When you hear the phrase ‘outdoor deep fryers’, you might think of cooking a turkey for Thanksgiving, but they are used just as often for cooking other foods all year round.
Some of the outdoor deep fryers are used for simple things like fresh fries at a barbeque, but they can do more than that. Keep reading to find the best one for you and what features you should look at before making a decision.
Best Outdoor Deep Fryers
1. Char-Broil Big Easy Oil-less Liquid Propane Turkey Fryer
This is possibly the outdoor turkey deep fryer for Thanksgiving Day or any other day. It can cook nearly every sized turkey and other poultry surprisingly well, and it can come as a kit (with attachments and accessories for frying other meats and food), by itself, with a cover, or with a kit and a cover.
The design makes it great for poultry and large meats but is a little less efficient when it comes to finger foods like french fries.
Features
- This fryer comes with standard features like a drip tray and lid, but it also comes with a splash-preventative basket, a meat hook, and a thermometer.
- It also has a 16,000 BTU burner.
Pros
- Easy for beginners
- Ideal size for most poultry
- Cooks well in the cold
Cons
- Assembly can be a little complicated
- The thermometer is not accurate
2. Bayou Classic 700-701 4-Gallon Bayou Fryer
This stainless steel outdoor deep fryer has a somewhat commercial design between the height and the special fry baskets which are strong and can be completely packed in with all sorts of finger food.
The lid works well with both blocking the wind and keeping any splattering inside, too. You should try to be careful around the temperature gauge (in the front) because it is pretty fragile compared to some of the smaller ones.
It is one of the most perfect fryers for practically any kind of finger food, not just french fries. The fry baskets are strong enough to hold things like chicken strips, breasts, and other heavier meats.
Features
- This has a large, 4-gallon tank, and it comes with 2 stainless steel fry baskets, a temperature gauge, and a built-in pressure regulator.
Pros
- Is affordable
- Simple and easy cleanup
- Has assembly instructions
Cons
- Thermometer is fragile
- Temperature can fluctuate
3. King Kooker 1618 16-Inch Propane Outdoor Cooker with Aluminum Pan and 2 Frying Baskets
This is one of the propane fryers for outdoor cooking for practically any kind of food, finger or otherwise. The pan is deep enough for some decently-sized meats (do not expect a roast to fit) from fish fillets to steaks, but the pans can start to thin out with regular use pretty quickly.
It is pretty average when it comes to quality, but the baskets and pan will need to be replaced if you are going to use them regularly; they do not last long before becoming damaged/unusable.
Features
- This holds about 2 and a half gallons and is big enough to fry about 5 pounds of food at one time.
- It comes with 2 fry baskets, but it does not come with any other tools/extras like a built-in thermometer.
Pros
- Is Powerful
- It’s perfect for finger food
- Large enough for a family of 4 or more
Cons
- Baskets and pans are lower quality
- A thermometer is too short
4. King Kooker 1265BF3 Portable Propane Outdoor Deep Frying
This is possibly one of the most affordable outdoor propane fryer sets of how many accessories this larger-than-average fryer comes with. The fact that they are all made of aluminum also helps to keep their weight down, making it a bit easier to put the pots inside of the fryer more carefully.
The pots are more easily dented, but that is usually only if you drop them; cleaning them does not dent them much if at all.
The safety timer can be a bit more inconvenient since it tends to be faulty and turns the fryer off every 15 minutes, but leaving it off and using a different timer can work fine.
Features
- This 33,000 BTU fryer can hold about 2.75 gallons of oil and comes with a meat hoot, fry pan and basket, and a turkey/poultry pot.
- All of these are made from aluminum, which can be the easiest material to clean, and they come with an instruction/recipe book.
Pros
- Has a safety timer
- Is large enough for bigger poultry
- Is lightweight
Cons
- The pots are easily dentable
- The timer’s setup can be challenging
5. Bayou Classic 200-440 44-Qt Turkey Fryer Kit
This is possibly the large outdoor deep fryer currently out there. Granted, it does not come with any pots or fry baskets, but it does come with accessories for cooking meat; a hook, rack, and thermometer.
The fact that it cooks other foods makes it even more ideal for barbeques and other outdoor parties and events.
This does have some technical issues with the timer, and the temperature can quickly go down when it is windy, but it can heat up fairly quickly and is easy for beginners, whether it comes to putting it together or using it.
Features
- This pot is made of stainless steel/aluminum, which makes it great for not just deep frying but cooking stews and soups too.
- It can hold up to 11 gallons and can cook a turkey that is up to 25 pounds.
