Using a Countertop Deep Fryer

Have you ever wanted to have some homemade donuts, or perhaps a fresh batch of French fries? If so, you may want to consider using a countertop deep fryer. Not only are these kitchen tools relatively inexpensive, they are also extremely easy to use. Just make sure that you follow these directions to ensure that you are using yours the right way.

1. Read the instructions. While there are some general rules about how you should, and shouldn't, use a countertop deep fryer they never beat what comes with your particular unit. To ensure that you don't accidentally damage your unit read the directions that came with your unit. For example, you will want to see if there is a particular brand or type of oil that you need to use.
2. Read your recipe. Once you are sure about the basics of using your countertop deep fryer, you need to double-check your recipe. Make sure that you know what ingredients you are supposed to use, what temperature you need to have your oil at, and how long to cook the stuff for. All of this should be able to be found in the recipe without too much trouble.
3. Check the unit. Do not simply fill up the oil container and stick the food in. Check the unit first to make sure that it is in good working order. That there are no cracks, dings, or damaged areas anywhere that will have oil near it. Furthermore, check the inside of the oil container for a fill mark.
4. Fill the unit. Using the appropriate type of oil, fill the container to the fill maker. This will ensure that you don't overfill the unit, and help prevent an accident.
5. Set temperature. Most, if not all, countertop deep fryer units have a temperature setting. Set the temperature for appropriate level, and then turn the unit on. If you have a question about the temperature you simply need to double-check the recipe to get it.
6. Wait and check. Allow several minutes to pass while you are waiting for the oil to heat up. Before you add any food, or start cooking, make sure that the temperature is at the right level. This can easily be done by using a thermometer. (Make sure you use a thermometer that is designed specifically for the high temperatures of a deep fryer.)
7. Add food. Carefully add the food you are going to fry to the oil. Since most units will have an integral frying basket, use that. However, if you don't have a fryer basket then you can use a slotted spoon to add the food to the oil. Do not leave the slotted spoon in the oil though, since it will heat up and potentially burn you.
8. Pay attention to the time. When you are frying food in the fryer, make sure that you pay careful attention to the time. It is exceptionally easy to burn food when you are frying it, and generally speaking food cooks really fast when you use it. Be careful.

When the time for your recipe has passed, you need to carefully remove the food from the oil. Set it aside to drain. A great example would be a cooling rack placed in a cookie sheet, with a paper towel underneath. The cooling rack will allow the oil to drip from the food, and the paper towel will catch the oil and allow for an easier clean up.