It’s not going to be easy to write my reviews for the best tempura fryer because I’m going to have constant cravings. My mouth is already watering after only writing a single sentence.
So, yeah, maybe I should take a quick break and make some tempura and then I’ll get back to my second passion. Cooking is my first, writing is second and reading and gardening both take third place together as my biggest passions.
After I wrote a few guides on the best rice washer and some reviews for the best ceramic rice cookers and the best stainless steel rice cookers, I thought it would be nice to move our attention to other dishes.
Especially some delicious dishes that are often served on rice. Or on top of soba noodles. It’s hard to pick a favorite among the two. If you make a bigger quantity, serve tempura both ways and see which works best for you. I’m guessing you’re going to have a hard time picking a favorite, too.
By the way, if you want to learn more about Japanese cooking, one of my favorite cookbooks is Japanese Soul Cooking: Ramen, Tonkatsu, Temperature, and More from the Streets and Kitchens of Tokyo and Beyond by Tadashi Ono, Harris Salat.
Table of Contents
Best Tempura Fryer Reviews
A classic tempura fryer for households is basically a round pot of maybe medium size with a lid attached to the pot.
The lid has a small rack on it so that we can remove the tempura directly on that lid and the rack allows the excess oil to drip directly onto the lid.
Thus, when you’re looking for the best tempura fryer, we’re going to come across deep frying pots. But if that’s what we come across, couldn’t there be a substitute?
It’s clear to see that some people are going to ask themselves: couldn’t I be using a large saucepan or a small stock pot to fry my tempura? And then remove it on a plate covered with paper towels to absorb excess oil or on a cooling rack that has a sheet pan underneath to catch excess oil?
Or even using our wok because it’s deep enough. Or using our Dutch oven. Just don’t use nonstick pans.
I don’t see why that wouldn’t be possible. If you’re using a saucepan or other cookware as the best tempura fryer, I only want to mention a couple of things.
Pour in enough oil so that you can deep fry your ingredients so the saucepan must have a decent size so that you can fry multiple ingredients at the same time.
And make sure that the walls of your pan are not too tall because you need to be able to reach the tempura with your chopsticks. Or grab a long pair of thongs if the walls are too high.
The idea is that we’re going to review classic tempura fryers but I’ll also recommend some cookware that could act as a substitute. We’ll also maybe review a deep fryer or two for those who want to imitate restaurants.
1. Lodge Cast Iron Deep Skillet: Overall the Best Tempura Fryer
Well, since I mentioned that I love one particular cookbook when it comes to cooking comfort Japanese food, let’s use whatever cookware the chef and the writer of the cookbook use.
Thus, in Japanese Soul Cooking, tempura is cooked in a deep cast iron skillet.
Frankly, I love it.
While some of you might expect to buy a deep frying pot, I think that a deep skillet can be just absolutely perfect in so many respects.
Lodge also makes one of the best pans for pancakes.
However, I totally understand if you don’t like cast iron cookware at all. In that case, don’t worry, I have many more recommendations coming up.
Features
We get to choose from two sizes: 10.25 inch and 12 inch.
I love that we get to choose between these two good sizes. Frankly, both are good sizes, it just depends how much tempura you want to deep fry at one time and how quickly you want everything done so you can enjoy your delicious food on rice or soba noodles.
The price difference between the two sizes is about $20 so it might be a considerable price difference for some people.
The 10.25 inch is certainly affordable. I consider that buying a deep cast iron skillet for less than $50 to be a fantastic deal.
Of course, if you already own a good cast iron Dutch oven, you can definitely use that one for deep frying so you don’t need a separate skillet.
Lodge also makes a cast iron deep skillet with a cast iron lid. We don’t need the lid for deep frying but it can be helpful for cooking other dishes.
The Lodge Cast Iron Deep Skillet is pre seasoned with their vegetable oil formula and it’s ready for immediate use.
Deep frying actually does a favor for our cast iron cookware by supercharging the seasoning process.
Moreover, cast iron is excellent at heat retention. We could say that it’s better than any other cookware material when it comes to heat retention. And that’s the secret to amazing deep frying results.
