Not-so-cool, daddy

I have not used other fryers before, so I don't have too much to compare this one to. I received this one as a gift and have been using it very often in spite of what I see as some pretty major design flaws.

The directions for this fryer recommend filling the basket about 2/3 full while the oil is heating, then lowering the basket into the oil with the lid closed. I can see how this would really improve frying safety. However, I have tried frying everything from french fries to chicken nuggets this way without success. Whether the food is coated with batter, crumbs or has no coating at all, it just does not have a chance to separate once it is lowered into the oil. Adding so much food to the oil at once also lowers the oil temp too much, which makes the food soak up more oil. I tried adding a single layer of food to the basket instead, and found that the food then stuck to the basket itself (even after dipping the basket into the oil to grease it up a bit).

So, even though I know it's more dangerous and time-consuming, I have started frying foods by throwing a few items at a time into the hot oil, then fishing them out individually with a slotted spoon. I hardly use the basket at all, and unfortunately I have to keep the lid open almost constantly, which probably requires more energy to keep the oil hot. I also have to stand over it & constantly watch the food to see which items are ready, and it also takes a heck of a lot longer than throwing in a huge batch at once. It is basically functioning as an ordinary pot of hot oil, with the added convenience of being able to specify the desired temperature -- none of the other features are usable as a result of poor design.

I don't mind so much since I got this as a gift, but if I had purchased this myself specifically for the added features, I definitely would have taken it back to the store & exchanged it for a more basic model (or an equivalent one with features that are implemented better!). On the bright side, it may take me 45 minutes, but I can make restaurant-quality fried foods without burning them now -- something which eluded me until I got this fryer.

More specific pros & cons:

Cons:
-- Stuff can stick to basket
-- Stuff in basket sticks together even if directions are followed
-- Button to collapse basket handle is hard to use when the button or your hands are greasy
-- Manual recommends storing used oil in separate container, but there is no spout to facilitate pouring it out of fryer
-- Strange temperature control does not give you much control in setting temp between 340 & 375 degrees, even though 350 & 365 are common frying temperatures
-- Air filter only worked for 4 uses, not 10 -- replacements are a pain to order
-- Extremely short cord limits where you can use the unit -- supposed to be a "safety feature" but it's annoying
-- Even when the window in the lid is clean, it can get obscured by steam if the food you are frying has a lot of moisture...unfortunately, it's precisely when moist food is spattering in the hot oil that the window feature is most useful.

Pros:
-- Recommended frying procedure (lowering basket with lid closed) can certainly improve frying safety
-- If you use the basket only as a drainage tool and just throw stuff in to the hot oil, it fries stuff perfectly
-- Air filter is a nice touch (when it works)
-- Window lets you catch a glimpse of the food without having to open the lid
-- Unit is light & easy to move around even when full of oil (don't move the unit when it's hot, of course!)
-- Easy to take apart and clean