Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to be terrified of the new deep fryer?

40 replies

poetmum · 30/12/2008 00:04

Okay - so I wanted a deep fryer for Christmas. Now, I now have a deep fryer.

Originally, I had visions of fish fingers made of quality fish, lovely homemade chips and other fantasies?

After reading the instructions, I am suddenly finding myself terrified of the contraption. It just seems so dangerous. On the otherhand, the model DH bought has every safety feature in the world build into it.

Does anyone have any experience with these? Any helpful hints to help me make good on my dream? I thought it would be a cost-effective, "healthy" solution to the fast foods DS adores.

OP posts:
Shitemum · 30/12/2008 00:06

No advice but I am terrified of our new pressure cooker. It hisses really loudly at me and could blow up AT ANY MOMENT!!!

{stands well back whimpering}

LightShinesInTheDarkness · 30/12/2008 00:06

What is dangerous about it?

Chip pan fires were notoriously dangerous and a deep fat fryer must be miles safer.

...and just think of all those dunkin' donuts....

SheikYerbouti · 30/12/2008 00:06

I'm only terrified of DFFs because of all the tasty things I would indulge in. I'd end up like one of the Roly Polies before you could say "Deep Fried Mars Bar"

MatNanPlusAbroad · 30/12/2008 00:07

We have a new silver model - rectangle and tho it has multiple thermo settings and takes minimum 3Lts oil and it is great.

What has you so scared?

MatNanPlusAbroad · 30/12/2008 00:09

Oh a Pressure Cooker SM fast cooked potatoes and veggies, fab stews and the like.

Original poster
poetmum · 30/12/2008 00:22

Shitemum - is it an old fashionned kind? Those scare me. I had one which would let me give off steam, so I could open it as soon as it was done. It eventually died. (The seal broke.) I mourned it...

until I discovered the slow cooker! Pop everything in, put it on low, go to the park, come home to a wonderful dinner. (Although I find adding cubed meat 1/2 hour before dinner seems to be the most flavourful.) Maybe you could see if someone on ebay will take the pressure off, so you can get on a slow groove?

MatNanPlus, sounds like we have the same type. But, they stress that everything should be dry. It can't be near water. Or a cooker. And they say it gets so hot, you shouldn't touch the sides. And...and...and...I'm worried of burning myself so badly, I'll look like a monster the rest of my life.

OP posts:
Shitemum · 30/12/2008 00:27

i don't know what kind it is. It lets steam off by itself and has some kind of safety feature that kicks in if the valve fails to open.
You can press a button and let the steam out yourself if you are really brave...

luckily it turns out DP had loads of experience with them before he met me so I'm leaving it to him!

Original poster
poetmum · 30/12/2008 00:27

Lightshines and Sheik, LOL! Deep fried mars bars? Dunkin donuts? Good thing I haven't got a sweet tooth. But fried shrimp and artichoke hearts could be my undoing.

I'm just glad DH is always on the road...I usually cook a nice dinner for DS and just have a salad. That's why this seemed so handy. No more warming frost-bitten fish and cardboard bits in the oven. No more standing over a cast iron skillet dutifully turning chips for maximum golden crispiness. Just bim-bam done.

But - the visions of the burn victim children I worked with when I was younger...I never want to look like that.

OP posts:
expatinscotland · 30/12/2008 00:31

i love our deep fat fryer! just used it tonight in fact.

none of us has a weight problem and DH and DDs need to put some weight on.

try it out when no one is there. takes away some of the fear.

close teh door to the kitchen when you are using it, then unplug it and move it somewhere where they can't get to it.

and enjoy!

LightShinesInTheDarkness · 30/12/2008 00:31

Have to confess, DH did actually buy the kids deep-fried Mars Bars from local chippy. They loved them! I am sure I remember Gordon Ramsay or some TV chef trying it once.

Fried shrimp and artichoke hearts - is that one recipe?

SheikYerbouti · 30/12/2008 00:33

I have never had a deep fried mars bar.

But I'd eat chips ALL DAY if I had a deep fat fryer and I am fat enough as it is.

expatinscotland · 30/12/2008 00:33

not just chips.

falafel.

onion rings.

coconut prawns.

fried chicken.

samosas and pekoras.

won tons.

fritters.

the possibilities are endless.

Original poster
poetmum · 30/12/2008 00:52

Yes and No Light Shines - two separate recipes. Same breading...

blend handful old bread or 1/4 cup bread crumbs,
small hunk of parmesean
sprinkle thyme
sprinkle parsley or coriander
1/4 cup flour
+
small bowl of flour

Whisk an egg for dredging.

Dredge artichokes in flour. Dip in egg. Dredge in bread crumb mixture. Fry.

Serve with hollandaise.

Same for shrimp - in it's own batch.(Different cooking times.) Serve with ... whatever!

(Best to use frozen artichoke hearts - rather than canned - less "juice."

ExPatInScotland - oh, you are taking the edge off of my fear....for these, I might risk being scarred for life.

OP posts:
Thunderduck · 30/12/2008 00:56

I'm scared of using our deep fat fryer too.

I am a naturally tense and anxious person though. I'm sure you'll be fine.

christywhisty · 30/12/2008 13:02

I loved my Deep Fat fryer, but it died just before christmas I was never scared of it, but was always scared of pressure cookers.
Didn't help when MIL was cooking liver for the cat in it and left it on. DH came home to find the kitchen full of smoke and liver coating all the kitchen. It had to be completely redecorated.

muggglewump · 30/12/2008 13:08

I've got one and I hardly ever use it. It does make really nice chips but the house stinks for days afterwards.

Original poster
poetmum · 30/12/2008 16:48

So, thanks everyone! I made chips! They were very tasty! I am not scarred for life or injured. But, Mugglewump, the house smells like a chip shop.

OP posts:
Fivesetsofschoolfees · 30/12/2008 17:47

OP,

I am assuming your fryer is a safety model (lid, thermostat, double wall etc). Much safer than the open thing I grew up with.

It's not particularly healthy, but very hand for making chips. I use mine about once a month.

MatNanPlusAbroad · 30/12/2008 22:18

Ah, see i looked at the keep away from the cooker message with

It sits on the cook on one side under the extractor hood, this still leaves room for 2 rings to work and with extractor on setting 2 (out of 3) no chippy after smell.

Well use crisp and dry solid oil bars as the set when cold so less messy moving in and out of high cupboard and of course if it has set it is cold!

MatNanPlusAbroad · 30/12/2008 22:19

Oh and we had crispy duck legs tonight for tea.

Thunderduck · 30/12/2008 22:23

Well done on conquering your fear.

DP wants to throw ours out though it's rarely used, he's a bit of a health freak. Using it still scares me but it's worth it for the pleasures of whitebait and calamari.

dietstartstomorrow · 30/12/2008 22:25

OMG I didn't even realise you could buy these anymore

blueshoes · 30/12/2008 22:26

How do you dispose of the oil? How often do you change it?

Thunderduck · 30/12/2008 22:28

You didn't realise you could buy These anymore?

dietstartstomorrow · 30/12/2008 22:31

No really My mum had one in the 80's, I have never known anyone have one since. Just thought it was one of those things that died out - like soda streams.