A question about cooking in a crock pot or deep fryer?

Question

When I moved out on my own one of my first kitchen appliances after a toaster, microwave, and a coffee maker was a deep fryer. Though I bout it, I barely used because I don't eat many fried foods. It was probably just cheap at the time. Anyway, my girlfriend moved in with me and she is wanting to buy a crock pot for us. I told we don't need one because I have that barely used deep fryer. This may seem like a weird question. If the deep fryer is clean and free of sediment can it not be used as a crock pot? Can't she fill that with broth or water? Can't she make soup or whatever in it? Isn't a deep fryer functionally the same thing as a crock pot (and vice versa)? I don't really know.

Answer 1

i guess a clean one could be used to heat up soups but im not usre if it will come to a full rolling boil like it would on the stove top

Answer 2

A deep fryer is designed to bring oil up to 380 degrees or higher.  A crockpot does not get that hot.  A crockpot is a wonderful gadget that is very valuable in the summer to make meals and keep the kitchen cool.  Anytime, it can be a labor and time savor.  Picture this.  In the morning, you put a nice whole chicken into that crock pot.  Chop some onion, garlic and carrots and put in there.  A little salt and pepper and maybe a bay leaf or 2.  Cover and turn on that crockpot.  Go to work.  Have a terrible day at work.  Come home to a wonderful aroma in your kitchen and supper is done, all tender and flavorful chicken and carrots, just waiting to be eaten.  And of course, the extra chicken is now tender and delicious and can be used for chicken salad or sliced chicken sandwiches.  

Go with the crock pot and try every recipe it comes with.  Get a crock pot book if you must but by the time you try all the recipes that comes with it, you will be able to modify any recipe you have to work in the crock pot.

Can you guess that I use mine a LOT!  I wouldn't be without one.  

Answer 3

They are totally different appliances.  A deep fryer is designed to fry foods in oil at relatively high temperatures in a relatively short period of time.  A crock pot is designed to cook foods slowly at a relatively low temperature for a long period (4 to 10 hours depending on what is being cooked).  I do not know the temperature ranges of either appliance, but I doubt that the lowest temperature on the deep fryer is low enough to cook normal crock pot recipes. (Note:  I, too, have a rarely used deep fryer that is in the deep recesses of my cabinets. I can't remember the last time I used it.)

Answer 4

If your deep fryer has a temperature control that goes down to about 150F it can probably be used as a slow cooker. That's about the temp of a slow cooker on low.

Problem is most fryers have temp controls that only go down to 250 or so and that would boil the p**p out of anything in it.

So invest the $30 and get a crock pot. If she is willing to cook for you provide the items she needs and you will be a happy camper!

Answer 5

no not a good idea!!!!

Answer 6

Buy the crock pot!  It is worth every cent, and you will wonder how you ever got along without it, really!  Crock pots are also called slow cookers because they cook food slowly.  They are wonderful for making easy meals that are healthy and inexpensive.  Imagine coming home after a hard day at work and walking into your house and smelling a delicious, home cooked dinner that is all ready for you to sit down and eat.  You won't find that with a deep fryer.

Answer 7

The sides of the fryer have a more direct heat. Things can stick very easily.  Water, soup,etc will boil in it because the temp is so high.  Most fryers don't have lower settings in them for slower cooking.  You could use it but it would be so much easier to put a pan on the stove.  Anything that has to simmer must be below 212 degrees.

Answer 8

No, sorry, they're nothing alike.  The crockpot, or slow cooker, is a great "tool" to have in the kitchen.  You can fill it up before work and come home to a deliciously cooked meal 8-12 hours later.  My husband loves ours.  You can also buy inexpensive cuts of meat and they're always tender from cooking so long.  The deep fryer won't cook slowly like that.  Also, the deep fryer is made to make unhealthy meals, the slow cooker promotes healthy cooking...try it--you won't be sorry.