PRESTO cool-touch electric deep fryer User Manual

: June 7, 2024
: Presto

Table of Contents

PRESTO cool-touch electric deep fryer
INSTRUCTIONS
- IMPORTANT SAFEGUARDS
Important Safety Information
- Important Fryer Guidelines
- How to Use
Care and Cleaning
Recipes
References
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PRESTO cool-touch electric deep fryer

product

Delicious deep fried foods, fast and easy.
Exterior handle lowers food into the oil with the cover closed to prevent spattering.
Large six-cup food capacity.
Removable pot for quick and easy cleaning.

INSTRUCTIONS

This is a Listed appliance. The following important safeguards are recommended by most portable appliance manufacturers.

IMPORTANT SAFEGUARDS

To reduce the risk of personal injury or property damage when using electrical appliances, basic safety precautions should always be followed, including the following:

Read all instructions.
Do not touch hot surfaces. Use handles.
Be sure handle is properly assembled to basket and locked in place. See detailed assembly instructions on page 3. Failure to securely attach the basket handle can result in the release of the basket during use, which may result in severe burns.
To protect against electrical shock or burns, do not immerse appliance, cord, or plug in water or other liquid.
Close supervision is necessary when any appliance is used by or near children.
Do not let children handle or put electrical cords or plugs in their mouths.
Always attach magnetic plug end to appliance first, then plug power cord into the wall outlet. To disconnect, remove plug from wall outlet, then magnetic plug end from appliance.
Unplug from wall outlet when appliance is not in use and before cleaning. Allow to cool before putting on or taking off parts, and before cleaning the appliance.
Do not operate any appliance with a damaged cord or plug or in the event the appliance malfunctions or has been damaged in any manner. Return the appliance to the Presto Factory Service Department for examination, repair, or electrical or mechanical adjust-ment. See page 8 for contact information.
The use of accessory attachments not recommended or sold by the appliance manufacturer may cause fire, electric shock, or injuries. Use only genuine Presto® accessory attachments or replacement parts.
Do not use outdoors.
Do not let cord hang over edge of table or counter or touch hot surfaces.
Do not place on or near a hot gas or electric burner or in a heated oven.
It is recommended that this fryer not be moved when it contains hot oil or other hot liquid. If it must be moved when it contains hot oil or other hot liquid, use extreme caution.
Do not use appliance for other than intended use.

SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS THIS APPLIANCE IS FOR HOUSEHOLD USE ONLY.

Important Cord and Plug Information
A short power supply cord is provided to reduce the risk of becoming entangled in or tripping over a longer cord. DO NOT USE WITH AN EXTENSION CORD. Do not allow the power supply cord to run underneath or around the appliance. The magnetic cord assembly may not detach easily if the power supply cord is positioned in this fashion. Connect the power supply cord to a 120VAC electrical outlet only.
Before First Use
Become familiar with the various parts of the deep fryer (Fig. A) and read the instructions carefully.
Clean fryer
Wipe the fryer cover and cool-touch base with a damp cloth.
CAUTION! To avoid electrical shock, never immerse the fryer base, cord, or plug in water or wash in a dishwasher. Open the deep fryer cover by pushing the cover release button on the front of the fryer.

Open the deep fryer cover by pushing the cover release button on the front of the fryer. Remove the frying basket, basket handle, charcoal filter, drip cup, cord, and any packaging material from the deep fryer. Then lift the removable pot out of the fryer base.
Wash the basket (with the handle removed) and removable pot in hot, soapy water; rinse and dry thoroughly. Washing these parts in a dishwasher is not recommended; see page 5 for specific cleaning instructions.
NOTICE: If you choose to wash the removable pot in a dishwasher, it will likely discolor due to the caustic nature of the dishwasher detergent. In addition, a gray residue may form on the pot which may transfer onto towels and/or skin.
Position removable pot in fryer base
After cleaning, when lowering the removable pot back into the fryer base, make sure the on the rim of the pot is aligned with the on the base. The unit will not function unless the pot is lowered into the aligned position (Fig. B).
Install charcoal filter
The charcoal filter will help absorb unpleasant odors. For the deep fryer to effectively absorb these odors, always use the fryer with the filter. The filter fits in the filter compartment in the fryer cover (Fig. C).
To install (or replace) the filter, first close the fryer cover. Using both hands, push down on the top front of the cover until it locks in place. Then, to install (or replace) the filter, lift up on the back of the filter cover and detach it from the fryer. If replacing an old filter, remove and discard it. Unwrap the new charcoal filter and insert it in the filter compartment so the notched end is toward the window (Fig. C). Reattach the filter cover by pushing the tabs into the front of the filter compartment. Then snap cover into place by pushing the back end down. Replacement filters may be purchased through the Presto Consumer Service Department (see page 8).

