Fryer Or Chip Pan?

[daisya]

Hi

Which would really be the best for cooking chips occasionally? Chip pan with veg oil or deep fat fryer with veg oil. I ask because I got rid of my DFFryer recently as it was caked in oil round the controls and the numbers had worn off. Although I cleaned the inside of it (it was rectangular lift out one), I was fed up with the element having to be cleaned and the outside stained with oil even though I took care to wipe it down after use. I know it would get the same if we bought a new one.

OH says we would be safer replacing that but I'm beginning to think there wasn't as much mess with the old fashioned chip pan, the only thing with that is how do you know how high a temperature the oil has reached to start cooking the chips... We dislike oven chips though occasionally have them and chip shop chips really aren't as nice as they used to be we feel.

Would be nice to hear what others' thoughts are on this if you would like to say. Thanks.

[mazie]

I use a chip pan. My Daughter got me a deep fat fryer and I hated. The chips were no where near as crisp. Stick with a chip pan daisy.

[2sp_]

Despite the cleaning issues with a deep fat fryer, I would always use one instead of a chip pan.

Chip pans go up in flames so easily and quickly get out of control. I've witnessed one and it scared the crap out of me.

My deep fat fryer is minging, even though I clean it every time we use it. In fact it lives in the shed and is only allowed in when I'm making chips. It doesn't have an exposed element though so it's a bit easier to clean inside. The outside is a bit ropey though!

[TheOtherHalf]

I havnt had a chip pan for years and years ! I prefer oven chips but tghey have to M & S chunky ones

[SIRandyraven]

We bought a Tefal air cook device last year.
Very pleased with resulting chips and only uses a teaspoon of oil.
Much healthier chips ....
Well worth the investment.
Your heart will thank you

[Connemmara]

I use a chip pan but stand over it while chips cook - can be dangerous - as someone there said DFF fryer can't get crisp chips because the temperature goes up and down or maybe the word should be thermastat. Do keep an eye on your chip pan.

[Smowball]

Dont own either.Is a chip pan just a deep saucepan?

[Connemmara]

sandyraven - was at a party last year and received those chips you are talking about and I thought they were completely minging - my opinion though.

[rockyracoon]

I was going to ask this question a couple of weeks ago. I've got a deep fat fryer and it's the same, filthy despite best efforts to clean it, infact, we only have chips when it's dry out as I put it in the garden and fry out there. Chip pans do scare me a bit, I get distracted very quickly, especially around dinner time with the kids.

[SIRandyraven]

http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=airfryer+tefal&tag=googhydr-21&index=aps&hvadid=15179354940&hvpos=1t3&hvexid=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=1632188851714086770&hvpone=&hvptwo=&;hvqmt=b&ref=pd_sl_1g1mdwz1j4_b

[dannyk13]

The Philips Air-Fryer is very good although a little expensive.I use mine for cooking any type of steak, beef, pork, or lamb and now I would hate to be without it.

[mazie]

Mine is Smow. It belonged to the Old mans Mother..It's years old but makes great chips

[queenofmean]

Mum has one of those fryers with the exposed elements, she uses neat vinegar to get the worst of the greasy marks off the element thing. If the inside is bad (we don't use it often either) she gives it a soak in biological washing powder, same with the outside if it's really messy, then the whole lot goes in the dishwasher (not the element though) comes out sparkling every time. She says she'd never use an old fashioned fryer as it is so easy for them to go on fire.

[Graham-W]

Smoball. A chip pan is a deep saucepan with a mesh basket inside, with a handle, so that the chips can be lifted out easily when finished.

[SIRandyraven]

As a chip pan cooked chips man , then found oven chips a bit dry ...
I find the air cooked chips ok.
In fact love them.
Maybe the person at the party did not cook them properly ?
Jury was out for me , until I tried it and won over.

[Connemmara]

sorry sandyraven -but because I only cook for myself I only throw a handful of chips in - so wouldnt pay that kind of money

[Smowball]

Ahh, I see. Nope, never had one of those lol.

[Iluvspikey]

My mother has one of those tefal Acti-fry things that rotate and cook chips in a tablespoon of oil, and she loves it. Owning to the number I cook for I have a retangular deep fat frier

[daisya]

Great to hear your views. I must admit I'm now rather scared of the chip pan even though that's all we had years ago but then we used lard! It's the cleaning of the DFF that ticks me off even though I'm careful when it's in use. We don't have chips that often but nice home made chips are so nice when we do. Can understand about having the airfry ones but much to expensive for us just to have a few chips occasionally I think. Perhaps OH has got the right idea along with everyone who through safety would recommend the DDF. I'll have to look and see what will suit us though the rectangular ones don't always accommodate the lid whilst cooking....choices, choices lol.

[Connemmara]

daisy - just stand by the pan - you will be fine - ignore phone calls or anything else for that matter. - They are lovely in the chip pan.

[SIRandyraven]

I remember getting ours in Comets about a year back ...Jan sale maybe.
I think it cost £100 reduced from £180 or some ther made up figure.

You can never have too many kitchen gadgets.
But unlike the bread maker , electric knife , slow cooker , filter coffee maker , juice extractor , steam cooker , two cup teas made , ice cream maker ...that live in the utility room grave yard , we do use the air fryer once a week or more ....