Pros
- Cooks through large poultry well
- Simple enough for beginners
- Quickly heats up
Cons
- Can cool down easily in windy areas
- The timer goes off prematurely
6. Backyard Pro 30 Qt. Deluxe Aluminum Turkey Fryer Kit
Even though this is one of the less popular models out there, this is another great, affordable kit with a pretty large pot.
The quality of the aluminum is debatable, but nearly all of the outdoor fryer reviews you could look at agree that if you are on a specific budget and are looking for a fryer to use once in a while, this is one of the best options that you can find and buy today.
It does heat up quickly, but it is not for winter cooking or cooking when it is windy outside. Also, the aluminum lid is so thin that it is pretty easy to dent, and if it happens, it does not keep as good of a seal, letting more heat out.
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Features
- This 55,000 BTU fryer comes with several accessories including a turkey pot, frying pot and basket, basting tools, a meat hook/wrack, thermometer, and more, making it one of the most kits out there.
Pros
- Heats up quickly
- Easy to assemble
- Easy to clean
Cons
- Can easily cool down from winds
- The lid can be easily dented
7. King Kooker KKDFF30T 30-Inch Dual-Burner Outdoor Propane Frying Cart
This model looks very similar to the third one, but instead of one burner, it has 2 powerful burners for each pan, making it one of the outdoor propane deep fryers for large and fast cooking.
Each pan is a little bit smaller but both together make it one of the largest fryers.
This does not have an oil line, so you will have to either measure the oil before you pour it or eyeball it.
It tends to cool down after it is finished heating up all of the ways, which can cause the cooking to take longer than the recipe calls for, but you usually only need to add a few extra minutes.
Features
- This comes with 2 separate 54,000 BTU burners, 2- 3.75-gallon frying pans, and large and 2 small fry baskets.
- However, it does not come with a thermometer or lids for the burners.
Pros
- It’s perfect for finger food
- Large enough for a family of 4 or more
- Heats up quickly
Cons
- There is no oil line
- Temperature can fluctuate
8. Bayou Classic B159, Outdoor Fish Cooker with Cast Iron Fry Pot
This pan is one of the smaller ones, but that is what makes it one of the portable propane fish fryers for outdoor use. It is heavy enough to stand evenly on the ground at a fish fry during a camping or fishing trip and powerful enough to cook even the thickest fillets.
If you have never cooked with a cast iron pot or pan, you probably would not like how you need to season it before you cook with it, but it is still a decent working fryer.
Features
- This pot is made from cast iron instead of the usual aluminum or stainless steel, and it can hold a little over 2 gallons of oil.
- The hose is steel-braided and is about 29 inches long.
Pros
- Is made of high-quality materials
- The hose is high-quality and long-lasting
- Is sturdy and durable
Cons
- The pot is difficult to clean
Education
The size of the fryer
If you plan on cooking large birds like turkey, duck, and chicken, you will probably want to get a fryer that is deeper than anything because the bird will need to be completely submerged.
If you are mainly going to use it for smaller foods like french fries and other appetizers, then a smaller/wider fryer should be enough. You will also have to think about how many people you will be cooking for; large parties vs a few friends.
The BTUs
Typically, the higher the BTU number, the faster the fryer will heat up, and it will also maintain the temperature better than a fryer with a lower BTU. Usually, the bigger the fryer, the higher the BTU, because it will need the extra heat for even cooking.
Temperature gauges
If you plan to cook things at a specific temperature, which is nearly everything you will cook, you will probably want to get a fryer with a built-in temperature gauge since it can be safer than a detached one that you would have to stick into the pot/fryer.
Safety features
Because oil is one of the most dangerous ways to cook things, many higher-quality deep fryers can come with certain features like an oil spill line and simple place-in baskets for things like poultry to prevent splashing when putting the food in.
Each fryer has its safety features listed in the instruction manuals so you know what they are and how to operate the fryer safely.
Cleaning
Some can be a bit easier to clean than others; simple ones with fewer parts and small spaces that cannot be reached are usually easier to clean. It all depends on how much time you mind spending on cleaning the fryer.
Conclusion
Out of these 8 fryers, the best would have to be the first one, the Char-Broil fryer. It can come with a variety of extra accessories, heats up fairly quickly, stays warm, and has a pretty long lifespan. This is also one of the larger and more affordable models, too.
However, if you were looking for a larger fryer, you might want to take another look at the Bayou Classic since it has much more room and can cook other things like stews, soups, and chilis too. This one is more expensive than the Char-Broil, but the larger pots usually are.
Make sure to click on the links above to find out more about them and their features and to see if they are on sale right now