Insert drip cup

Included with the deep fryer is a drip cup. Before use, be sure to place the drip cup into the opening in the back of the fryer, with the rib side out (Fig. D). This cup collects condensation from the fryer cover when the cover is opened after frying.

Attach handle to basket
Before using the deep fryer, you will need to attach the handle to the basket. Follow these steps:

Hold the basket in one hand and the basket handle in your other hand. You will be placing the pegs, which are at the ends of the two basket handle bars, into the two holes in the basket bracket (Fig. E).
While holding the pegs near the peg holes, tilt the handle inward before attempting to place the pegs in their holes. You will not be able to fit the second peg into its hole if the handle bars are positioned too close to the bracket.
Next, place one of the pegs in one of the peg holes. Then squeeze the handle bars together and fit the opposite peg in the other peg hole (Fig. F).
While squeezing the handle bars together and keeping the pegs in the holes, rotate the handle toward the basket rim, allowing the handle bars to snap into the tabs on the basket bracket (Fig. G). The handle is now in the locked position.
WARNING! Failure to securely attach the basket handle can result in the release of the basket during use, which may cause severe burns. For instructions on positioning basket in fryer, see step 3 in “To fry” section on page 4.

Important Safety Information

WARNING! Burn Hazards

Hot oil can cause serious and painful burns. Close supervision is necessary when any appliance is used by or near children.
Oil and water do not mix. The combination can be dangerous. Accordingly, before pouring oil into the removable pot, be sure that the pot and all parts are COMPLETELY DRY. In addition, before placing food in deep fryer, always remove ice crystals and excess moisture from food by patting dry with paper towels. When the oil is heated, any water droplets in the oil superheat, becoming a volatile steam that can cause hot oil to spatter, boil over, or even erupt out of the deep fryer. Uncooked potatoes contain a high percentage of moisture and extreme caution must be used when frying. Follow special frying instructions found in steps 1, 4, and 5 of the “To fry” section (page 4), in the timetable (page 6), and in the Homemade French Fries recipe (page 6).
Use caution when frying doughs, such as beignets, donuts, dumplings, hushpuppies, and fritters. These foods may develop air bubbles during heating, which may burst and cause burns. Use a slotted spoon or tongs, rather than a fork, to turn food during frying and to remove food from oil.
Use caution when frying flour tortillas. Flour tortillas contain air bubbles. During frying, oil can become trapped within these bubbles. If not properly drained, the bubbles can burst and cause burns. Accordingly, after frying, carefully raise the tortillas out of the vegetable oil and allow oil to drain for approximately 30 seconds.

WARNING! Electrical Hazards
To avoid the risk of electrocution or severe disfiguring electrical burns:

Do not let the cord or plug come in contact with water or other liquid.
Do not let children handle or put electrical cords or plugs in their mouths.
Never use the deep fryer without the removable pot.

Important Fryer Guidelines

Use the deep fryer only on a clean, dry, level, stable, and heat-resistant surface, away from the edge.
Never preheat or use the deep fryer without or with an insufficient amount of oil. Failure to fill fryer with oil to the minimum (MIN) fill level will cause overheating and damage to the appliance. Also never exceed the maximum (MAX) fill level. Using more than the maximum amount may cause the oil to boil over the top of the fryer. The MIN and MAX fill levels are embossed inside the removable pot (Fig. B, page 2). The minimum amount of oil for this fryer is six, 8-ounce cups and the maximum amount is eight, 8-ounce cups.
Use vegetable shortening or vegetable oils, such as canola, corn, sunflower, peanut, soybean, and light olive oil. These can withstand the high temperatures required for deep frying. Do not use extra virgin olive oil or other vegetable oils as they deteriorate at temperatures below those required for deep frying. Do not use butter, margarine, or lard because they have lower smoking temperatures.
Avoid preheating the oil longer than necessary and unplug the fryer once the last batch of food has been removed. The longer the oil is heated, the more it deteriorates.
Always remove plug from wall outlet and then from deep fryer when unit is not in use.
Always allow fryer to cool completely with the cover closed before removing oil and before cleaning.