It’s no wonder that the chef from Japanese Soul Cooking makes tempura in a cast iron deep skillet.
I also declare this cookware my top recommendation for the best tempura fryer. I certainly think that it’s better than a tempura pot. And it can last a lifetime and much further.
Another big plus is that it also works on all stovetops.
2. Komong Deep Fryer Pot
I gave you my favorite pick in the form of a cast iron deep skillet.
Now, let’s review a classic tempura pot and see how it compares. You already know which I prefer but it’s good to look at both and compare.
Features
There are two sizes to choose from: 2.2 L (approx. 2.3 quarts) and 3.4 L (approx. 3.6 quarts).
If you want a decent size, go with the 3.4 L one. I would imagine that the 2.2 L size is big enough for most of us. It might be good for single people or for a couple so there can also be an advantage in being able to buy a small size pan.
The design is classic. This is how a classic tempura fryer looks like.
We get a nicely designed pot with a large base, which is great.
And there’s an attached lid that has a small rack for removing the tempura on it so we also get rid of the excess oil in a practical manner.
The entire thing is made of 304 stainless steel, which is awesome.
The pot withstands high temperatures and holds heat evenly.
It’s perfect for deep frying but it can also be used to cook many other dishes.
What I definitely love is the Fahrenheit thermometer that is attached to the lid. Once the oil reaches 360 degrees F, we can start frying. The thermometer helps.
The fact that this is a small deep pot means that we can fill it quickly so we don’t need to use all that much oil. That’s a big plus.
Plus, the price around $50 is not bad at all. All in all, if you’re looking for a classic for the best tempura fryer, I think that the Komong Deep Fryer Pot is a great choice.
3. Cooks Standard Stainless Steel Multi-Ply Clad Wok, 13 Inch
There’s no Asian cooking without a wok. I love using a wok and for much more than fried rice.
We can also use it to deep fry.
However, there’s a problem we must talk about because it’s important.
If you have a non-stick wok, which you must likely have because these are the most popular models, we can’t deep fry in it.
Pretty much everyone knows that we can’t deep fry in cookware with non-stick coatings because consistent exposure to high heat will wear down the non-stick coating.
Furthermore, non-stick materials are pretty famous for not being the most durable among materials, whether they’re teflon, ceramic or granite so we should take precautions to make our non-stick coatings last longer.
That means no deep frying.
On the other hand, if you don’t already own a wok and you might be interested in a model that can also handle deep frying, it can be a good investment and this might be the right opportunity to buy one.
Features
While most people would recommend a carbon steel wok, I know that those can have their own set of problems so it’s really hard to come across one that is truly amazing.
So, I chose to recommend a stainless steel wok.
I know that it’s not traditional. And it can be slightly more expensive than many other carbon steel woks. But I still believe that the Cooks Standard Stainless Steel Multi-Ply Clad Wok can be a better option if you want something that can last a long time without fears of rusting or without having to season it or the seasoning peeling off, etc.
Plus, I like that the Cooks Standard Stainless Steel Multi-Ply Clad Wok comes with a high dome lid. Overall, it looks great.
This 13 inch wok is an awesome size and it should be big enough for most people.
The bottom is not very narrow but that also means that it preserves its equilibrium on all cooking surfaces so it won’t tip over. That can happen with models that have a very narrow bottom.
It’s amazing for deep-frying but we can cook so many other dishes in this wok. I love how versatile it can be.
It’s also oven safe up to 500 degrees F. And it’s dishwasher safe.
The secure-fitting stainless-steel dome lid traps in heat and moisture. Plus, the solid stainless-steel riveted handles stay cooler with air-flow technology.
4. STAUB Cast Iron Perfect Pan, 4.5 quart
If you’re in the mood for spending around $250-$300 on a pan, then you’re in luck because Staub has designed and manufactured one of the most expensive cookware I’ve ever come across.
I mean, there are rice cookers, air fryers, stand mixers, ovens, microwave ovens and so many other kitchen appliances that are so much cheaper than this pan.
Well, at least they call it the perfect pan. But we all know that nothing is perfect. The negative reviews, which are plenty, also clearly illustrate that this is not a perfect pan, even though Staub chose to call it that.
