Customer Reviews

Euro-Pro F1066 5-Liter Electronic Stainless Steel Deep Fryer

5 star:		(26)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(33)

 

 

After reading the reviews here that prompted me to buy this model, I thought it was only right that I share my thoughts after purchasing this model.

I've been using it about a month and am very pleased with the unit. It lets you know when the oil is at the right temperature (probably the biggest failure with deep frying... not hot enough). I didn't time it, but think it takes anywhere from 15 to 20 minutes to reach 375 degrees. Clean-up is 'relatively' easy.

'Relative' because I have come to the conclusion that "hot oil" just doesn't relate to being 'clean' or 'easy.' With this unit you will need a funnel. A plastic funnel is fine, as you shouldn't drain it while it is hot... and typically you are draining it back into a one-gallon plastic container. That's another thing. You're going to use a gallon of oil. Peanut is "suppose" to be the best, but seems to be the most expensive. I've only used peanut oil so far with this unit. Forget hard lard (Crisco) since it isn't recommended (as others have noted the heating element is in the oil, so I suspect that hard fat and the heating element would work somewhat like putting an egg in a microwave).

Also plan on buying a lot of oil. Oil breaks down due to the heat and just because you see them cooking chicken at KFC in one batch of oil all day, it doesn't work for the home unit. In other words, if they cook 15 lbs. of chicken a day per gallon of oil, you won't be able to cook 1 pound of chicken each day of the next 15 days. I think this is because you actually have the oil 'hot' for about 4 hours whether you cook just 1 pound or 15 pounds of chicken. It takes 3 hours for the oil to cool enough to pour it back into the plastic bottle. I would say that at the most, one should use the same oil 3 times... and probably 2 times is pushing it.

My previous experience was with the Presto Fry Daddy, Kid, brother, uncle, etc. I got one of those when they first came out and continued to be grease sick until about three years ago when I picked up another no-improvement Fry Daddy. It really does make a difference cooking hot enough and at the right temperature. But, recalling the complaint on one of the reviews of this unit... folks, this is cooking and you'll just have to do some experimenting. This ain't microwave where you set the time to 24 seconds and things come out perfectly. A chicken breast will take longer to cook than a chicken nugget.

I consider the 'acid' test for these fryers is using hush puppies (375 degrees) and then checking how much they retain the oil. Excellent, in my opinion.

I don't want to sound like a "generic warning label" but I do think you should have some safety concerns. It relates more to the amount of oil. We are talking about a gallon of oil that is very hot and stays hot for a long time. If you have little ones around (or a family get-together) I think this thing should stay in the cabinet. Yes, it has a unique plug that "should/might" detach if it is pulled, but accidents happen. I've worked in a burn center before and no matter what you can imagine, it IS worse. And to the patient, it is worse than what I can imagine looking and listening to them. The entire 'family' is changed forever.

Everything but 2 things can go in the dishwasher. The heating element is attached to the plastic display panel (one piece) and you'll need to hand wash the heating element (or wipe it down with a paper towel). The display will need some wiping with a cloth also since it gets some splatter. The outside wrapper (part that you see in the photos) is not recommended to be placed in the dishwasher. I sort of doubt it would cause any damage on the outside wrapper so I'll probably put it to a test someday, just like my "hand washables." Basically all the real dirty/greasy stuff goes in the dishwasher.

I would have given this product a 5 star but think a funnel or other way of easily pouring the oil back into the neck of a one-inch container should have been included with the fryer.

I bought this at Sears (higher price than Amazon) and they keep this model in stock. You might consider the GE unit that looks 'very' similar to this unit for less money. Do some research first, however. I was willing to pay the extra due to the numerous times that I got things that "looked the same" but turned out to be a different animal.

I had never owned or used a deep fryer before but as a person who is interested in healthy cooking and eating for myself and my family of six, I decided I wanted one after being told it reduces significantly, the amount of oil in the food after it is fried.

After spending quite some time researching for a deep fryer, I came across the Euro-Pro F1066 5-Liter Electronic S/S Deep Fryer during one of my internet searches. I immediately liked the "look" of the product but had never heard of Euro-Pro before so I was reluctant to make the purchase as I am not one to buy a brand if I don't know it.

