My Newest Addition - Cajun Fryer

HofstraJet

I got fed up with consumer fryers that barely got to 350 and could never recover fast enough when anything more than a few small items were dropped in. Looked for something more powerful but couldn't find anything reasonable. Then the other day I came across the website for Cajun Fryers. Wow - these things looks pretty powerful (I got the 4 gal model). Will have the inaugural fry tonight and will report back. 

txhawkeye

Very jealous!! Can't wait to hear your review I have been looking at them as well they look like the real deal. 

paqman

It looks like a beast.  What do you do with the oil when you are done cooking?

johnnyp

paqman said:

It looks like a beast.  What do you do with the oil when you are done cooking?

Also interested.

Legume

Nice score.  Just had some pulled pork egg rolls out of a stainless version of that.  Great design the way it heats the oil, traps the sediment, etc.

Jeremiah

That's a nice one. I've got the bayou classic 2.5 gallon, but wish I'd sprung for the 4 gallon. The extra capacity really comes in handy especially with company. 

blasting

Very nice.  I was looking at those.  Please keep us posted.

AR_Pork_Producer

johnnyp said:

paqman said:

It looks like a beast.  What do you do with the oil when you are done cooking?

Also interested.

You leave it in to use next time. This has a burner above the bottom of the tank. Crumbs fall down to bottom where they won't scorch. Supposed to get several fries before needing replaced. I think I read somewhere 20 to 30 cooks, filtering every 5 to 10 cooks. I've been looking at them myself,

Hub

Ruh row ... we never got the review.  That fryer didn't kill you did it?

HofstraJet

@Hub Nah, I'm still around. Had a busy weekend. First fry ended up just being some french fries. Worked great - came up to temp very quickly (10 min) and stayed where it needed to be when the food went in (guess the ratio of oil volume to food volume helped). Baskets are nice and solid, though I plan to get the one large basket since I rarely fry two different things at the same time. It works off of what is basically a large immersion element similar to a home fryer. Very nice design. Only drawback is that you can't close the lid with the fryer baskets out of the oil, so when you are done, you either have to leave the baskets in the oil or take them out of the fryer completely. Overall, I'm pleased with it. Curious to see how the oil lasts staying in the fryer on the patio in FL heat.

Nole_Fan

Father In Law recently bought the stainless Bayou Classic (Chinese version of the above) and that first cook was some, if not the best fried shrimp I have ever eaten.  And that is saying alot, as that man can fry some food.

Hotch

HofstraJet said:

@Hub Nah, I'm still around. Had a busy weekend. First fry ended up just being some french fries. Worked great - came up to temp very quickly (10 min) and stayed where it needed to be when the food went in (guess the ratio of oil volume to food volume helped). Baskets are nice and solid, though I plan to get the one large basket since I rarely fry two different things at the same time. It works off of what is basically a large immersion element similar to a home fryer. Very nice design. Only drawback is that you can't close the lid with the fryer baskets out of the oil, so when you are done, you either have to leave the baskets in the oil or take them out of the fryer completely. Overall, I'm pleased with it. Curious to see how the oil lasts staying in the fryer on the patio in FL heat.

I have had mine for 4-5 years now. It is a game changer. I have carried it to 2 BBQ Brethren BASH. If fact I'm taking it to the South MS River Fest this weekend.
I was instructed by the R&V (Manufacture) Sales manager to leave the oil in all year.  And that canola oil works well. Just clean/strain/filter it after every 2-4 cooks. I do leave the baskets in and always foil over them and then close the cover once cooled.

One of my fav's is deep fried bacon with a Maple, Bourbon with a Chocolate Drizzle

 


How about Bacon wrapped Tater Tots?





I have more fun with this thing!!

@HofstraJet Give me a PM if I can help with anything.

BBQbutler

I got the 4 gallon 2 years ago ---- love it.  Usually use it at least once a week -- change the oil every six months or so..  We bought two 12 gallon Cajun Jimmys for our men's club at church for lent fish fries.   -- we do 3 cooks in lent 150 pounds of fish, 90# of fries and 30# of puppies each time.   Reusing the. Oil adding about 6 gallons over the course of the three cooks. 18 gallons on 450# of fish, 270# of fries and 90# of puppies ---- and there is always 15# of shrimp we throw in for us cookers to munch on while we are cooking.  

