Prices from Amazon AU, updated daily. Swipe or use the arrows for more.
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Quick summary5 picks
- Entry PickSunbeam DF4500 Multi Cooker Deep Fryer with… about$711600W.
- Chefman 4.3 Litre Deep Fryer w/Basket Strainer about$93
- Tefal Versalio 7 In 1 MultiFryer about$125
- Tefal Filtra Pro Deep Fryer about$1552300W.
- Most PremiumTefal about$195
Who still needs a deep fryer
Most kitchens that used to have a deep fryer now have an air fryer, and for frozen chips and reheating, that's the right call. An air fryer is a fan oven with a small basket. A deep fryer is a tank of oil held at a set temperature, and for battered fish, tempura, doughnuts, proper twice-cooked chips and fried chicken with a real crust, nothing else gets the same result. If those are what you're after, a deep fryer still earns its spot on the counter.
I've picked five here from $71 to $195 at time of writing, all sold new by Amazon AU. Two are Sunbeam and Tefal multi cookers that deep fry and do other jobs as well, and three are dedicated fryers from Chefman and Tefal, two of them with built-in oil filtration. They're ranked #2, #4, #6, #7 and #9 in Amazon AU's Deep Fryers category, so these are the ones most people are actually buying.
I left out a Breville fryer whose listing gave its element as 1,800W in one line and 2,200W in another, and quoted its capacity in quarts, because I couldn't tell which figures applied to the Australian unit. I also skipped stovetop chip pans, which are a pot rather than an appliance, and the no-name commercial fryers pitched at cafes, which aren't built for a home power point or a home kitchen.
The repair side of a deep fryer is simpler than most kitchen gear, because there's not much inside: an element, a thermostat, a safety cutout and a timer on some models. Nearly every fault I see comes back to one of those, or to oil that's been left in too long. Pick one that's easy to clean and keep the oil fresh, and it'll usually last for years.
Oil capacity and what a fill really costs
Oil is the running cost that people forget. At time of writing, a 5 litre bottle of Koala Gold canola oil was $27 on Amazon AU, which works out at about $5.40 a litre, and a 3 litre bottle of Alfa One rice bran oil was about $14, a bit under $4.70 a litre. Fill a 4 litre fryer with canola and you've spent about $22 before anything goes in the basket.
The capacities on these listings vary, and they're stated in different ways. The Sunbeam DF4500 has a 5L capacity and the Chefman is 4.3 litres. The Tefal Filtra Pro lists 4L of oil and 1.3kg of food, which is the more useful way to state it. The Tefal Versalio has an adjustable oil capacity but the listing doesn't give a figure, and the Oleoclean Pro says large capacity without a number. Bigger isn't automatically better, since every extra litre is more oil to buy and to dispose of.
What decides the running cost is how many sessions you get out of a fill. Strained oil that's never been overheated and hasn't had fish in it will usually do several sessions of chips before it darkens and starts to smell. Oil that's been held too hot, or has crumbs left burning in the bottom, breaks down much faster. That's why the two Tefal models with built-in filtration cost more up front and can cost less over a year of regular frying.
Power is a small cost by comparison. At an assumed tariff of about 33c/kWh, a 2,000W element running flat out for 15 minutes uses about 0.5kWh, roughly 17c. Once the oil's at temperature the element cycles on and off, so a whole session of frying costs well under a dollar in power. The oil is the real bill.
Filtration and oil storage
Oil filtration is the feature I'd pay for if you fry more than once a fortnight. Every time you fry, crumbs and batter fall to the bottom of the tank, and if they're left there they keep cooking every time the oil heats up, darkening it and giving it that stale fried smell. Getting them out after each session is what keeps the oil usable for longer.
The Tefal Oleoclean Pro filters the oil and drains it into a sealed box underneath, and Tefal says the box is hermetic and dishwasher safe, so you can lift the oil out and store it without pouring it into a jug. The Tefal Filtra Pro uses a patented filtering mesh that sits inside the bowl, even while frying, and lifts out with an external handle. The Chefman has a removable oil container, which makes it easier to drain and store the oil than tipping a whole fryer over a jug.
