Maxi-Matic Dual Basket Electric Deep Fryer, 8 quart, Stainless Steel

I purchased the 8 quart size ... and am glad I decided on the larger fryer. The baskets are a good size, and I love the dual tanks. The dual tank comes in especially handy for cooking fish, so that flavors don't mix. We used a digital thermometer to check for temperature accuracy ... the left side was about 5 degrees off, and the right side was accurate.The only complaint ... when cleaning the unit, the temperature scale imprinted on the panel wiped off! There are no indentation marks on the panel to follow, either. So now we pretty much have to remember where the temperature settings were printed on the panel.This is a pretty big flaw in the product, especially for those who don't have a digital thermometer to check temperature. The rest of the unit seems well made. However, we are so happy with the dual chambers, the basket size, and the performance of the fryer that I probably won't return it.UPDATE: December 2009After only using for a few months, smoke started coming out from under the control knob. It smelled like an electrical fire. I contacted Amazon, and they were very good about accepting the return and refunding my money.I was disappointed to have to return this fryer, as we cooked many very good meals with it! This model still needs a few improvements, such as the temperature markings and the problem with the smoke. If a new, improved version of this fryer comes on the market, I will purchase it again.

If your a fryer, this is a must. Cuts frying time in half for a large (9 person) family. I use both baskets (I recommend getting an extension cord and don't use the same outlet for both cookers. Chicken (15 pc family pack) both baskets same time 20 min golden crispy 320 degrees. 8 mini pork chops one basket 17 min 310 degrees/20 tater wedges the other basket 340 15 min. 4 stars because of the short cords & its an oil drinker, but with the quick cooking time it doesn't burn the oil. I (well my son) clean it after every use and I clean and save the oil. I get 4-5 uses out of the oil. I haven't found one with dual thermostats until this. I also recommend grabbing that 4 year warranty just in case. Lastly, if you buy this whatever the package says to cook it at, lower that in this fryer by 25-30 degrees. Ie., frozen fries normally cook at 375 degrees in my old presto. In this use 330-340 and they will come out golden and crispy 15 min later.

This deep fryer is well worth the purchase. Having separate oil frying bins, it is great for a family like mine. My wife is a pescatarian so she is a seafood junkie and I love chicken wings and french fries.

mostly works quite well. Presumably as a "safety" feature, the power cords attach by small magnetic pins. As a result, they are very inclined to fall out/off. Magnets in one of them are weaker than the other, so more inclined to fall out. This is the first time I've seen this kind of "feature", and if it's someone's idea of a "protect you from yourself" feature, it's in the same category most govt' regulations. Magnets also grow weaker with time, so I expect the time will come when it will become difficult even to use this deep frier because of the power issue. Why ever they wouldn't have used a standard power attachment cord, such as what is on a computer or monitor, is beyond me.

My husband and I read all the reviews before we bought ours. We bought ours and love it. We are a family of 5 and this works so nice and fast. I would have rated this a 5 star but within the 3rd time of use the temperature scale imprinted on the panel wiped off! The numbers wear off from the heat weather you clean it off or not. I did a trial I cleaned one side after it cooled and left the other alone. we were trying to avoid what everyone else was complaining about. By the 4th time my husband took a wood burning tool and engraved the temperatures before we couldn't read the temperatures anymore. We too also noticed that one side is about 5 degrees off. This was not a big deal to us. After we fixed this little problem we have enjoyed the deep fryer and recommended to friends and family.

I had a small fryer, that took me about 20 batches to cook enough chicken for the whole family, so after reading the reviews, I purchased this one with some trepidation. I love the separate compartments, not just dual baskets, so you can fry entirely different things in both baskets, or only use one at a time. I have had this for a while now, and have had no problems with it. We clean the entire thing after each use, including the coils, and have had no smoking problems at all. Once the thing blew a fuse, but you can tell if there is no power to it, or if the cords are not seated right, because the light comes on to tell you. It has a separate light to come on when it is heating and off when it reaches temperature. I would not hesitate to buy one of these!After 1.5 years since I reviewed this product, I still use it and love it! It doesn't smoke and the numbers are all still legible. I will keep an eye out for that though!

I bought this as a gift for my boyfriend, and he absolutely loves it! He can now cook chicken in one side and fries separately in the other side. It works great. I just don't care for the plastic like lids. But well worth the money.

Great fryer, have had no issues, can do wings and fries at the same time. Some things to consider when using this unit.1. This is a DUAL fryer, so this uses 2x as much power. Do not plug both sides into the same circuit in your house. You will most likely trip a fuse. If using both sides, connect each frying unit to a different circuits.2. I've read some complaints about the magnetic power attachments to the fryer heater elements. These are magnetic for the reason if a cord is tripped on, it will detach from the unit without dragging down a hot oil fryer with it. I've had no issues with these staying put on the fryer.All around, great fryer, had old one before that was ruined by being submerged in a flood at a friend's house. Got the same thing again.