Would I actually buy a pan that costs about $300, that looks quite similar to a deep skillet that can be about 5-7 times cheaper? Definitely not.
I just treat it as a curiosity because I want to see what this expensive pan offers.
Features
Let’s start with the positives.
The 4.5 quart size is awesome for most families.
I like the design. It looks like a cast iron deep skillet but a bit fancier. And it’s actually made of cast iron so that’s another plus.
However, it has a smooth enamel bottom. The enamel means that we don’t have to season it like we do with plain cast iron. It’s similar to enamel Dutch ovens so the cooking surface is definitely nice.
Moreover, the rough texture promises exceptional browning. So, it’s highly versatile.
It will work both as a deep skillet but it can also be used instead of a wok. Plus, given that this is enamel cast iron we can also boil water in it so that opens up the possibility of cooking even more dishes.
Another big plus is that it also works on all stovetops.
It’s also dishwasher safe.
Next, I love that it comes with a lid, a glass, which is awesome for checking up on our dishes as they continue cooking.
Another thing I like is the metal rack that fits perfectly over half the pan. It’s definitely created with tempura in mind.
All in all, I like the STAUB Cast Iron Perfect Pan quite a lot. And it would have been one of my top recommendations if it didn’t cost a small fortune. I don’t see many people being willing to spend so much money, even on something that’s called the perfect pan.
5. Presto FryDaddy Electric Deep Fryer
If you thought that you had to have a budget over $100 if you want to buy a deep fryer, the Presto FryDaddy Electric Deep Fryer proves you wrong.
This one costs about as much as the Lodge Cast Iron Deep Skillet. It has a price under $50, which is just fantastic.
And buyers love this tiny thing. It’s highly rated and very popular. I love it.
I know that it looks a bit like a miniature trash bin but don’t be fooled by the design. The simplistic approach is actually great for deep frying without needing to waste gallons of oil.
Features
I love the small size. Even if it’s so small, I still think that it can work very well for big families as well because deep frying is so fast so we can cook large quantities of food, tempura, fries, etc. in a small amount of time.
Presto mentions that their deep fryer can help us save money on oil.
It has an efficient 4:4 oil-to-food ratio. It makes 4 big servings with just 4 cups of oil. That’s fantastic.
It also has a built-in, preset thermostat for perfect frying every time.
If you want to take the guessing out of deep frying, the Presto FryDaddy Electric Deep Fryer is designed exactly for that. Total beginners can master it.
It also comes with a handy scoop to lift, drain, and serve.
If you need a bigger size, there’s a 6 cups model called GranPappy Deep Fryer. Presto is killing it with the names.
All in all, if you’ve ever wanted a deep fryer without having to spend too much on one and without having to pour gallons and gallons of oil in one, then you might love the Presto FryDaddy Electric Deep Fryer as the best tempura fryer.
What is tempura?
Let me talk to you about this delicious dish about which I learned everything I need to know from one of my favorite cookbooks, Japanese Soul Cooking.
Tempura simply means deep frying vegetables and shrimp (seafood) that have been dipped in a simple batter of flour, water, and egg yolk.
The batter is a huge part of cooking a delicious tempura. It must be crispy and light, not oily at all because that ruins the whole experience.
Also, prepare the batter just before frying. It’s one of the secrets to delicious tempura.
The deep frying is done in vegetable oil. Obviously, we can’t deep fry in olive oil. Vegetable oil is the best but we can also use canola oil or peanut oil if those are better options for us.
You can also add a touch of sesame oil to the vegetable oil.
Since deep frying involves using several cups of oil (at least 4 to 6 cups but some deep fryers might need between 6 and 19 cups of oil), I prefer buying in bulk and buying whatever is cheaper.
Oil temperature is another crucial thing. The recommended temperature in Japanese Soul Cooking is 360 degrees F.
For my tempura, I’m definitely more interested in deep frying veggies but most of my family prefer shrimp so I make both every time we get together.
The authors of that cookbook mention hearing of ice cream, chocolate, and even gummy bear tempura. I haven’t tried any tempura desserts yet so maybe you’ll be more adventurous once you buy the best tempura fryer for your household.