The Sunbeam and the Versalio don't have filtration built in, so you'll need to strain the oil yourself once it's cool, through a fine sieve or a paper filter into a clean bottle. It's an extra job, but it isn't a hard one, and it does more for your oil than any other habit. Label the bottle with the date and what you fried, so fish oil doesn't end up in a batch of doughnuts.
However it's stored, keep the oil sealed and out of the light, and don't top up dark oil with fresh. Fresh oil mixed into tired oil just breaks down faster with it. When it's done, cool it, bottle it and drop it at a council collection point or put it in the general rubbish sealed in its bottle, never down the sink, where it sets in the pipes.
Elements and thermostats: what usually fails
Inside a deep fryer there's a heating element sitting in or under the oil and a thermostat that switches it on and off to hold the temperature you've set. The Sunbeam DF4500's listing describes a thermostat temperature probe with an indicator light that cycles on and off as the temperature is maintained. That light is useful, because it tells you when the oil's back up to temperature after you've dropped food in.
Thermostats are the part that wears. They click on and off hundreds of times a session, and over years the contacts pit and stick. A thermostat that sticks off means a fryer that won't heat. One that sticks on is the dangerous one, because the oil keeps climbing, and that's what the safety cutout is there for. If your fryer's oil starts smoking at a setting that used to be fine, stop using it and get it checked.
Temperature range matters for what you can cook. The Tefal Versalio lists 80 to 180°C, which covers simmering, braising and most frying. The Sunbeam's sliding dial runs from warm through simmer and slow cook up to deep fry and sear, though the listing doesn't give the degrees. The Chefman and Tefal Filtra Pro have adjustable temperature without a stated range on the listing. For chips cooked twice, you want a fryer that reaches the high end reliably.
Overloading the basket is the habit that works an element and thermostat hardest. A big load of frozen chips drops the oil temperature sharply, the element runs flat out to recover, and the food sits in cooler oil soaking it up. Fry in smaller batches, let the light cycle back off between them, and the fryer and the food will both be better for it.
Cutouts, cords and the 10A socket
Every deep fryer sold in Australia needs a way to stop the oil overheating if the thermostat fails, usually a thermal cutout or fuse. Some reset, and some are one-shot fuses that need replacing. None of these listings describes the cutout in detail, so check the manual. If yours suddenly stops heating mid-session and won't come back on, the cutout's the first thing to suspect.
The Chefman has a magnetic breakaway cord, which pulls off the fryer if someone catches the cord, rather than dragging a tank of hot oil off the counter. That's the single most useful safety feature on any of these, and I'd look for it on any fryer in a house with kids or pets. The Tefal Oleoclean Pro lists a digital timer with auto shut off, which stops it if you forget it's on.
Power ratings run from 1,600W on the Sunbeam to 2,000W on the Chefman and 2,300W on the Tefal Filtra Pro. A standard Australian 10A socket tops out at 2,400W, so the Filtra Pro is close to the limit on its own. Plug it straight into a wall socket, never into a powerboard shared with a kettle or toaster, and don't run it on an extension lead. The Versalio and Oleoclean Pro listings don't state a wattage.
Check the cord and plug for heat marks before each use, especially where the cord leaves the fryer body. A plug that's warm to touch after a session is a sign of a loose or corroded pin, and it'll get worse. Look for the RCM mark on the plug or rating label when it arrives, which shows it's approved for sale here.
Lids, smells and cleaning
A lid with a viewing window lets you check the food without opening it, which keeps the oil hot and the steam in. The Tefal Filtra Pro, the Chefman and the Oleoclean Pro all list a lid with a window. The Filtra Pro's lid also carries a permanent metallic filter to trap some of the grease and smell, and the Chefman lists an air filter. The Sunbeam has a lid with an adjustable steam vent.
Cleaning is where fryers get neglected, and it's the reason a lot of them end up smelling worse than the food. The Tefal Filtra Pro's lid, basket, mesh and bowl are all dishwasher safe, the Versalio has a dishwasher-safe removable bowl and lid, and the Chefman's basket is removable and dishwasher safe. Being able to get the bowl out and into the dishwasher makes a big difference to how often it actually gets cleaned.