How to Use

To fill with oil

Open the deep fryer cover. If the frying basket is in the fryer, remove it and set it aside.
Fill the removable pot with vegetable oil or shortening up to the MAX fill level located on the inside of the removable pot (Fig. B). Use eight, 8-ounce cups of oil or four pounds of shortening. The amount of oil in the removable pot must always be between the MIN and MAX level markings. Never exceed the MAX level mark.

To preheat

Close the fryer cover. Attach the power supply cord to the fryer by aligning the magnetic plug end of the cord with the two electrical pins located in the recessed area of the fryer base. When properly aligned, the magnetic plug end will attach itself magnetically to the appliance. For proper connection, the magnetic plug end must be parallel with the countertop.
IMPORTANT: The magnetic cord assembly was designed to detach easily from the fryer. As a result, if bumped or touched during use, it could detach, causing the unit to stop heating. Avoid contact with the magnetic cord assembly during operation. If contact occurs, verify it is still properly connected.
Plug the power supply cord into a 120VAC electrical wall outlet only. Turn the adjustable temperature control (Fig. A, page 2) to the desired temperature (page 6). The recommended temperature for most frying is 375°.
NOTE: When using the fryer for the first time, it is normal for a slight odor or light smoking to occur as manufacturing residue evaporates.
While oil is preheating, prepare food for frying. When the oil has reached the proper frying temperature, the indicator light will go out. Preheat time is approximately 10 minutes.

WARNING! To prevent risk of severe personal injury or property damage, use caution when frying with hot oil.

To fry

Place frying basket on countertop and fill up to ⅔ full with food. For homemade fries, only fill basket ½ full.
Push the cover release button to open the cover. If the cover does not open completely, slowly tilt the cover back to an upright position.
CAUTION! Even though the fryer has a special cool-touch exterior, the interior of the fryer is extremely hot. To avoid burns, do not touch the interior.
Place the filled frying basket in the removable pot, aligning the long grooves on the sides of the basket handle with the slot guides on the front of the base (Fig. H), and lower the basket until it stops. This is the drain position.
With both hands on top of the cool-touch cover, push cover down until it locks in place. When frying Basket lowering button Fig. H homemade fries, leave cover in open position until basket has been completely lowered into oil.
Press the basket lowering button and slowly lower the basket into the oil. When lowering a basket containing homemade fries, make sure the oil does not bubble up to the rim of the removable pot. If it appears that the oil will bubble up to the rim, raise the basket and allow the oil bubbles to subside. Then slowly lower the basket again. Repeat until the basket is completely lowered into the fryer.
Begin timing. See frying timetable on page 6 for recommended times. During the first few minutes, it is normal for steam to appear on the viewing window. This will slowly disappear during frying if the window is kept clean between uses.
CAUTION! It is normal for steam to escape from the cover vents during frying. To prevent steam burns, keep well away from the vents.
NOTE: High moisture foods, such as french fries, produce more steam than other foods. The fryer is designed to ensure that excessive moisture does not remain in the fryer. Thus, when frying moist foods, you may see beads of condensation on the exterior of the fryer. This is normal.
When frying time has elapsed, lift up on the basket handle to raise the basket to the drain position.
Push the cover release button to open the cover. Allow the steam to vent and then slowly tilt the cover back to an upright position; do not touch hot surfaces. Check that the food is golden brown. If more frying time is needed, close the cover and press the basket lowering button to lower the basket back into the oil.
Once the food is done, carefully lift the basket out of the fryer and empty food on paper towels. Season to taste.
If frying additional food, close fryer cover and wait for indicator light to go out. Then repeat steps 1 through 9.

