A common problem faced by any family that loves fried foods is the small size of most household deep fryers. Most of the fryers on the market are designed to fit only enough food for one to two people. This is great for individuals and couples who love a tasty fried treat, but it can be a real headache if you plan to cook for a family or if you wish to cook an entire meal in the fryer. Because you can only fit a small amount into the basket, you may have to cook more than one batch of the food, while the first one gets cold on the counter. Luckily, the wonderful people at T-fal have provided us a solution, and it is one of the best deep fryers to feed the whole family.
The T-fal FR4049 Family Pro 3-Liter Oil Capacity Electric Deep Fryer with Stainless Steel Waffle (whew, let’s just call it the “T-fal” for short) is the perfect fryer for large meals. It can hold up to 2.65 pounds of crispy deep-fried goodness at once, which can feed up to four people and is more than enough for even the hungriest individuals. Its large capacity is one of its most obvious benefits, but this model has lots of additional features that make it one of the best household deep fryers on the market.
T-fal FR4049 Family Pro Deep Fryer Review
Adjustable Thermostat and Timer
It has both a thermostat and timer that are manually set and easy to adjust. An indicator light near the thermostat will let you know exactly when the fryer is ready to be filled and the timer will let you know when it’s ready to be emptied. This is helpful to avoid wasting a sample food piece to test the oil temperature and great to help you avoid overcooking and wasting even more.
Viewing Window and Basket Lip
The lid has a very neat viewing window that allows you to watch your food as it is cooking, in case you don’t trust the timer– or you just enjoy watching food cook. The handle on the lid is safe and stays cool to the touch. It also has a handy lip on the inside that allows you to hang the basket. This is very handy for allowing excess oil to drain off the food as well as providing an easy way to fill the basket. Also because of the viewing window, you can keep the lid closed throughout the entire cooking process and allow the fryer to maintain the perfect temperature.
The T-fal holds up to three liters of oil and 2.6 pounds of food. The heating element is for 1,600 watts, providing plenty of power for reaching the perfect temperatures without draining unnecessary energy. It also comes with a one year manufacturer’s warranty if you are not completely satisfied.
Safe and Easy to Use
The mesh basket is easy to clean and has a handle that is also cool to the touch, reducing clean up issues from accidents and making it safer. The magnetic cord is easy to use and provides another element of safety in case anyone accidently runs across it. Even with all the features and benefits of the T-fal, it is very simple to operate and easy to use. Just plug it in, set the temperature, place the food in the basket and set the timer. Then comes the best part: eat enough crispy, delicious fried food for the whole family.
Features and Specs
- 3-liter oil capacity
- Cooks up to 2.65 pounds of food at once
- 1,600 watts of power
- Integrated countdown timer
- Adjustable thermostat for flexibility in frying
- Indicator light for temperature and time
- Easy to use, manual controls
- Cool-to-the-touch handles
- Viewing window in the cooking lid
- Magnetic safety plug
- Stainless steel construction
- One-year limited manufacturer warranty
