I’m not big on fried foods, but when I do make something, there’s nothing like a nice deep fryer. After literally throwing out our old, disgusting Rival deep fryer, we did some research before investing in something new.
The Waring DF200 deep fryer seemed to be what we were looking for, and we bought this at Linen’s N Things for $129.00. I either shop at LNT or Bed Bath and Beyond for kitchen items, and a great incentive is their 20% off coupons you get in the mail, which can be used at either store (and BB&B takes expired coupons). We got about $25 off this item, which made it a lot easier to purchase. Also, this is available on Amazon.com, so it would probably be worth it to buy online if they have a sale, since items over $25 always have free shipping.
The Waring DF200 Deep Fryer
This is a powerful deep fryer, at 1800 watts. It holds a large capacity, measuring 16 1/2 in. wide x 8 in. deep x 15 in. high. The reservoir holds one gallon of oil.
This fryer has safety features of a breakaway cord (the cord stays on with magnets and breaks away if need be), auto shutoff (if it gets too hot – over 540˚), and interlock operation (unit will not operate unless properly engaged).
One of the main reasons we purchased this fryer is for the ease of cleaning. We wanted a removable reservoir, and in fact, this reservoir is dishwasher safe, with a pour spout groove in the corner. The basket and lid are also dishwasher safe. The basket is heavy nickel-plated mesh with a plastic handle, which means no burnt hands. The handle also folds in for storage.
The lid has a domed shape and a little glass window, so you can monitor your food. There are some vents in the lid which have a condensation catcher, which channels away water to prevent spattering.
To use the fryer, you make sure the reservoir is in, then put in the immersible heating element. It is connected to the “control panel”, and this whole piece can be either fully placed into the fryer or set at an angle for draining/cooling, depending on what stage you are in. You can place the basket all the way into the fryer, and the lid fits snugly over it. Or, you can set the basket up higher, above the oil, once you are finished frying, to drain the food and/or the basket.
There are two large plastic “cuplike” handles on the sides for moving the fryer. The fryer is fairly large itself, so these have been a necessity in moving the fryer from countertop to storage shelf. The lid also has a large plastic handle, which again means that you don’t have to burn your hands lifting the lid. Even so, the unit is pretty well designed so that it doesn’t get excessively hot on the outside.
My Thoughts
The reservoir on this fryer is great. Although it is dishwasher safe, I usually remove it, wipe it with a towel, and spray the inside with Dawn Power Dissolver. After it sits for a while, it is easily cleaned and ready to go. If I don’t think I will use the fryer until after a dishwashing cycle, I avoid washing the basket by hand, just because the screen/mesh design tends to chew up my sponges. It is very convenient that these parts are dishwasher safe.
The pour spout makes work so much easier. Once the oil is cool enough, I pick up the reservoir and pour the oil back into the oil container using a funnel. You can strain crumbs, etc. out of the oil either at this point or when you’re putting it back in the fryer.
The lid is very well designed, between the viewing window, condensation catcher, and grooves so that you can firmly close the lid on top of the fryer and fryer basket.
The oil seems to heat up fairly quickly, so there isn’t a lot of wait time. You probably want to wait until you are ready to fry before turning on the Waring deep fryer, unless you are absolutely sure you’ll be ready in just a few minutes.
There is a heat temperature setting and a timer, as well as an on/off switch. All of these features are very simple to use and are self-explanatory. There are red and green lights, which indicate if the fry oil is up to temperature.
Any Downsides?
I really don’t have anything particularly bad to say about the Waring deep fryer. However, one of my complaints would be that the cord is on the short side. This probably has to do with the wattage, but we have to strategically place the fryer so that it is stable and the cord can meet the wall. Because of this, some of the steam that rises from the fryer gets pretty close to our cabinets, which isn’t a good thing. (Fortunately, it is an apartment and not a house we own!).
Some Thoughts, Tips, and Favorites!
As I mentioned, for cleaning this item, I wipe out the reservoir before cleaning. Unless you want to destroy your plumbing, you shouldn’t be running oil down the drain. After wiping, then I run some soap and hot water in it. Recently, we have been using the new Dawn Power Dissolver, which does a pretty good job of wiping out any greasy or oily residue. If you plan on washing the basket by hand, I would suggest using a brush, because far too many times, I have ended up picking bits of sponge out of the wire!
I bought an Oxo skimmer for the fryer, which has been really useful. Usually we’re throwing all kinds of things in the fryer, and whether it is a bunch of samosas that are different sizes or a mix of tater tots and mozzarella sticks, we need something to get items out of the fryer. It is a little large at times to navigate, but helps to both get items out as well as drain the oil.
We also have a Progressive French Fry Cutter, which has been nice, but requires some man power. I see that Kitchen Aid and other companies make vegetable cutters, which is a necessity if you are making things like fries or zucchini sticks.
I also suggest getting something to strain your oil. We strain the oil as we return it into the fryer, using a tiny sieve (about 1”), pouring the oil through that. I don’t know what this little sieve was for, but it is perfect. Large sieves would work as well, or a funnel that has some sort of screen in it.
Some of the foods we regularly fry are: samosas (Indian food), mozzarella sticks, jalapeņo poppers, won tons and French fries or tater tots. We occasionally make the French fries on our own, and if you plan to do so, I would suggest looking up some recipes (these can be easily found on the internet). The trick to good homemade French fries is to fry them not just once, but twice. Basically, you can make the fries (which involves soaking them in water to remove starch), frying, then freezing them. That way, all the trouble you go to in making the fries, you can store as many as you want, then fry them a second time, making them crispy and golden, rather than soggy.
Overall: I really like this deep fryer. My favorite things are the removable reservoir, removable submersible heater, and dishwasher safe items. It is easy to maintain, which will also extend its life. This fryer is simple to use, safe, and powerful. It costs a bit more than most average heaters, but it has been worth the price.
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