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AIBU?

To have never deep fat fried anything

94 replies

KnittedBlanketHoles · 12/01/2017 02:06

Not the sort of thing I grew up with. My daughter raves about dff chips though and so I'm tempted. I have about £30 I could blow on a fryer and Argos is the most convenient store. Do I want a round plastic one or a rectangular metal one, and why?

The four I've been looking at are www.argos.co.uk/product/4234920 www.argos.co.uk/product/4234528 www.argos.co.uk/product/4234865 www.argos.co.uk/product/9075919

But then is deep fat frying only for... I don't know... (whispers) 'bad' people?

My mum would think I've turned into a commoner if I bought one (ignoring the fact that I already currently live in social housing). I think I have some serious hangups. There's nothing intrinsically wrong with deep fat fryers is there, so why does it feel like an unreasonable thing to spend money on and bring into my house and life? Especially when it would make my daughter happy...

I suggested to DD that I buy a basket that can go in any stove top pan but apparently it's just not the same at all and I just don't get it. That suggestion was met with derision, a roll of eyes, and the implication that I am an alien.

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LoupGarou · 12/01/2017 02:12

Buy one.... you know you want to Grin. Dff chips are delicious, I think they're best dff, but I don't really get the chance to have them much anymore.

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Birdsgottafly · 12/01/2017 02:16

You never had chips/battered fish growing up?

We bought one, because my DD (19) is into cooking and wanted to try out deep fried cake recipes.

We cooked loads of chips for a while and now don't use it.

I'd spend more and get an air fryer, if calories/high fat food is not something that you want to have.

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GilMartin · 12/01/2017 02:19

How did your mother cook chips, if not in a chip pan?

Have you never been to a chippie or had chips from a café or restaurant?

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MissVictoria · 12/01/2017 02:20

I'd never have one in my house, the amount of fires caused by chip pans, i wouldn't want to risk it. If i fancy some chips i go to the chippy, can't find a decent one round here though that doesn't fry, leave for ages then re fry to warm up so they're bloody awful!.

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Birdsgottafly · 12/01/2017 02:21

As for shape etc, it's just a matter of preference.

For very rare usage, you'd be better with your suggestion of a basket to use in a pan.

Explain the cleaning of them to your DD, you have to empty out the oil (I use baked beans tins and then wash it out and refill it.

If your not used to cooking with fat, then you'll smell it, if the oil is left in it.

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toffee1000 · 12/01/2017 02:54

OP probably means she has never used a deep fat fryer in her life. Doesn't necessarily mean she's never eaten chips FFS. I don't think my mum ever had a deep fat fryer. We just buy frozen oven chips.

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KnittedBlanketHoles · 12/01/2017 03:21

You never had chips/battered fish growing up?

Actually no, we didn't. We went to McD twice and one of those times was for someone else's birthday party. On a holiday abroad we had some deep fried fritters that were like fish cakes, once.

My parents cooked rice and stuff and that was it. But if we did something worthy like got a scholarship or won a sports/debate/chess competition we would be allowed one "Saturday treat" food, like some choc buttons or something.

I moved out at 16 and... have had an eating disorder since. So no, no chips growing up, no frying, no fat or oil, nothing like that. I've made oven chips but never used a deep fat fryer.

I've since eaten many many pouches of fries from McD (well chewed them, not digested), and hash browns, though not so many in the last few years as I am stuck in a cycle of very reduced food items.

I want to start eating more foods though.

Cleaning out sounds like a faff.

Do you have a dff at home - what sort do you have?

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KnittedBlanketHoles · 12/01/2017 03:26

can't find a decent one round here though that doesn't fry, leave for ages then re fry to warm up so they're bloody awful!.

Agreed. They're like cardboard. My DD went to someone's house where they had a dff and she really thinks they're amazeballs. The smell, cleaning, fire risk etc all put me off but... I could always buy it, use it once, then put it away in the cupboard. Something about buying one feels rebellious and therefore all the more tempting...

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KnittedBlanketHoles · 12/01/2017 03:28

I'd spend more and get an air fryer,

The budget is £30, can't stretch it...

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KoalaDownUnder · 12/01/2017 03:31

How did your mother cook chips, if not in a chip pan?

