Those of us who love to cook know it’s essential to get things to the table in a timely fashion. In that case, you should know that when it comes to your deep fryer — size definitely matters.
What size deep fryer do I need? A 1-quart deep fryer is large enough for two small servings, while a larger 1.5-quart fryer will serve a small family of three. A 3-quart deep fryer is large enough for most families. A turkey requires a fryer large enough to hold around 26 quarts.
There are hundreds of different models of deep fryers on the market with tons of options available. That’s why size isn’t the only thing that matters when selecting the best deep fryer.
How To Find the Best Deep Fryer For Your Needs
For those of us who love to cook, we know that time management is as important as the food itself. If you choose a deep fryer that’s too small, you’re going to need to do several batches, which leaves some food to grow cold as you finish dinner.
So, to combat against a soggy mess, let’s find the best deep fryer on the market starting with capacity.
| Household Size | Deep Fryer Capacity |
| 1 to 2 people | 1 quart |
| 2 to 3 people | 1.5 quarts |
| 4 to 6 people | 3 quarts |
| 6+ people | 4 quarts and up |
If you’re planning to do specialized meals, though, or you want to fry up more than one thing at a time, you’re going to need a deep fryer with a much larger capacity than the ones we listed. For example, if you want to fry a turkey, you’re going to need a fryer that can handle around 26 quarts.
There are three different types of deep fryers on the market right now:
- Electric
- Air
- Propane
For the most part, if you plan to cook small items in your deep fryer, most people prefer to use an electric fryer. You see, it’s safe to use an electric fryer in your house. However, there are some drawbacks — you can’t cook a large item, and the smell tends to linger in the house.
If you want to keep your house fresh, you’re going to want to look into fryers powered by propane. Now, you cannot use a propane fryer indoors. However, many “foodies” prefer the taste of a propane fryer over an electric one, so they are willing to deal with the extra work of haul their propane fryer outside and safety issues. Interested in how to deal with them, then check out this video.
And finally, if you’re worried about your waistline or you would like to lose a couple of pounds, manufacturers now make a device that will fry your food using air. Granted, an air fryer isn’t technically a “deep fryer,” but by all accounts, it’s almost as delicious as the real thing.
Of course, there are also other considerations too. For example, at my house, we love to cook all kinds of food, not just meat and potatoes. For different types of food, to attain the best results, you’re going to need a deep fryer that has different temperature settings.
Also, if you have kids in the house or you tend to be clumsy, there are safety concerns when you’re dealing with gallons of hot oil. Some deep fryers come with different safety settings like a detachable cord. Every year, deep fryers cause around $28 million in property damages, so safety is absolutely essential.
As you can see, when you’re searching for the best deep fryer to use, size is certainly important. However, there are many other things you need to think about as well.
Deep Fryers For Small Families
If you don’t have to cook for many people, there’s no reason to purchase a huge deep fryer for personal use. Below, we found you some electric deep fryers perfect for small families.
Presto Fry Daddy Deep Fryer
If you’re in the market for a deep fryer and a small one will do, perhaps this model from Presto called the Fry Daddy would do the trick. This electric fryer only needs four cups of oil. On top of that, it comes with a snap-on lid that allows you to store the oil right in the fryer itself.
This budget-friendly option from Presto doesn’t have temperature settings or a basket, but it does come with a:
- Scoop to pull out your food once it’s finished
- 1,200 watts of power
T-Fal Deep Fryer
Next, we have a deep fryer for a smaller family with all the bells and whistles – the T-Fal Deep Fryer. This product comes with everything you’re going to need to fry up to 2.6 pounds of food at a time.
- 1700 watts
- Multiple temperature settings,
- Holds just over 3.5 quarts of oil
- Comes with a basket to make draining your food easier
- Separate oil storage container as well as an
- An internal oil filtration system
Gourmia Air Fryer
And finally, if you’re only cooking for a few people and you want to go with an air fryer, check out this Gourmia Air Fryer. Unlike most deep fryers, this product not only fries your food, but you can also bake, broil, and grill with it too.
- Compact design small enough for most kitchens
- Adjustable time and temperature settings
- Cooks food faster than traditional means
- Doesn’t require oil to produce similar results
- Reduces the number of calories in fried foods by up to 80%
While the Gourmia air fryer is a great option, I have to mention that I’ve been using the Cosori air fryer as of late and I’ve just fallen in love with it. It’s 5.8 quarts in size so it’s no small air fryer but it comes at an affordable price if you compare it to other top-tier brands.
I’ve written a review where I outline the features of the Cosori air fryer and why I would purchase the same one if mine stopped working.
Deep Fryers For Large Households
We know that every household is different, and the smaller deep fryers we covered aren’t going to cut it for some of you. Check out these deep fryers for larger households.
Hamilton Beach Deep Fryer
For those of you with larger households and more space in your kitchen, this deep fryer from Hamilton Beach might be the one. This product comes with two baskets and holds just over 4.5 quarts of oil (19 cups).
- 1800 watts
- Detachable cord
- Cooks up to 12 cups of food at a time
- A vented lid to avoid splatters
- Removable parts for easy cleaning
- Tank, lids, and basket are dishwasher safe
Butterball Electric Fryer
If you’re in the market for a fryer, you can use indoors, and one large enough for a turkey, check out this Butterball Electric Fryer. If you have the space in your kitchen, this bad boy will cook a turkey (or other food) that weighs up to 14 pounds.
- 1,650 watts
- Chrome wire cooking basket
- Adjustable temperature settings
- Oil drain valve
Turkey Deep Fryer
If you’re looking to go big, go all the way with this Turkey Deep Fryer. This propane-powered deep fryer is large enough to fit a bird weighing up to 25 pounds. Remember, you’re going to need to use this one outside.
- Stainless steel
- 44 quarts
- Comes with a safety glove
- Thermometer included
- Aluminum perforated poultry rack (dishwasher safe)
- Stainless steel seasoning injector
Deep Frying Made Easy
And there you have it, folks, as you can see, there are a ton of options out there for deep fryers. It’s easy to find the right size deep fryer for any household once you understand what size you need on hand.
And remember, size isn’t everything. A small family that loves turkey year-round might want to buy a larger fryer than a larger family that will use it occasionally.
Enough talk—time to get to frying.