DeLonghi D24527DZ Stainless Steel Deep Fat Fryer

The DeLonghi D24527DZ is a semi-professional stainless steel deep fat fryer that can produce restaurant quality fried foods at home. It comes with a digital thermostat and timer plus power and ready indicator lights and a permanent mesh filter to help prevent the release of odors into the work area.

Add in DeLonghi's 'Easy Clean' oil drainage system and you have a feature rich fryer that will make a welcome addition to any serious gourmet kitchen.

One of the most critical aspects in producing perfectly deep fried foods is maintaining an even cooking temperature throughout the frying process. When a relatively large amount of food meets a small amount of oil the temperature quickly drops and the oil is absorbed into the food. Everything ends up greasy and oil soaked.

The D24527DZ's oil capacity of 4 litres (over 1 gallon) provides enough volume to maintain a steady cooking temperature and therefore produce high quality results. This capacity should be more than adequate for a typically family of four to six people. Pre-heat time is approximately 15 minutes so remember to allow for this when starting.

Operation consists of setting the required temperature and fry time using the digital controls, then pushing start. A red light indicates the fryer is warming up. When you see the green light you're ready to start frying. Lower the basket into the oil and press the start button again. This will start the countdown timer. When the timer reaches zero the unit will beep again to indicate the food is ready.

You can set the oil temperature from about 285F to 375F. Fry times are set in 30 second intervals up to a maximum of 60 minutes. Cooking temperature settings were fairly accurate and controls were straightforward.

Changing the cooking oil on a deep fat fryer has always been a problem for most owners. DeLonghi have attempted to solve this by equipping the D24527DZ with their 'Easy Clean' system. An access door opens on the front of the fryer and behind there is a drain tap. When it's time to change the oil you just position a suitable container directly below the tap and open to drain. For the most part it works pretty well although you may need to tip the fryer forward slightly to collect all the remaining oil. To prevent the oil from going all over the place use a funnel such as the Norpro Stainless Steel Funnel with Detachable Strainer.

For clean-up the unit disassembles easily and everything except the heating element can be placed in the dishwasher.

If you were planning on storing the oil in the fryer between uses be aware that the basket handle folds forward into the oil chamber when not in use. You will have to either store the basket separately or leave the handle extended.

The DZ in the model name stands for 'Dual Zone'. DeLonghi claim this technology reduces odor, keeps the oil clean, and prevents food from burning. It basically consists of a area below the heating element that remains at a lower temperature than the oil above. During frying food particles fall harmlessly into this area where they remain until you change the oil.

In the right hands the DeLonghi D24527DZ Deep Fat Fryer can produce results comparable to a professional restaurant and satisfy even the most demanding deep fry aficionado. Don't be surprised if your partner puts this on their holiday wish list.

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