best deep fryer oil, and I must say, it just so happens to be one of my favorites. Many claim that they reuse coconut oil, even after they have cooked with it for a long period of time.
Other oils that are great with outdoor deep fryers are made of peanuts, olives, avocado and palm. Animal fat is also an acceptable oil.
Just don’t use vegetable oil (canola, corn, grapeseed, soybean or sunflower) because they produce compounds that aren’t good for your health.
Getting the Right Temperature
As I previously stated, the temperature of the oil will need to be between 325 to 400 degrees Fahrenheit during the first step of frying. If the temperature isn’t correct, then it isn’t going to cook like it should as the surface isn’t going to seal and the oil is going to get into it, make it unpleasant and downright greasy. So, before you put the items in the oil, make sure the oil is preheated.
Safety
With hot cooking oil and all the extra trip hazards outdoors it is very easy for accidents to happen when using an outdoor deep fryer. We suggest at least wearing some heat resistant gloves.
We also have an article on Outdoor Turkey Fryer Safety Here
Conclusion
There are so many different outdoor fryers out there, but I made sure to include the best of the best on this list.
For me, a deep fryer is a must-have piece of cooking equipment. The outdoor cooker for you will be dependent on your budget and the amount of use you are going to get out of it. You can search for plenty of reviews online of the products we have recommended if you don’t just want to rely on just our research and rating.
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- .....With a love of the great outdoors be it in the backyard, hiking or fishing
Steve loves to share his tips on how to get the best from your patio, yard or
garden, rain or shine. Researching the best products from garden furniture to smokers and Generators. Steve will keep you up to date with the latest gear to make your outdoor space the best it can be.