Care and Cleaning

Remove plug from wall outlet and then from deep fryer. Allow oil and fryer to cool completely with the cover closed.
After unit has cooled completely, open cover. Lift the removable pot out of the deep fryer using the two carrying handles. Discard or strain oil. Refer to the section “Handling oil after frying” below.
Detach the basket handle from the basket. To detach the basket handle for cleaning, squeeze the handle bars together and tilt the handle toward the interior of the basket. While squeezing the handle bars, remove the pegs from the peg holes.
Remove the cover from the fryer base by opening the cover and then lifting it straight up. Detach the filter cover and remove the charcoal filter as described on page 2. The filter should not be washed.
Wash the frying basket (with the handle removed), cover, and removable pot in hot, soapy water. Rinse and dry thoroughly. Dry the cover in a vertical position to allow water to drain out. Washing these parts in a dishwasher is not recommended. If you choose to wash the removable pot in a dishwasher, it will likely discolor due to the caustic nature of the dishwasher detergent. In addition, a gray residue may form on the pot which may transfer onto towels and/or skin.
If necessary, a nylon mesh scouring pad, such as Scotch-Brite* Non-Scratch Scrub Sponge, may be used to remove residue. Do not use steel wool scouring pads, oven cleaners, or bleaching agents to clean any part of the deep fryer.
Wipe the cool-touch base and basket handle with a damp cloth. Never immerse the cool-touch base or handle in water or other liquid, or wash in a dishwasher.
After cleaning, reassemble the unit. Be sure the metal spring hinge on the cover is positioned in the slot on the fryer base and the hinge pins are firmly seated in the hinge grooves.
After each use, empty any condensation from the slide-out drip cup (Fig. D, page 2). Return the drip cup to the fryer with the rib side out.
Store the power supply cord in a clean, dry location away from metal objects. Always check the magnetic plug end before use to assure metal items have not become attached.
Periodically check the screws on the basket handle for looseness. Retighten, if necessary, with a Phillips screwdriver.
NOTICE: Continuing to tighten, once secure, can result in stripping of screws.

Handling oil after frying
After frying foods, allow oil to cool. To strain oil for reuse, place a funnel into the original oil container or other airtight container and line the funnel with a filter or a double thickness of cheesecloth. Slowly pour the oil into the funnel. Store the oil in a cool, dark area.
The number of times the oil can be reused will depend on the type of oil used and the food that is fried in it. For example, the oil will need to be replaced more often if fish or food coated with bread or cracker crumbs is fried frequently. Replace the oil if it is dark in color, has an unpleasant odor, smokes when it is heated, or foams excessively during frying.

Helpful Hints

Fry foods of equal size and thickness as they will fry more evenly and at the same speed.
Before deep frying, always remove excess moisture or ice crystals from food by patting it dry with paper towels. Moist foods may cause excess foaming, spattering, and crackling.
Do not fill the basket more than ⅔ full for most foods. For homemade fries, fill the basket only ½ full. If too much food is fried at the same time, the food will not get crisp.
For crisper foods, fry without the cover.
When breading food, use any type of flour, corn meal, fine bread or cracker crumbs, or commercial breading to coat the food. To get the breading to adhere better to the food, dip the food first in a mixture of egg and milk.
Coated and breaded foods can be fried with or without the basket. Battered foods, however, should carefully be placed directly into the oil, since battered foods will stick to the wire mesh of the basket. When using the fryer without the basket, a long-handled, slotted spoon or tongs should be used to add and/or remove foods.
Use only heat-resistant utensils in the fryer. Hot oil damages most plastic or rubber utensils. Do not leave metal utensils in the fryer as they will become hot and can cause injury.
To securely close the cover, use both hands and push down on the top front of the cover.

*Scotch-Brite is a trademark of 3M Company. Presto is not affiliated with this company..

Chicken

*Fresh and raw battered foods will stick to the wire mesh of the basket; therefore, it is suggested you place them directly into the oil using a long-handled, slotted spoon or tongs.