Never put the control box, element or cord in water. On models where the bowl doesn't come out, drain the oil, wipe the bowl with paper towel, then wash it with warm soapy water and a soft cloth, and dry it fully before any oil goes back in. Water left in the bowl spits violently the moment it meets hot oil.
Multi cookers or a dedicated fryer
Two of the picks are multi cookers that also deep fry. The Sunbeam DF4500 lists deep frying, roasting meat joints, boiling pasta and rice, braising, stir frying and baking, and the Tefal Versalio lists deep fry, fry, simmer, braise, sauté, boil and keep warm. If you only deep fry now and then, a multi cooker that does other jobs the rest of the time earns its cupboard space.
The trade-off is filtration and focus. A multi cooker has to be emptied and cleaned before you cook something else in it, so you can't leave the oil in for next week the way you can with the Oleoclean Pro's sealed box. If you fry often, a dedicated fryer with filtration is easier to live with. If you want a pot for braises and soups that also does fish and chips on a Friday, the multi cookers make sense, though for long slow cooking a slow cooker or pressure cooker is usually the better tool.
There's also the old way: a heavy stainless pot on the stove with a thermometer clipped to the side. It works, but holding a steady temperature on a gas or induction hob takes attention, and an unattended pot of oil is a fire risk. An electric fryer's thermostat and cutout are the reason it's the safer choice for most home kitchens.
Safe frying and making one last
Fill to the line marked inside the tank, never above it, because the oil rises when food goes in. Dry food well, and knock the ice off frozen food, since water hitting hot oil boils instantly and spits. Lower the basket slowly. If the oil ever catches fire, switch off at the wall if you can reach it safely, put the lid on or use a fire blanket, and never use water. Keep a fire blanket in the kitchen if you deep fry at all.
Let the oil cool completely before you move the fryer or drain it. A full tank of hot oil is heavy and stays hot for a long time, and most fryer accidents happen when someone moves one too soon. Keep the fryer on a flat, stable surface away from the edge of the counter and the sink.
Most deep fryers that come into our Erina workshop have a thermostat that's stuck, a blown cutout, or a cord and plug that have been running hot. Clean it after every session, change the oil when it darkens, and keep it on its own wall socket, and a good fryer will usually last for years. If it stops heating or smells of burning plastic rather than old oil, stop using it and get it looked at.
The 5 picks, $71 to $195
Prices are Amazon AU at time of writing (2026-11-08) and move week to week. Ranks are Amazon AU category sales ranks, checked the same day.
Sunbeam DF4500 Multi Cooker Deep Fryer, 5L, 1600W
ASIN B076JR3192 • $71.00 • Ships from Amazon AU
The Sunbeam DF4500 is the lowest-priced pick at $71 at time of writing, sold by Amazon AU, and it's the best-ranked fryer here at #2 in Amazon AU's Deep Fryers category and #5,925 overall. It's a charcoal-coloured multi cooker with a 5L capacity and a 1,600W element. The model on the listing is DF4500, which matches the title. Sunbeam pitches it as an XL multi cooker for deep frying, roasting meat joints, boiling pasta and rice, braising, stir frying and more. It's the one I'd buy for a family that fries a few times a year and wants a big pot the rest of the time. The low price and high rank tell you plenty of people agree.
The temperature is set with a sliding dial that runs from warm through simmer, slow cook, deep fry, roast, sear, boil and bake. The thermostat probe has an indicator light that cycles on and off as the temperature is held, which tells you when the oil's recovered after a batch goes in. The stainless steel frying basket has a draining lever that rests inside the rim, so it drains hands-free over the pot. There's also an adjustable steam vent in the lid for moisture control when you're braising or roasting. At 1,600W it's the lowest stated power among the picks, which leaves the most headroom on a 10A socket, though it takes longer to recover after a big batch.
The listing doesn't state a warranty, a temperature range in degrees or whether the bowl comes out or goes in the dishwasher, so check the manual before you plan on easy cleaning. There's no oil filtration, so strain the oil yourself once it's cool. A 5L pot takes the most oil of the picks to fill properly, about $27 of canola at time of writing. It's a pot first and a fryer second. Drain it over the pot with the basket lever before lifting anything out. For occasional frying plus everyday cooking, it's very good value.
