Presto Deep Fryer - FryDaddy 05420 Review

Baked foods are great for those who want to cut back on fat and calorie intake. With the absence of oil, the oven provides a safe haven for those who wish to eat food in its most unadulterated state, free from the bogeymen known as calories and fat that frying and other forms of food preparation can add to your favorite meal.

But sometimes, the taste of fried food hits the spot, even if it does tack on some guilt to the eating process. And one electric device that helps make frying simple is the Presto Fry Daddy, an easy to use appliance for deep frying your food.

Deep Fryer Commentary:
 
Presto's Fry Daddy deep fryer offers a nice alternative to cooking food in the oven and among its positive traits, its ease of use ranks the highest. Oil is added until it reaches the inside fill line. Then, you plug the cord into a socket and wait about ten minutes for the oil to get hot. Using the slotted metal scoop, you lower your food into the deep fryer, stir a few times, and a few minutes later remove the food using the scoop. The slots in the scoop help to drain out the oil. Once your meal is finished, you just allow the oil to cool, cover the container with the plastic lid, and forget about it until next time. After a few uses, the oil will need to be discarded and replaced. There is no rule for the number of uses per fill-up. You just have to judge for yourself. Depending on what you cook in the fryer, it can last for up to three or more meals.

The crispness that deep frying adds to foods makes a noticeable difference in taste and this is the main reason why people choose deep frying over baking. I have used my Fry Daddy for several different foods but the one that is improved the most by deep frying instead of baking is fish filets/fish sticks. Prepared in the oven, frozen fish is often a little soggy and not very appetizing. With deep frying, the fish sticks come out uniformly crispy and delicious without a hint of sogginess. And the cooking time, by using this deep fryer, is cut in half. The same is true with other foods.

Using Presto Fry Daddy for fish means that I cannot get as many uses out of the same batch of oil as with other foods. Fish tends to make the oil smellier and it needs to be replaced after maybe two uses. If you plan to deep fry things like French fries exclusively with your Fry Daddy, then you can expect to get more uses out of the same batch of oil. Yes, there will still be small particles left in the bottom of the oil and they will accumulate with each use. But they will not produce the smell and mess that fish filets make and therefore you will get more mileage out of the same oil.

As for its bad points, Presto Fry Daddy cannot be placed in water which means you have to wash it out by hand. I don't find this a big deal because it cleans so easily but I know that some consumers will be turned off by the fact that they cannot place the unit in a dishwasher. Another complaint some may have is the automatic thermostat. The unit is either on or off. You cannot control the temperature because there is no thermostat control. If it is plugged in, it is turned on. Once you unplug, it is off. I don't mind this because the automatic thermostat heats the oil to boiling and keeps it there, and that is exactly what I want. Again, some consumers may not like this.

Probably the greatest con to this type of appliance is the danger of burns caused by the oil. The oil, once heated, is very hot and it could easily cause a serious burn if a large amount splashed out and came in contact with skin. You should never place foods with excess moisture into the hot oil, because the water will cause popping and splashing when it comes in contact with the oil. The outside of the unit is very warm to the touch when in operation, so you need to avoid touching it while in use.

Bottom Line:

Presto Fry Daddy might have a few shortcomings, but this is one appliance I plan to use for a long time. I won't use it every day or even a few times per week. I will only use it when the occasion calls for it: when I want to prepare fish filets or other frozen food that needs to be crispy to taste best. Yes, deep frying does add more fat and calories to food but for an occasional treat, it's worth the added guilt.