Recipes

Homemade French Fries
Peel medium potatoes, if desired, and cut into ¼ to ½ inch thick strips. Place into large bowl and cover with hot tap water. Soak potato strips for 15 minutes or until ready to fry. Rinse, drain, and pat dry with paper towels. Because uncooked potatoes contain a high percentage of moisture, extreme care must be used when deep frying. Thoroughly dry potato strips before frying.
Fill the basket ½ rather than ⅔ full. Keeping the cover open, lower the filled basket slowly into the hot oil. If the oil starts to boil up too quickly, lift the basket out of the oil for a couple of seconds. Then slowly lower again. Repeat as necessary until the basket is completely lowered into the fryer. Close cover.
Fry at 340° for 6 to 7 minutes until fries are cooked through but not browned. Drain; let stand to cool for at least 10 minutes, but not more than 2 hours. Just before serving, fry potatoes at 375° for 10 to 12 minutes or until golden brown.
Nutty Chicken Bites

1½ cups finely chopped roasted peanuts 2 egg whites, slightly beaten
¼ cup cornstarch 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
½ teaspoon sugar 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into ⅜-inch
½ teaspoon ground ginger

Preheat oil in deep fryer at 375°. Put peanuts in a medium shallow bowl; reserve. Mix cornstarch, sugar, and ginger in another small shallow bowl; whisk in egg whites and lemon juice. Dip chicken strips into egg mixture, then coat with peanuts. Drop a few chicken bites at a time into the deep fryer. Fry about 1 minute or until golden brown. Makes about 25.

Walnut Crusted Fish

½ cup panko bread crumbs 1 egg
½ cup walnuts 2 tablespoon
½ cup all-purpose flour 1 pound fish fillets, fresh or frozen and thawed, cut into 4 pieces
½ teaspoon salt

Preheat oil in deep fryer at 375°. Add bread crumbs and walnuts to a blender or food processor; turn on high speed and process until mixture resembles fine crumbs. Place crumb mixture in a shallow bowl; reserve. Mix flour and salt in another shallow bowl; reserve. Beat egg and milk in a third shallow bowl; reserve. Dip fish fillets first in the flour, then in the egg mixture, and finally in the crumb mixture. Place fillets in basket and fry for 2 to 3 minutes until golden brown. 4 servings (serving size 4 ounces)

Fried Marinated Cauliflower

1 small head cauliflower (about 2 pounds), trimmed 1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup Italian vinaigrette salad dressing ¼ teaspoon black pepper

Break or cut cauliflower into florets of uniform size. Place in microwave safe bowl and steam for 4 minutes on high or until barely crisp tender. Add cauliflower to a large bowl and pour dressing over cauliflower; refrigerate for 1 hour. Drain cauliflower. Salad dressing can be refrigerated and used later for another purpose. Preheat oil in deep fryer at 375°. Mix flour and pepper in a medium shallow bowl. Add florets to bowl and toss to coat with flour. Shake off excess flour. Place cauliflower in a single layer in the basket. Fry about 1 minute or until golden brown. Serve hot. 6 servings (serving size ½ cup)

Crispy Onion Rings

2 medium (about 1 pound) sweet onions,
such as Vidalia, peeled 1½ cups buttermilk
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup yellow cornmeal
3 tablespoons chili powder
2 tablespoons ground cumin
1 tablespoon salt
Cut onions into ¼- to ½-inch slices and then separate into rings. Add rings to a medium bowl and cover with buttermilk. Refrigerate for 1 hour. Preheat oil in deep fryer at 375°.
Mix flour, cornmeal, chili powder, cumin, and salt in a medium bowl. Working in batches of 4 or 5, remove rings from buttermilk, letting excess drip off. Add rings to flour mixture and toss to coat. Shake off excess flour. Place onion rings in basket; fry for 1½ to 2 minutes until golden brown. Serve hot. 4 servings (serving size 4 to 5 onion rings)

Jalapeño Kickers

12 jalapeño peppers
Cream cheese, softened
¾ cup all-purpose flour, divided ½ cup milk
1 egg
2 tablespoons bread crumbs ¼ teaspoon vegetable oil
¼ teaspoon onion salt
⅛ teaspoon garlic salt
1 teaspoon sugar

CAUTION! Wear plastic gloves when working with peppers. Do not touch eye area.
Cut peppers in half lengthwise. Remove seeds and stems. Bring 2 quarts of water to a boil; add peppers and boil for 2 minutes. Remove and drain well. Preheat oil in deep fryer at 375°.
Fill each pepper half with cream cheese until slightly rounded. Place ½ cup of the flour in a bowl; reserve. Whisk milk and egg in another bowl; reserve. Mix bread crumbs, oil, onion salt, and garlic salt in another bowl; stir in remaining ¼ cup flour and sugar until thoroughly mixed; reserve. Roll each pepper half in flour, then in egg mixture, and finally cover with breading. For a heavier breading, dip in egg mixture again and cover with another coating of bread crumbs. Fry peppers for 1 to 2 minutes or until golden brown. Remove immediately if cream cheese filling appears through the coating.