Honest caveats: No oil filtration, so you'll strain and store the oil yourself. Warranty, temperature range and dishwasher-safe parts aren't stated on the listing. A 5L fill takes more oil than the dedicated fryers. At 1,600W it recovers more slowly after a big batch. It must be emptied before cooking anything else.
Best for: Families who fry now and then and want a big multi cooker for roasts, pasta and braises the rest of the time.
Capacity: 5L • Power: 1,600W • Controls: Sliding temperature dial, indicator light • Modes: Deep fry, roast, boil, braise, stir fry, bake, slow cook • Basket: Stainless steel with draining lever • Colour: Charcoal • Model: DF4500 • Seller: Amazon AU • Rank: #2 in Deep Fryers (Amazon AU)
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Chefman 4.3 Litre Deep Fryer with Basket Strainer, AU Version
ASIN B0BWPZ1BK8 • $93.30 • Ships from Amazon AU
The Chefman 4.3 Litre Deep Fryer is $93.30 at time of writing, sold by Amazon AU, and it's ranked #7 in Amazon AU's Deep Fryers category and #12,302 overall. It's a stainless steel dedicated fryer listed as the AU Version, with the model code RJ07-45-SS-AU, and the listing gives its rating as 2,000 watts at 230 volts. That AU code and the stated voltage are exactly what I want to see on an appliance like this. It has a 4.3 litre capacity, a temperature control dial and a timer. Chefman pitches it at fried chicken, chips, doughnuts and mozzarella sticks for a crowd. It's the one I'd pick for a household with kids or pets.
The reason is the magnetic breakaway cord. If someone catches the cord, it pulls off the fryer rather than dragging a tank of hot oil off the counter, and that's the most useful safety feature on any pick here. The frying basket clips to the side so oil drains back into the tank, and the basket is removable and dishwasher safe. The lid has a viewing window and an air filter to cut down splatter and smell. The oil container is removable, which makes draining and storing the oil much easier than tipping the whole fryer. Chefman states a 1-year assurance on the listing, with a PDF user guide available.
The listing doesn't give a temperature range, so check the dial markings against what you cook. There's no built-in oil filtration, so strain the oil through a fine sieve when it's cool. At 2,000W it sits comfortably on a wall socket, but not on a powerboard with a kettle. The rank is lower than the Sunbeam's, though it's still in the top ten. Keep the magnetic connector clean and dry, since grease on it can stop it seating properly. For a dedicated fryer with the safety feature I'd want most, it's the one to beat.
Honest caveats: Temperature range isn't stated on the listing. There's no built-in oil filtration, so strain the oil yourself. The warranty is a 1-year assurance. At 2,000W it needs its own wall socket. The basket's dishwasher safe, but the control unit and cord never go near water.
Best for: Households with kids or pets who want a dedicated fryer with a breakaway cord and a removable oil container.
Capacity: 4.3 litres • Power: 2,000W at 230V • Safety: Magnetic breakaway cord • Lid: Viewing window, air filter • Cleaning: Removable dishwasher-safe basket, removable oil container • Warranty: 1-year assurance • Model: RJ07-45-SS-AU • Seller: Amazon AU • Rank: #7 in Deep Fryers (Amazon AU)
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Tefal Versalio 7 in 1 MultiFryer FR4900
ASIN B08K8QDVPV • $125.16 • Ships from Amazon AU
The Tefal Versalio 7 in 1 MultiFryer FR4900 is $125.16 at time of writing, sold by Amazon AU, and it's ranked #9 in Amazon AU's Deep Fryers category and #17,389 overall. It's a white multi fryer with seven cooking modes: deep fry, fry, simmer, braise, sauté, boil or pasta, and keep warm. The model on the listing is FR4900, which matches the title. The temperature adjusts between 80 and 180°C, the one stated range among the picks, which covers everything from a gentle simmer to frying. The oil capacity is adjustable too, so you don't have to fill it to the top for a small batch. It's the one I'd pick for a smaller household that fries occasionally.
