Presto Deep Fryer - Cool Daddy Review

We love homemade French fries. They are much better than the frozen "heat 'n eat" ones. We also deep fry several other foods like crab cakes and onion rings.

I used a Fry Daddy for years. Loved that machine. It was getting worn out.

I decided to upgrade to the Presto Cool Touch. Oh yes. I was excited about getting such a nice fryer.

The Cool Daddy has a case around the actual fryer. That's why it's cool to the touch.

Then there's a lid. I thought that would cut down on splatters. It has a window in the top as well to watch the food. Unfortunately the window fogs up. So much for that feature. Also, the food dosn't come out right with the lid closed, so we end up frying with it wide open anyway.

If the lid is closed, then there are little filters in the top that need to be changed out. That's another step and an extra expense.

This machine looks big, but it's really not. I don't think it holds any more than the old Fry Daddy which was much smaller. This thing is so big that it has to live on top of the cabinet instead of under like the Fry Daddy. It is attractive, but it's not something I like to showcase on my cabinet.

The Cool Daddy does come apart - the inside fryer lists totally out to clean the base. But, the base has electrical innards. So, the thing really is hard to clean. Grease sticks and builds up. It's a real chore to clean this well. I have to get a toothbrush and try to get goo out of the groves. That is not my idea of a good time.

The real kicker is that the food just doesn't fry as well in the Cool Daddy. It doesn't run quite hot enough. Even at the highest setting, the fries are bad about coming out flabby. The light will come on, but it cools down when the food is put in. Small batches work better, but then I have to do two or three loads of fries.

I can use the Cool Daddy with pretty good results, but it's not easy to get great food. The old Fry Daddy was a better cooker and did not have all the issues I've mentioned here. I suppose I'll break down and buy another Fry Daddy. I hate it when I buy something that I don't really like. I feel like I ought to go ahead and use it, but I don't enjoy it.