Presto 05466 ProFry Stainless-Steel Dual-Basket

For anyone that needs to deep fry two foods at once for a large family or group the Presto 05466 Profry deep fat fryer offers twin baskets, 1800 watts of power and a whopping 5 quart oil capacity. In fact it is one of the largest consumer deep fat fryers available and should make short work feeding those hungry family get-togethers and house parties.

Of course that kind of oil volume needs a big container to hold it and the Presto 05466 is no exception. Measuring around 15 inches wide you are going to need plenty of work top real estate to get this fryer set up properly. You will also need a nearby wall socket as the included power cord is a scant 2 feet long.

Out of the box the main frying assembly consists of just three components. The stainless steel base, oil container and heating element with control panel. For the technically challenged the control panel is an exercise in simplicity. Just a manual temperature dial and an oil ready indicator light. No timer or fancy electronics to break and no complicated instructions to wade through. This fryer design is very much hands-on and will require close supervision when in use.

The dual baskets have collapsible handles that fold for easy storage and their rectangular shape make them useful for a wide range of food items from battered fish to fried plantains. Presto also sell a single Profry jumbo basket that can be used for frying large pieces of chicken or a big batch of fries. The fryer also works perfectly well using just one of the smaller baskets. Despite this fryer's oversize dimensions none of the baskets are particularly deep.

So how does the Profry 05466 stack up in the deep frying league? Unfortunately in the critical area of oil temperature the accuracy seems to vary considerably from one unit to the next. Some are fine, others can barely manage 320F at the maximum setting - nowhere near enough for most foods. Is this a quality control issue during manufacturing? We don't know but if you happen to find yourself with a less than optimum oil temperature there are a few simple things you can try before calling customer support.

The first is to use a candy thermometer so as you have an accurate reading of the oil's temperature and are not just guessing. The next is to be patient. Five quarts of oil can take a while to heat up. Allow at least 20 mins before you do anything. Most of the time this should solve the problem but if it doesn't you can try a little stirring. Such a large oil container will often result in the oil being hot near the heating element and colder farther away. Gently mixing the oil around will smooth out those inconsistencies and help bring the oil to an uniform temperature. Be aware than the rated maximum temperature for this fryer is 375F.

If all else fails you can call the Presto customer service help line for further assistance.

Overall fit and finish are good with attractive stainless steel base and stay-cool black plastic handles. The fryer feels a bit light and flimsy and will probably need careful handling if you want to avoid dings and dents. Also the large oil container can be a little awkward to lift out of the base, especially when filled.

The Profry 05466 comes with a lid that has a built-in charcoal air filter and both baskets can be raised and lowered with the lid in place. This proved very effective in reducing splattering. The lid should be removed when frying high moisture items like french fries or anytime you want crisper results.

To prevent lingering odors we recommend draining and filtering the oil between fry sessions. An inexpensive funnel with built-in strainer and air tight container will go a long way in keeping your home from smelling like a fry shop.

Presto don't sell spare filters but they do offer replacement lids at low cost. You can also order virtually any other part for your fryer from their web site, including power cords and even the heating element assembly (see link below).

Specs:

1800 Watts
Stainless steel exterior
Large oil capacity of 5 quarts (4.75 liters)
Dual frying baskets with collapsible handles
Optional jumbo basket (sold separately)
Disassembles for easy clean-up
Dishwasher safe (except heating element)
Lid with built-in charcoal filter
Full range of spare parts available from manufacturer's web site

The Presto Profry 05466 deep fat fryer is a professional-style deep fat fryer that can produce restaurant quality results at home and is both simple to operate and easy to clean. Its five quart capacity and flexible basket configuration should appeal to busy home cooks with large families or anyone that needs bulk frying capability.