I still remember my (English) auntie coming to visit when we were kids, and asking mum where the chip pan was so she could cook dinner. We were Confused

Chips were something you had with fish about twice a year.

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Bluntness100 · 12/01/2017 03:36

What do you mean you chewed fries at McDonald's but didn't digest them? I don't understand. Did you spit them out or throw them up or something? 😳

As for the fryer, I don't have one, but I don't make chips, I don't see the issue, if you will use it and can afford it buy it.

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Birdsgottafly · 12/01/2017 03:37

""Do you have a dff at home - what sort do you have?""

I bought an Argos plastic value one.

It's in the cupboard, I'm sorry I didn't go for a basket/chip pan.

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DJBaggySmalls · 12/01/2017 03:45

Do you eat oven chips? You haven't lived Grin

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TheStoic · 12/01/2017 06:30

I would never have a fryer in the house for the same reason I never have Nutella in the house. Moderation does not come naturally to me.

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9GreenBottles · 12/01/2017 06:43

Growing up, Mum had a DFF but she got rid of it just as I was leaving home. I've never had one, and have no desire for one as I hate the smell lingering in the house and on my clothes and hair. I visit a friend who has one and I cringe if she uses it whilst I am there.

I have been wondering about AFF (though I know they are out of your budget just now).

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UsedToBeAPaxmanFan · 12/01/2017 06:50

I've never dff anything. I've eaten dff chops from a chippie but never done them.myself. oven chios all the way here!

My parents never dff anything either. My mum drilled into me the dangers of chip pan fires so I've never dared try! We occasionally had fish and chips from a chippie as a treat.

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AndNoneForGretchenWieners · 12/01/2017 07:03

Once you have a dff or a chip pan you can do all sorts in it - DS loves whitebait which is delicious in the fryer, and I have made doughnuts, tempura prawns, battered fish and scotch eggs in ours. Cleaning it out is a pain to be sure, but I don't use it often enough to be bothered by the faff.

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Riversiderunner · 12/01/2017 07:05

I've never deep fat fried anything either. Do you really need one? A fireman once told me that 90% of the fires they Clare called out to are caused by drunk people putting on their DFFs and then falling asleep.

So I judge them!

But if you're not overweight and love your chips and won't turn it on pissed, why not?!

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LooksBetterWithAFilter · 12/01/2017 07:14

Most dff have safety cut offs now. You are far safer with a dff than a chip pan on the hob. It's chip pans that are the fire risk. My parents had one I have never owned one but was seriously tempted after watching a friends children while she was in hospital. I'd fed both sets of children hers and mine at her house and she has one. It was brilliant. Cooked loads of chips in record time and they were so much nicer than oven chips. I've always talked myself out of it because I've nowhere to keep it really and I'd hardly used it.

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Gileswithachainsaw · 12/01/2017 07:17

Try b&m they probably have one in that price range.

I'd like a dff too. I did look at air fryers but the bad reviews were pretty bad so felt jt was alot if money for what it was. (The good reviews were good however when the bad ones all say the same thing I usually this kind there's something in it...)

The one thing that puts me off a dff though is that I read on here on another thread that teachers can smell them on the kids.

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shuckleberryfinn · 12/01/2017 07:20

The little rectangular ones fit in a cupboard better.

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BakeOffBiscuits · 12/01/2017 07:22

I agree with Locks, dffs are far safer than just a basket in a pan if boiling hot fat!
Op if you want one go for it! My mum has one and the chips are absolutley delicious. I don't have one as I know I'd be tempted to use it every day often.

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MollyHuaCha · 12/01/2017 07:29

I have never ever deep fried anything! Family has fish and chips about six times a year, but I can't as I have Crohn's and can't manage high fat food. I guess I have inflicted my dietary preferences on the family as I am chief (only) chef and all our cooked food is steamed, baked, casseroled, boiled or poached.

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Tulipblank · 12/01/2017 07:45

I'm not sure I ever had dff chips as a child. My parents didn't have one, I can't recall any of my friends parents having one either. I think I first tried dff chips when I was in my 20s at my boyfriend's mother's house.

I also never went to McDonald's as a child. Sad

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KayTee87 · 12/01/2017 07:48

We didn't have one growing up and chips were an occasional treat when out. My husband recently bought one to make sweet potato fries and pakora.

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