CAUTION! Wear plastic gloves when working with peppers. Do not touch eye area.
Cut peppers in half lengthwise. Remove seeds and stems. Bring 2 quarts of water to a boil; add peppers and boil for 2 minutes. Remove and drain well. Preheat oil in deep fryer at 375°.
Fill each pepper half with cream cheese until slightly rounded.
Place ½ cup of the flour in a bowl; reserve. Whisk milk and egg in another bowl; reserve. Mix bread crumbs, oil, onion salt, and garlic salt in another bowl; stir in remaining ¼ cup flour and sugar until thoroughly mixed; reserve.
Roll each pepper half in flour, then in egg mixture, and finally cover with breading. For a heavier breading, dip in egg mixture again and cover with another coating of bread crumbs.
Fry peppers for 1 to 2 minutes or until golden brown. Remove immediately if cream cheese filling appears through the coating. Makes 24

Consumer Service Information
If you have any questions regarding the operation of your Presto® appliance or need parts for your appliance, contact us by any of these methods:

Call 1-800-877-0441 weekdays 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM (Central Time)
Email us through our website at www.GoPresto.com/contact
Write: National Presto Industries, Inc., Consumer Service Department
3925 North Hastings Way, Eau Claire, WI 54703-3703
Inquiries will be answered promptly by email, telephone, or letter. When emailing or writing, please include a phone number and a time when you can be reached weekdays if possible.
When contacting the Consumer Service Department, please indicate the model and series numbers for the deep fryer. These numbers can be found on the bottom of the unit. Please record this information: Model ___ Series _ Date Purchased ___
The Presto Factory Service Department is equipped to service Presto® appliances and supply genuine Presto® parts. Genuine Presto® replacement parts are manufactured to the same exacting quality standards as Presto® appliances and are engineered specifically to function properly with its appliances. Presto can only guarantee the quality and performance of genuine Presto® parts. “Look-alikes” might not be of the same quality or function in the same manner. To ensure that you are buying genuine Presto® replacement parts, look for the Presto® trademark. Canton Sales and Storage Company, Presto Factory Service Department 555 Matthews Drive, Canton, MS 39046-3251

Product Registration

IMPORTANT: Please go online and register this product within ten days of purchase. Proper registration will serve as proof of purchase in the event your original receipt becomes misplaced or lost. Registration will not affect warranty coverage, but it may expedite processing of warranty claims. The additional information requested will help us develop new products that best meet your needs and desires. To register your product, visit www.GoPresto.com/registration or simply scan this QR code. If you do not have computer access, call the Consumer Service Department at 1-800-877-0441.

Presto® Limited Warranty

(Applies only in the United States)
This quality Presto® appliance is designed and built to provide many years of satisfactory performance under normal household use. Presto pledges to the original owner that should there be any defects in material or workmanship during the first year after purchase, we will repair or replace it at our option. Our pledge does not apply to damage caused by shipping. Outside the United States, this limited warranty does not apply.

To obtain service under the warranty, please call our Consumer Service Department at 1-800-877-0441. If unable to resolve the problem, you will be instructed to send your Presto® appliance to the Presto Factory Service Department for a quality inspection; shipping costs will be your responsibility. When returning an appliance, please include your name, address, phone number, and the date you purchased the appliance as well as a description of the problem you are encountering with the appliance.
We want you to obtain maximum enjoyment from using this Presto® appliance and ask that you read and follow the instructions enclosed. Failure to follow instructions, damage caused by improper replacement parts, abuse, misuse, disassembly, alterations, or neglect will void this pledge. This warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you may also have other rights which vary from state to state. This is Presto’s personal pledge to you and is being made in place of all other express warranties.
National Presto Industries, Inc.
Eau Claire, WI 54703-3703