Does it have "hot spots"? --does it cook evenly when frying?
1259808
No Hotspots! Cooks evenly. It's suppose to be energy efficient versus a stovetop. We need a new stove. In the meantime we are using this. Agree with I am buying a second one. I would too if we had more counter space. :-)
1259809
Way more evenly than my old style one. It is pretty incredible. I am buying a second one, that is how much I like it. It is heavy and substantial (unlike my old one) and I like the see through top.
1259810
Wonderfully consistent cooking surface. Greatest test is when frying French toast. Very pleased with my use of this appliance.
1259811
Amazing! No hotspots! I am utterly sold on this skillet. I have a commercial kitchen with all professional appliances and yet on the weekends I revert to this skillet for all breakfast needs. Easy clean up - even cooking. The ONLY drawback I see is the knob gets a little warm when you use it on top settings so exercise handling care around the knob (dial)
328742
My husband hasn't fried chicken yet, so not sure. So far just using it for normal time cooking, it doesn't seem to be hot. Hope this helps..
877570
Relatively speaking, it certainly does. As an example, I heat the pan for 5 mins first, then heat oil in it for another 4 mins or so. Then cook a fried egg in it, which is probably about another 3 mins. The handle will warm up slightly near the pan, but where you grab it, it stays perfectly cool enough for normal use. (Should point out that my 'prep time' is for the all stainless, not the 'non stick')
2232313
It will cook anything you put in it, but a couple of problems: 1) It does a poor job of getting to and maintaining fry temperature; mine couldn't get past 340, and quickly dropped lower when food was added. 2) It's a lot smaller than the advert pics imply; those must be pigmy chickens they show. Mine wouldn't hold more than 4 drumsticks (chicken). I returned mine, and now I use a dutch oven. It isn't automatic, but it cooks.
896350
yes it does get hot, but once turned off it will cool down fairly quick. The thermostat on these units may have some variance so you'll want to play with the settings to get it just the way you like it. I've even left mine in foor an additional cycle (it beeps when its supposedly done), just to get the crispness I wanted. Also, don't oil the plates 'til it gets up to temp, (it beeps), otherwise the oil from the top plate drips to the bottom plate and you mave have a little sticking from the top plate.
550147
Very good fryer but not pressure fryer, as other posts have stated as well. I would buy same again as well. Nor is it junk, in my opinion. I'm a southern cook. Chicken, fish, hushpuppies, green tomatoes, you name it, you fry it, I've fried it in this. I would LIKE a 400 + temp but you're not going to find it. It's a nice fryer.
1977282
I have not noticed it getting unusually hot. I really like this pan. It seems easier to clean then my other stainless pots (we only use stainless steel to avoid toxic non-stick coatings). Lid fits great too.
1040595
It somewhat does, you can cook on it like a fry pan ,but when grilling burgers and such most of the drippings run off the edge and the rest is in the grooves formed by the grill surface. Works good, not greasy at all.
1601731
No, however, as shown in the picture, there are handles on the side that enable you to move it during use if necessary. I've used this fryer a number of times and have had absolutely no problems with any of it's functions or features. Love it!
1768833
Anjes, the basket does get a little sticky, its what you should expect when frying! I have bought three of these within the past 15 years because my husband loves this product .. . it is cheap and it is still selling after all these years. . .. . .and it does what he wants it to do. He just uses this for french fries, nothing else! Actually, we bought it three times because of the stains on the bottom, my husband is a messy fryer, so I just got rid of the old one and keep replacing it after many years of use! The basket has always held up!
1040869
I use it in all my cooking /frying and it is very stable at high temperatures. I even use it for fries!
1492517
I don't really know because we really don't use oil when we are cooking just spices and a lite spray of Pam. But it seems that there are no hot spots like so much other cookware we have owned during the past.
1949084
I have used the fryer at home and at my job as a private chef cooking for up to 12 people. The former is a small kitchen that opens to the dining & living rooms. It has never smoked. However, it does release steam, the amount depending on what you are frying. It does give off an odor which is typical of deep frying as a cooking techniques. The frying smell is typical of these units and not a problem particular to this Breville. I find that the deep fried food cooked in the Breville is delicious with minimal fat. French frys crisp, Indian chickpea flour balls moist and firm, special fried rice ingredients to perfection. This unit is superior to one's I have used because it has simple yet comprehensive temp and time settings. If I were to make one suggestion to Breville, it would be to have a soft and loud option for the alert reminder.
1903266
No, it's smooth like regular fry pan - I love this for making artisan bread in & frying chicken! It's one of my favorite pots, it's small & we're a family of 5, but I brown the chicken a few pieces at a time, put it all back in, put the lid on & cook until it's done - amazing! The bread I bake in it turns out perfectly every time & I've used the lid to fry eggs & other misc. things. Can't beat this little gem for the price & functionality.
2258771
Yes and No.But for the most part, Yes. It's not 100% even, but it's more even than my previous two griddles (one a different Presto model and I forget the brand of the other). It cooks evenly enough. I use it on a daily basis to fry about a dozen eggs.
165717
I love my crock pot. It has cooked evenly every time for me. I have used it at least once a week for the last 1/2 year. It has a hole to allow steam to escape. It takes some time to get heated, but once its hot, it is very hot!
1557559
I've used it for frying fish and potatoes. The main ring heat area is in the bottom six inch area. I've stir fried veggies and rice and then turned that into a soup etc. It's nice to have a controllable heat source. It's pretty hot right out of warm so it needs to be dialed in to find that perfect point. I haven't needed to go very high to find the right adjustment. Works well for steaming as well and the glass lid lets you see what's happening. I needed to set the lid at an angle to let out the excess steam.