T-Fal FR7008002 Ultimate EZ Clean Pro-Fryer Stainless-Steel 2-2/3-Pound Deep Fryer
From T-Fal
The professional style Ultimate EZ Clean Pro Fryer is truly the ultimate deep fryer. This high wattage unit, 1700 watts, boasts an extra large food capacity of 2.65 lbs. and a stylish stainless steel exterior. This unit also is equipped with a patented automatic oil drainage and filtration system which allows the user to never touch the oil! The unit is entirely dishwasher safe which makes for super easy clean-up. This unit also comes equipped with a large viewing window, external frying basket control, a permanent odor filter and an adjustable thermostat.
- Amazon Sales Rank: #2188 in Kitchen & Housewares
- Color: Stainless Steel
- Brand: T-Fal
- Model: FR7008002
- Released on: 2005-09-01
- Dimensions: 16.00" h x 13.00" w x 19.00" l, 13.95 pounds
For cooking restaurant-quality fried foods at home, this professional-style deep fryer can hold 3-2/7 liters (approximately 14 cups) of oil and offers an extra-large fresh-food capacity of 2-2/3 pounds. Its generously sized frying basket can accommodate almost any type of food--from delicious French fries and onion rings to mozzarella sticks and doughnuts. The unit provides an adjustable thermostat and a temperature-ready light that indicates when the oil has reached the correct frying temperature. Even more, users never have to touch the oil thanks to the unit's automatic oil-drainage and filtration system. It drains filtered oil into an integrated oil container, conveniently storing it for future use. The appliance also comes with a variety of safety features that include cool-touch handles on the sides and lid, an external handle that raises and lowers the basket with the lid closed, a sealed locking lid to prevent splatters, and a detachable magnetic safety plug. Other details include a viewing window on the lid, a permanent odor filter to reduce cooking odors, and 100-percent dishwasher-safe parts (except the heating element) for hassle-free clean-up. Attractively housed in brushed stainless steel, the 1700-watt deep fryer measures 19 by 13 by 16 inches and carries a one-year limited warranty.
Caution: Do Not Overfill
My wife and I bought the T-fal deepfryer and we love it. I read all the reviews and noted that one person had complained of finding that his T-fal deep fryer had leaked oil all over the counter. Finding few bad reviews, we decided to buy it. Sure enough, after the fryer cooled and the oil emptied into the reservoir there was oil all over the counter. It did not take a rocket scientist to figure out the reason. When we filled it prior to turning it on, we had a gallon jug of cooking oil which we emptied into fryer. A gallon is 3.78 liters (16 cups) and the capacity of the reservoir is 3.3 liters (14 cups). We noticed when we filled it that it was slightly over the max line but did not give it a second thought. Unfortunately, when the machine cooled and the oil drained into the reservoir, the extra two cups of oil had no where to go but onto the counter. THERE IS NO FUDGE FACTOR ON THE MAX LINE, DO NOT OVERFILL IT. Any oil that is over the Max line will end up all over your counter. We learned our lesson and have not overfilled it since. After that fist incident we have used our T-fal deep fryer several times and it works perfectly. The food comes out perfect, clean up is a snap and we would never trade it for anything else.
Maybe I didn't want a fryer after all
This is my first home deep fryer. My only other experience is with professional fryers in restaurant settings. Therefore, this review is more for those, like me, who haven't deep fried at home.
I guess the main thing I learned so far is frying is not as simple as some other modes of cooking - you're going to be using nearly a gallon of oil that has to heat before and cool after. Like another review pointed out, when the oil is at cooking temperature, it puts out a lot of oil vapor and odor in the air, so unless you use it in a very well ventilated area, your kitchen and house will reek. Bottom line: deep frying takes a bit of commitment.
So what about the fryer? Most of the reviews I read about this seemed to be pretty much on the mark. Here's my primary thoughts:
- The unit has a decent sized capacity.
- Most all if it can go in the dishwasher, but will take up half or more of the dishwasher space - this thing is not tiny.
- The heating element thermostat is a dial with numbers marked on it - in other words, it is not digital, so I feel I should get a thermometer to confirm the oil temperature.
- A selling point on this rig, at least for me, is the automatic filtering of the oil. (This amounts to a drain in the bottom of the fry chamber with a metal screen). I moved the fryer out to my garage after it had cooled for a couple hours, hoping reduce the smell of oil in my kitchen, in the morning I found it in a small pool of oil - several ounces of oil either did not make it to the storage container. Either it leaked out of the top of the oil reservoir because its top didn't seal or it leaked as it was filtering from the fry chamber. Someone else's review claimed a much larger spill, making me think one must be very careful getting the reservoir properly sealed and positioned.
My plan is to put a large cooking sheet pan under the entire unit next time. Yes, there will be a next time, although my review may not sound glowingly positive, I think this is a good unit. I just wanted to provide a review that will help someone else make the right decision for themselves. For me, if I knew what an impact frying has on the overall environment of the kitchen, I made have gone a different route. I plan to install a vent in my kitchen this year, in the meant ime, I will likely use this like my gas grill - outside.
Almost perfect....
This machine is brilliantly simple, easy to use, easy to take apart and clean, and so well thought out it might not have another that can best it.
Downside: the odor filter really doesn't filter that much, or that well. You still get huge plumes of vaporous oil rising up, and unless you use it under a hood your house will be a greasy mess. Luckily the design comes with two plastic side handles so you can easily move it on and off of the stove top where it can billow into your vent hood.