That adjustable oil capacity is the clever part. With a stand-alone fryer you fill it to the line every time, but the Versalio lets you use less oil for a small batch, which cuts the running cost straight away. The timer is removable, which keeps the electronics out of the way when you're cleaning. The bowl and lid are removable and dishwasher safe, so it's easy to get properly clean between a braise and a batch of chips. It also comes with a book of 20 recipes. Compared with the Sunbeam, it gives you a stated temperature range and dishwasher-safe parts for about $54 more, in a smaller footprint on the counter.
The listing doesn't state a wattage, an oil capacity in litres or a warranty, so check them on the current listing before you buy. 180°C is the top of its stated range, which is fine for most frying, but some twice-cooked chip recipes call for a hotter second fry. There's no built-in filtration, so strain the oil once it's cool. Keep the removable timer somewhere dry when it's off the fryer. Use a little less oil than the bowl allows for small batches. For a compact multi cooker that fries well and cleans up easily, it's a sensible middle pick.
Honest caveats: Wattage, oil capacity in litres and warranty aren't stated on the listing. The 180°C ceiling is a little low for some twice-cooked chip recipes. There's no built-in filtration. It must be emptied before cooking something else. Store the removable timer somewhere dry.
Best for: Smaller households that fry now and then and want a multi cooker with a stated temperature range and easy cleaning.
Modes: Deep fry, fry, simmer, braise, sauté, boil, keep warm • Temperature: 80 to 180°C • Oil capacity: Adjustable (litres not stated) • Timer: Removable • Cleaning: Removable dishwasher-safe bowl and lid • Colour: White • Model: FR4900 • Seller: Amazon AU • Rank: #9 in Deep Fryers (Amazon AU)
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Tefal Filtra Pro Deep Fryer FR5181, 4L Oil, 1.3kg Food
ASIN B07HMPNBD7 • $155.00 • Ships from Amazon AU
The Tefal Filtra Pro FR5181 is $155 at time of writing, sold by Amazon AU, and it's ranked #6 in Amazon AU's Deep Fryers category and #10,516 overall. It's a dedicated fryer in a waffled stainless steel housing, with 4L of oil and 1.3kg of food capacity, the most useful way of stating size among the picks. The model on the listing is FR5181. It has a 2,300W element, the highest stated power here, so it heats and recovers quickly after a batch goes in. Tefal's pitch is the patented filtering mesh that sits inside the bowl, even while you fry. It's the one I'd pick for a household that fries every week and wants to keep the oil going.
The filtering mesh catches crumbs and batter so they don't keep cooking in the bottom of the tank, and it lifts out with an external handle. Tefal says that keeps the oil clean for longer and cuts down the smell. The lid has a permanent metallic filter and a viewing window, and there's a digital timer that rings when the food's ready. The bowl is removable, and the lid, basket, mesh and bowl are all dishwasher safe, which makes this the easiest pick to clean properly. Oddly, the listing also carries a few lines about an iron and an ironing mat, which clearly belong to another Tefal product, so ignore those.
At 2,300W it's close to the 2,400W limit of a standard 10A socket on its own, so it needs its own wall socket with nothing else on that outlet, and never a powerboard. The listing doesn't state a warranty or a temperature range. The mesh filters crumbs, not the oil itself, so you'll still bottle and store the oil yourself between sessions. Rinse the mesh after every use, and lift it out by its external handle only once the oil's cool. For frequent frying with easy cleaning, it's the best all-rounder here.
Honest caveats: At 2,300W it needs a wall socket to itself. Warranty and temperature range aren't stated on the listing, and the listing carries unrelated text about an iron. The mesh catches crumbs but doesn't store the oil, so bottle it yourself. It's a fryer only, with no other cooking modes.
Best for: Households that fry every week and want a fast-recovering fryer with crumb filtration and fully dishwasher-safe parts.