Upon further investigations, I learned from my friends and the internet, that the company has been around for quite sometime and had made a wide range of Vacuum Cleaners amongst other household items. I then called Euro-Pro to get additional specifications on the deep fryer. After speaking with one of their agents on the telephone, I felt comfortable enough to make my purchase. I have been totally pleased with my fryer ever since.

When I used the fryer for the first time, I placed the food in the basket, then lowered it into the hot oil.... that first set of food stuck to the basket. Since then, I put the basket in the hot oil first, then I gently put the food in, and VOILA! No more sticking! The claim that the fried food is not oily is also very TRUE!

I would recommend this fryer to anyone.... it's digital features are simple to use, the basket holds alot of food at one time, the food is great and the entire unit can be disassembled with ease for cleaning. It is indeed a great product! Thank you Euro-Pro.

Finally, fearless frying! This deep-fryer is exactly what I had been searching for. I used to be discouraged from trying recipes for fried foods, because of the hot spattering oil, the difficult temperature control (me holding a thermometer in one hand over hot oil while adjusting the burner with the other hand), and the daunting washing-up of the cooking implements and the entire spattered cooking area. This deep-fryer has changed my outlook on frying entirely.

First, it has superb temperature control. This deep-fryer reaches 385 degrees F, the highest temperature of all the electric deep-fryers made for home-use that I found in my research. Because in most cases 375 degrees is the key to non-greasy fried foods, I wanted a fryer than could attain 385 degrees, to allow for the slight dip in temperature that occurs when the cooler food first enters the oil. When the green light went on, I tested the oil temperature with a thermometer and was pleased to confirm that, yes, it was indeed at 385 degrees. I fried corn dogs (hot dogs dipped in cornbread batter and dropped into the oil), and the temperature recovery was excellent. The results were crispy, non-greasy corn dogs that my family loved.

The second feature I wanted was easy clean-up, and this fryer passed the test. Except for the heating element, which easily detaches, every part that touches the oil is washable in the dishwasher: (1) the lid with filter, (2) the frying basket with handle, and (3) the oil container. The heating element I had no problem washing by hand, taking care not to wet the electronic panel. And the metal body (which does not contact the oil, and from which the oil container lifts out) needs no more than a wipe with a damp cloth to remove fingerprints, if one is being ultra-fastidious.

If you love deep-fried foods and want to make them easily at home, you can't do better than this deep-fryer. I most highly recommend it.

I read the complaints that some people wrote, and I appreciate their effort. I also read the glowing reviews, and wondered if they were writing about the same product. Then again, there always seem to be some people who can buy an anvil, and have it break upon first use. Go figure.

Anyway, judging by specs, reviews, and apparent design, this seemed to be the best fryer of the bunch offered to the home chef. I ordered one from Amazon back in 2003, and was very pleased when it arrived. First off, it is very well designed from an engineering standpoint. It is simple, effective, easy to clean most parts in the dishwasher, and makes the most efficient use of countertop space, while also being remarkably easy to work with and around. I have owned other fryers over the years, and none compare. This one would be just as at home on Emeril live, as it will be in your kitchen.

Looking at the selection of electronc compnents used in the fryer also offers confidence, as they are all top of line, and appear to be robust, rather than cheap. Every product line has it's share of of defective units, but this one seems to be built to please. It's quick to heat. It's easy to use. It doesn't spew oil everywhere. It maintains accurate oil temp. It's real easy to clean. What can I say, it's awesome.

A last note for background. When it arrived, I brought it to a friends' apartment for a party. His place is known as the "frat house", because there is always a celebration of one kind or another going on there. The fryer is still there, many Months later. It is used and abused at least three times a week, and works so well that it has become as popular as the microwave oven there. Since that is where the nearest big screen TV and DVD collection is located, I'm happy to leave it there. At this price, I might end up leaving it there, and buying another one for my own kitchen in time, but the experience has proved to me that this fryer is everything advertised, and more.

If you like deep fry cooking, and like having high temps available at the press of a button, buy this unit. It's that good.

