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I spent countless hours waiting for the potatoes to slowly roast in the oven or for the water to boil just for hot dog. Then along came the deep fryer with all its speed, crispness without the mess and everything changed. Not every food it’s best made in a deep fryer, of course, but I’ve gotten used to cooking some things in mine – many of which I never thought I would.
From salmon fillets yes whole roast chicken and even a few grilling standardsit seems like every few days I add another one to the list of foods I will only make in the deep fryer. Below, I’ve listed eight all-star fryers that might come as a surprise.
If you’re wondering what a deep fryer is and how it works, check this out the complete guide to deep fryers. If you already have it and are ready to explore recipes, here are a few foods that I will only cook in the deep fryer from now on.
1. Salmon fillets
Just 8 minutes in the fryer and you have perfectly medium rare salmon.
Baked salmon is a simple, healthy dinner. It’s not hard to make in the oven, but if you’re only cooking for one or two people, the preheating time is a pain and you’ll waste a lot of energy for a small amount of food. Pan-seared salmon is great and quick, but there’s almost no way to cook salmon on the stove without making a greasy and smelly mess.
I tried cooking a broiled salmon in the deep fryer, and it came out perfectly in about 10 minutes, including preheating time. The closed cooking chamber catches all the fat and even hides some of the fishy smell without taking up space.
OK, you might catch me occasionally throwing a fillet grilled salmon during the warmer months, but gone are the days of wiping fish oil off the backsplash behind my kitchen stove.
Here’s how to make it the perfect salmon fryer.
2. Whole chicken
Deep fried chicken is a revelation.
This one surprised me the most since I roast chicken most weeks and was happy with my way of using the oven. I quickly learned that the deep fryer does an even better job because it can quickly crisp the skin without overcooking the meat. Fryer-roasted chicken takes about 45 minutes—about 15% faster than in the oven—and it’s almost impossible to screw up.
Here’s how to make a quick one deep fried chicken.
3. Cheeseburgers with bacon
You can cook the burger to a perfect medium or medium with a deep fryer.
Deep fryer cheeseburgers have become a staple in my home. The exception is during the summer when grill is in full swing, but during the colder months I turn to the deep fryer for this American classic. Not only is it cleaner than pan-frying, but the patty doesn’t cook in its own fat, so you get a lighter, healthier meal (if you’re into that sort of thing). You can also stick on a bun and some slices bacon with a burger and you have a full meal with almost no cleanup.
Here’s how to do it make a cheeseburger from top to bottom in the deep fryer.
4. Chicken cutlets
Fryers turn out perfect chicken cutlets.
Before the air fryer, I pan-fried breaded chicken cutlets for Chicken Parmesan and other recipes, but the air fryer does the same job with less mess and produces less greasy fried chicken.
Watch this: Best Deep Fryers: Cheap vs. Expensive
I recommend using boneless chicken thighs, which have enough fat to withstand all that convection heat without drying out. Simply coat the chicken in beaten eggs and then in breadcrumbs mixed with salt, pepper and other seasonings. Cook at 375 degrees for about 15 minutes.
You can spray the chops with a little oil before baking to give them an extra crispy crust, but it’s not necessary. I tried the same method with chicken breasts; it works well, but there is a greater risk of the meat drying out.
5. Cauliflower steak
Cauliflower steak made in the deep fryer has become a staple in my kitchen.
One of my favorite things to cook in the deep fryer is cauliflower. A plate of cauliflower makes a great side dish or main course if you’re going plant-based. Simply toss a thick slice or two of cauliflower with olive oil and salt and pepper, or some seasoning of your choice, and air fry for 10 or 12 minutes on high. The deep fryer gives it a beautiful caramelized crust, and the dense vegetables cook quickly enough to keep the inside of the cauliflower from turning mushy.
6. Leftover pizza
This leftover pizza got a whole new life thanks to a quick trip to the fryer.
While not every type of food is best heated in a deep fryer, many are. Deep fryers are the perfect way to revive leftovers pizzafried chicken, grilled meat and vegetables. A microwave oven heats food unevenly and tends to give it a rubbery texture. Deep fryers give food a second life through convection heat for a crispy crust and even heating.
Here it is the best way to reheat any kind of leftovers.
7. Hot dogs
You can cook an entire package of hot dogs in just a few minutes.
It’s hard to screw up a hot dog, but if you want a perfectly charred hot dog in less than five minutes with essentially no cleanup required, check out the fryer. Hot dogs in the fryer are the easiest, and the super convection oven gets them perfectly browned in two or three minutes.
Here’s how to make it hot dogs in the fryer all summer.
8. Baked potatoes
The toaster potato had a crispy skin and was light and fluffy on the inside.
OK, technically, this one starts at microwave and then finished in the fryer. The microwave softens the inside in less than 8 minutes, while the deep fryer sears the edges and skin to crispy perfection. It’s a restaurant-quality baked potato in less than 12 minutes. Here’s how to make it best deep fryer baked potatoes ever.
