Lifting system with folding handle lets you lift the frying basket out of the oil without opening the lid for safer handling Manufacturers' advice varies from five to 25 uses, and it will depend on what you're cooking in your fryer. But it should definitely be changed regularly – especially if you're cooking food covered in breadcrumbs. Always follow the advice given in the instruction booklet.

Pros: Not too expensive. The best deep-fat fryers will produce authentic-tasting fried treats, from fish and chips to sweet treats such as doughnuts. Most deep-fat fryers advise against using olive oil, butter or margarine, as they are unsuitable for cooking at high temperatures and will bubble over and smoke. Oils with high water content should be avoided too. How often should the oil be changed in a deep-fat fryer? The easiest-to-use deep-fat fryers had clearly labelled controls, which were well-placed and moved smoothly. We also timed how long each deep-fat fryer took to get from 170°C to 190°C (the maximum cooking temperature of the deep-fat fryers).

Cons: You need to use a lot of oil, although it can be reused a couple of times. Food is submerged in oil, so has higher fat content. You'll also need to take care in handling and disposing of large amounts of oil. Lifting system with folding handle lets you lift the frying basket out of the oil without removing the lid for safer handling, while the large viewing window allows you to safely monitor food as it cooks with the lid kept closed Oil is never easy to shift. Some deep-fat fryers make it easier by incorporating removable dishwasher-safe baskets, lids or oil tanks that you can wash by hand in warm, soapy water. Your deep-fat fryer's instruction manual will recommend which oils are suitable for your specific fryer, but these usually include vegetable, sunflower, sesame, groundnut, corn, soy, hazelnut and rapeseed oil. Whether you choose a deep-fat fryer or an air fryer is likely to come down to what's most important to you – getting the authentic deep-fried crispy coating on your food, or enjoying fried treats with less fat.

More people are turning to Airfryers for their healthy, everyday cooking alternative. Discover our Vortx Airfrying technology today and see why over 1 million people have chosen our Airfryers. Thanks to its non-slip feet this deep fat fryer stays still and secure on your countertop for a safe cooking environment Often quite basic-looking machines with a large basin for the oil and a wire basket to hold the food. The oil is heated up and food is cooked by being submerged in the hot oil. The fryer keeps the oil at the correct temperature until the food is cooked. Select a suitable temperature for your ingredients and set the 30-minute mechanical timer to achieve accurate results every time The hardest part of cleaning a deep-fat fryer is removing the used oil. You should only do this when the oil has cooled down – never attempt to remove hot oil. Oil disposalDeep-fat fryers with non-removable bowls will have to be cleaned at the sink with soapy water. Always refer to the instruction manuals for guidance, and ensure the cable and plug are kept well away from the sink. Sooner or later, the used cooking oil will need to be removed so your deep-fat fryer can be cleaned. We found that in most cases it wasn't too hard to remove the oil tanks and pour the oil into a disposable container. However: The displays of some also included useful frying times for different foods. Ease of emptying used oil

These alternative fryers use only a small amount of oil – about one tablespoon. Instead of submerging the food in oil, they lightly coat it before circulating hot air around the fryer. Air fryers use a small amount of oil, and hot air, to cook food. They first appeared around 10 years ago, with the launch of the Tefal Actifry, and are a popular alternative to deep-fat fryers.

Cons: Expensive compared with deep-fat fryers, results are more comparable to oven-cooked chips than fried chips. Easily adjust the temperature of the fryer between 140 - 190 degrees C to perfectly cook your favourite foods Tower is an iconic British brand boasting over 100 years of quality in manufacturing and design excellence. Tower is the UK's fastest growing SDA & Housewares brand loved by millions of households.

We timed how long each deep-fat fryer took to get from 0°C to 170°C (the standard temperature for frying from frozen). You don't have permission to access "http://www.argos.co.uk/browse/appliances/small-cooking-appliances/air-fryers-and-fryers/c:29575/brands:tower/" on this server.

We got through many bags of chips testing the most popular deep-fat fryers sold at Lakeland, John Lewis, Argos, Currys and more. The deep-fat fryer brands we've tested include Tefal, Russell Hobbs and Tower. Built-in filter prevents cooking smells being released from food as you fry, keeping your kitchen odour-free We tested how long the deep-fat fryers took to get to 170°C as this is a normal temperature used for cooking from frozen.