I agree with all those who have written great reviews for this product - if your only rating this on the "out of the box" experience. It is a great fryer, until it stops working! We've had ours for about 10 months and have used it about 1x per month. Then last night, in the middle of the meal preparation it suddenly stopped working all together. It just stopped - no lights, no heat, no warning.... nothing???

I work in engineering so I took it appart to see if it could be easily repared; it could not. This is one of those items that looks good on the outside, but when you look at the guts it is very cheaply made. It now is a permanent resident of our local landfil.

This deep fryer is a MUST! Did weeks of research and by far, gets the hottest of any fryer I found. (goes up to 385*) Food is light, golden, not heavy or oily tasting! When you drain on paper towels leaves barely a single drop of oil! The filter leaves virtually no odor! Don't settle for a plastic piece of junk! This fryer is SUPERIOR by far and I should know! I cater parties and open houses and not only is this a time saver, the safety features alone are well worth it! Just follow the simple directions and voila! BUY THIS DEEP FRYER AND YOU WILL NOT BE SORRY!!!

Typically, I bought my fryer after I read the reviews! Now, I'm glad I did, otherwise I would have passed on it and missed out on a really nice machine. My fryer worked perfectly right out of the box. I can see how others may have experienced problems however. This unit incorporates several, so called, safety features which if not understood can and will lead to less than desirable results. The key is to read the instructions and have a good understanding of the fryers idiosyncrasies.

Those who could not get the unit to work out of the box, I suspect, did not have the element unit installed properly. There is a pair of guide rails on the back of the unit, which incorporate a safety switch. If the element unit is not properly engaged, the unit will not work at all. It is easy to assemble the unit without engaging these rails, I did it myself. Once you know how it goes together, it's easy. This is really a nice feature, as it will prevent the element from coming on outside the fryer, creating a fire hazard.

Another potential pitfall. The unit is designed so that when the timer reaches zero, the unit shuts off. Problem is, there is no indication that it has done so. In fact, the green "ready" light comes on, which may lead you to believe that the oil is being maintained at the proper temp. What the ready light is saying is that the food is ready. Normally, the ready light means that the oil has reached the proper temperature. You think the oil is hot, but the unit has shut off and the oil is cooling down. Actually, this is only an issue when doing multiple batches. The manual explains all this, but you have to read it. If you want to do another batch after the timer reaches zero, you have to press the reset button located next to the power button. This resets the temp to 320 degrees. The best way to handle multiple batches is not to use the timer at all. You really don't need it anyway. If you don't use the timer, the oil is maintained at the desired temp until you shut it off. Speaking of temperature, I tested mine with a known thermometer. At 350 degrees, the thermostat tested perfect. My unit is rated at 1800 watts, and did a good job of maintaining its temperature.

Some reviewers didn't like the magnetic cord. I didn't find any trouble with it. It is sensitive and comes unplugged easily, but it's supposed to. The cord is short for the same reason. I think you'll probably find many fryers on the market using these features.

Over all, I'm very satisfied with my fryer, but you must read the instructions and understand the unit.

I bought this product because I wanted the best and it looked professional. Unfortunatly if broke after about 12 uses. I paid about $200 when this originally came out and now I am looking for a new one.

Other negitives
- hard to put together
- clumbsy to clean heating element
- no lid for oil storage
- messy pouring of used oil

The product worked for about 6 weeks. Then one day, it started making this high pitched noise and the display became unreadable. Nothing we did would fix it. It ceased working. I have since learned that many have had similar experiences. I've heard that it's some problem with the wiring, and the company will fix it but you have to ship it to them and pay for the shipping (both there and back). This company also makes sewing machines and vacuums, but I would not buy any of their products.

I purchased the Euro-Pro based largely upon these reviews.
The unit holds 4 liters of oil NOT 5 as advertised. Unless, of course, one is supposed to overfill past the max line.
The thermostat only reads to 375 degrees NOT 400 degrees, it is also not very accurate.
The thermal shut-off switch has turned the unit off everytime I have used it. Soggy french fries and delays whilst waiting for the unit to reheat.
The heating 'on' light is not very bright and impossible to see from the side. Hence the soggy french fries.
Bed bath and beyond have a 4 liter Krups for $89.99 with a 20% off coupon that was going to be my first choice. These reviews convinced me otherwise. BAD choice!

Caveat Emptor