Breville VDF034 Stainless Steel Deep Fat Fryer

The Breville VDF034 deep fat fryer sits in that sought-after sweet spot between the semi-professional model at one end and the basic mid-range consumer fryer at the other.

It's got enough exposed stainless steel to earn a few admiring glances but not too much as to make it out of reach for the cost conscious consumer.

This fryer wants your approval, and is prepared to earn it with some no-nonsense features and performance that set it apart from the crowd.

In your kitchen the first thing you notice is that the overall footprint of the Breville VDF034 is surprisingly compact, especially for a fryer with a 3 litre oil capacity. Its storage-friendly rectangular design has tall sides which gives the frying chamber enough depth to comfortably immerse large food items while keeping oil splatter to a minimum.

Speaking of splatter, you should know that the lid is not designed to be used when the fryer is in operation. It acts only as a dust cover for the oil chamber. If you're a little nervous about having an exposed fry chamber with boiling oil this may not be the fryer for you.

The rear controls consist of a rotary temperature dial with a maximum setting of 190°C, a power light and 'oil ready' light. The oil ready light goes out when the oil has reach your specified temperature. There is no timer function.

When you're ready to cook something just fill the chamber between the min and max lines with a suitable oil and set the temperature control to the desired setting. Pre-heat time on the VDF034 is blazing fast so have everything ready to go beforehand.

The oil bowl has a small recessed area in the bottom that is designed to capture stray food particles that would otherwise burn or end up floating around in the oil and contaminating it. Breville call this feature 'Cool Zone'. With less contamination the oil should last longer before having to be replaced. If you like to fry often this can help cut down on the number of times you need to change the oil and thereby lower costs over time.

When you're done clean up is easy as the fryer consists of just three main components - the heating element assembly, the oil bowl and the outside case. The whole thing comes apart and everything except the heating element is dishwasher safe.

There are side handles for easy lifting, non slip rubber feet and a convenient cord storage to keep everything clutter free. Plus the basket's cool-touch handle can be folded out of the way for easy storage.

Pros:

3 litre oil capacity
Removable enamel bowl
Variable temperature control to 190°C
Stainless steel case
Easy clean up
Inexpensive

Cons:

Lid cannot be used during frying
No timer
No odour filters
Mix-Max line in bowl difficult to read

The Breville VDF034 Stainless Steel deep fat fryer is both stylish and practical, with a cupboard friendly size and simple to operate controls it can't help but make a smart addition to your kitchen.