The Best Outdoor Deep Fryers in 2023

When you hear the phrase ‘outdoor deep fryers’, you might think of cooking a turkey for Thanksgiving, but there are actually used just as often for cooking other foods all year round.

Some of the best 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.

Top Outdoor Deep Fryers Reviews

1. Char-Broil Big Easy Oil-less Liquid Propane Turkey Fryer

This is possibly the best 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.

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 really strong and can be completely packed in with all sorts of finger food.

The lid works really 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.

3. King Kooker 1618 16-Inch Propane Outdoor Cooker with Aluminum Pan and 2 Frying Baskets

This is one of the best 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.

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 turn the fryer off every 15 minutes, but leaving it off and using a different timer can work fine.

5. Bayou Classic 200-440 44-Qt Turkey Fryer Kit

This is possibly the best 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.

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 the best 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.

If you are looking for a good charcoal grill for your backyard kitchen, we have reviewed the small charcoal grills and created a list of the best on the market.

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 best 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.

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 best 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.

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 own 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