Capacity: 4L oil, 1.3kg food • Power: 2,300W • Filtration: Patented filtering mesh in the bowl • Lid: Permanent metallic filter, viewing window • Timer: Digital • Cleaning: Lid, basket, mesh and bowl dishwasher safe • Model: FR5181 • Seller: Amazon AU • Rank: #6 in Deep Fryers (Amazon AU)
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Tefal Oleoclean Pro FR8040 Deep Fryer
ASIN B077P2X1NP • $194.95 • Ships from Amazon AU
The Tefal Oleoclean Pro FR8040 is the most expensive pick at $194.95 at time of writing, sold by Amazon AU, and it's ranked #4 in Amazon AU's Deep Fryers category and #9,110 overall. It's a silver and blue dedicated fryer, model FR8040, built around one idea: fry, filter and store. After a session, the oil drains through a filter into a hermetic box underneath, and you lift that box out to store the oil. That's the cleanest way of handling oil among the picks, with no jug, no funnel and no sieve. Tefal calls it compact and stackable with a large capacity. It's the one I'd pick for anyone who fries often and hates handling the oil.
The listing says the oil box is dishwasher safe, and a skimmer comes in the box for lifting out bits of batter mid-session. The lid is transparent, so you can watch the food without opening it. There's a digital timer with auto shut off, which stops it if you get distracted, and that's a useful safety feature on something holding litres of hot oil. Tefal states a 1 year manufacturer's warranty on the listing. Because the oil lives sealed in its own box, you can leave it in the cupboard between sessions and get more use out of each fill, which is where the extra price pays you back over a year.
The listing is thin, with three real feature lines, and it doesn't state the wattage, the oil capacity in litres, a temperature range or which parts besides the oil box are dishwasher safe. Check all of those on the current listing before you buy. At about $40 more than the Filtra Pro, you're paying mostly for the oil box. Empty and wash the box when you change the oil, and let it dry fully before refilling. If handling oil is what's kept you from frying at home, it's the one to buy.
Honest caveats: Wattage, oil capacity, temperature range and most cleaning details aren't stated on the listing. It's the most expensive pick here. The warranty is 1 year. Dry the oil box completely before it goes back in, since water and hot oil don't mix.
Best for: Frequent fryers who want the oil filtered and stored in a sealed box without ever pouring it.
Filtration: Automatic, drains into a hermetic oil box • Oil box: Removable, dishwasher safe • Lid: Transparent • Timer: Digital with auto shut off • In the box: Skimmer • Warranty: 1 year manufacturer • Model: FR8040 • Seller: Amazon AU • Rank: #4 in Deep Fryers (Amazon AU)
View on Amazon AUSide-by-side comparison
| Product | Price | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Sunbeam DF4500 Multi Cooker Deep Fryer with… | ~$71 | |
| Chefman 4.3 Litre Deep Fryer w/Basket Strainer | ~$93 | |
| Tefal Versalio 7 In 1 MultiFryer | ~$125 | |
| Tefal Filtra Pro Deep Fryer | ~$155 | |
| Tefal | ~$195 |
What we see fail in the workshop: deep fryers
There isn't much inside a deep fryer, so the faults we see are a short list: a thermostat that's stuck, a safety cutout that's blown, a timer that's died, or a cord and plug that have been running hot. Here's what usually goes wrong and what you can check yourself before you throw one out. Most of them are a single part away from working again.
Won't heat, or heats and won't stop
A fryer that won't heat at all has usually blown its safety cutout, often because the thermostat stuck on and let the oil climb. Some cutouts reset with a button, so check the manual first. If it resets and trips again, the thermostat is the real fault. A fryer whose oil starts smoking at a setting that used to be fine has a thermostat drifting high, and that one needs to come out of service straight away. Both are repairable on most models, but they need testing properly afterwards. Don't bypass a cutout to get it going.
Timers and controls that die
Digital timers and control panels sit right above hot oil and steam, and over a few years the heat and grease get into them. Buttons stop responding, displays fade or the timer won't count down. On models with a removable control unit, check the contacts where it plugs into the fryer for grease and corrosion, and clean them with the unit unplugged and cool. If the panel itself has failed, it's usually a replaceable part, and it's worth pricing before you buy a new fryer. Keep the panel wiped clean of grease.
Cords and plugs running hot
A high-wattage fryer draws a lot of current for a long time, and a slightly loose plug pin or a damaged cord heats up under that load. Signs are a plug that's warm to touch after a session, brown marks around the pins or a cord that's gone stiff near the fryer. Stop using it then, and don't move it to a powerboard to see if that helps. A cord or plug replacement is usually a modest repair, and it's far less than the cost of a fire. Keep the cord loosely coiled.
Decision tree: which one should you actually buy?
- Fry now and then, and want a big pot for other cooking? → The Sunbeam DF4500 at $71, the best-ranked fryer here, with a 5L capacity and roast, boil and braise modes.
- Kids or pets in the kitchen? → The Chefman 4.3 Litre at $93.30, with a magnetic breakaway cord, an AU-version model code and a removable oil container.
- Smaller household that wants a compact multi cooker? → The Tefal Versalio at $125.16, with an adjustable oil capacity, an 80 to 180°C range and dishwasher-safe parts.
- Fry every week and want easy cleaning? → The Tefal Filtra Pro at $155, with a 2,300W element, a crumb-filtering mesh and dishwasher-safe lid, basket, mesh and bowl.
- Hate handling the oil? → The Tefal Oleoclean Pro at $194.95, which filters the oil into a sealed box you lift out and store.
- Fryer won't heat, smokes or the plug runs hot? → It's usually the thermostat, the cutout or the cord. Bring it into our Erina workshop and we'll find the fault and tell you if it's worth fixing before you spend anything.
Frequently asked questions
Is a deep fryer better than an air fryer?
They do different jobs. An air fryer is a small fan oven that suits frozen chips, reheating and roasting with little oil. A deep fryer holds a tank of oil at a set temperature, and for battered fish, tempura, doughnuts, twice-cooked chips and fried chicken with a proper crust, nothing else gets the same result. If you mostly cook frozen food, an air fryer makes more sense. If you want real deep-fried food at home, a deep fryer is the right tool.
How much oil does a deep fryer use?
As much as its tank holds, filled to the line. The Sunbeam DF4500 has a 5L capacity, the Chefman 4.3 litres and the Tefal Filtra Pro 4L of oil, while the Tefal Versalio lets you adjust the oil level for smaller batches. At time of writing, 5 litres of Koala Gold canola oil was $27 on Amazon AU, so a 4 litre fill costs about $22. Strained and stored properly, one fill usually does several frying sessions.
How often should you change deep fryer oil?
When it darkens noticeably, smells stale or starts to smoke at a temperature it handled before. Oil that's strained after each use, stored sealed and never overheated usually lasts several sessions of chips. Fish, crumbed food and batter break it down faster, so keep a separate batch for those if you fry a lot. Filtration like the Tefal Filtra Pro's mesh or the Oleoclean Pro's sealed oil box helps the oil last longer between changes.
Can I plug a deep fryer into a powerboard?
I wouldn't. Deep fryers draw a lot of power for a long time, from 1,600W on the Sunbeam DF4500 to 2,300W on the Tefal Filtra Pro, and a standard Australian 10A socket tops out at 2,400W. Shared with a kettle or toaster on a powerboard, that's well over the limit, and the board or plug overheats. Plug a fryer straight into its own wall socket, don't use an extension lead, and check the plug isn't warm after use.
Why has my deep fryer stopped heating?
Most often the safety cutout has tripped, usually because the thermostat stuck on and the oil got too hot, or the fryer was switched on with too little oil. Some cutouts reset with a button, so check the manual. If it resets and trips again, the thermostat is faulty. A fryer that heats but smokes at a setting that used to be fine has a thermostat reading wrong. Stop using it either way and have it checked.
Is a deep fryer worth repairing?
Usually, on a good one. There isn't much inside: an element, a thermostat, a safety cutout and sometimes a timer or control panel. A thermostat, cutout, cord or plug is usually a modest repair, and it needs to be tested properly afterwards because the fryer holds litres of hot oil. If the bowl coating is badly damaged or the element itself has failed, compare the quote with the price of a new fryer.
Related buying guides
Deep fryer not heating or running hot?
Most deep fryer faults we see come down to a stuck thermostat, a blown safety cutout, a dead timer or a cord and plug running hot. Bring it into our Erina workshop and we'll find the actual fault and tell you whether it's worth fixing or replacing before you spend anything.
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