BBQbutler

I also started a Cajun fryer fan page on FB,  feel free to post your "Frying"

northGAcock

Love the fryer.....I hit your link to your table. Somehow I missed that one earlier. Beautiful.....just beautiful.

tarheelmatt

Adding this to the list of wants.  

HofstraJet

Finally got the single large basket for the fryer. 

It's interesting - looks homemade by R&V - two standard baskets each cut on the edge and welded together with a patch piece in the middle.

blasting

I'm pretty much sold on this thing, thanks to all who have commented.  I'm pretty slow to pull the trigger on stuff, but this is very close to the top of my list.

That single basket though looks a little ghetto to me.  Not bad if you had you made it yourself, but I would have expected something better from the company.  Pretty cheesy.  Mind if I ask what they charged you for that basket?

HofstraJet

blasting said:

I'm pretty much sold on this thing, thanks to all who have commented.  I'm pretty slow to pull the trigger on stuff, but this is very close to the top of my list.

That single basket though looks a little ghetto to me.  Not bad if you had you made it yourself, but I would have expected something better from the company.  Pretty cheesy.  Mind if I ask what they charged you for that basket?

Agreed. It's on the company's website and it looks like they take the standard Admiral Craft basket and make it themselves as I didn't see the double basket on the Admiral Craft website. It's $60 on the company website and I paid $56.99 at Webstaurantstore.com.  

BBQbutler

Man yours is clean!!

nolaegghead

http://www.meatprocessingproducts.com/bayou-700-701.html?gclid=CJLAnMquwc4CFQYxaQodTEIJfA

ColtsFan

Apparently you didn't get the memo. It has to be at least 60 days before someone can post a new gadget that I want to buy. Last week it was a Blackstone.... You guys make me spend money

Jeremiah

nolaegghead said:

http://www.meatprocessingproducts.com/bayou-700-701.html?gclid=CJLAnMquwc4CFQYxaQodTEIJfA

That's a great price. I paid $200 for my 2.5 gallon. Would've gladly paid that for the extra room. 

Photo Egg

blasting said:

I'm pretty much sold on this thing, thanks to all who have commented.  I'm pretty slow to pull the trigger on stuff, but this is very close to the top of my list.

That single basket though looks a little ghetto to me.  Not bad if you had you made it yourself, but I would have expected something better from the company.  Pretty cheesy.  Mind if I ask what they charged you for that basket?

This might work...
http://www.bayouclassicdirect.com/Bayou-Fryer-Double-Basket-700-188

blasting

Photo Egg said:

This might work...

http://www.bayouclassicdirect.com/Bayou-Fryer-Double-Basket-700-188

Nice find, thanks for posting @Photo Egg .  I'm looking at the 6 gallon, and that looks like it would fit perfectly.

BBQbutler

The SS bayou classic is thin and flimsy with 30 plus pounds of hot oil.  It is a cheap Chinese knock off of the Cajun fryer.   I was able to do the research and see a cheap bayou classic at a local store.  Middle would bow out --- without oil 

Photo Egg

blasting said:

Photo Egg said:

This might work...

http://www.bayouclassicdirect.com/Bayou-Fryer-Double-Basket-700-188

Nice find, thanks for posting @Photo Egg .  I'm looking at the 6 gallon, and that looks like it would fit perfectly.

Welcome. I like the open wire design better than this style.
I'm sure someone makes one.

Moleman

Hotch, Hofstra, and any other owners of the r and v ff2, I am curious as to any recent updates? I'm seriously considering purchasing the ff2 but would welcome any input from owners of this or something similar. I normally don't cook for large crowds so figured the 4 gallon would be enough. Any input would be greatly appreciated, thanks. 

Thatgrimguy

Moleman said:

Hotch, Hofstra, and any other owners of the r and v ff2, I am curious as to any recent updates? I'm seriously considering purchasing the ff2 but would welcome any input from owners of this or something similar. I normally don't cook for large crowds so figured the 4 gallon would be enough. Any input would be greatly appreciated, thanks. 

It's freaking awesome. 4 gal is great. I have a 6 gal so I could fit a big turkey. Get it.

FearlessTheEggNoob

I've come to expect most anything American made called, "Cajun (insert product name here)" to be over the top.

Cajuns...they're like the French version of rednecks.

Photo Egg

Moleman said:

Hotch, Hofstra, and any other owners of the r and v ff2, I am curious as to any recent updates? I'm seriously considering purchasing the ff2 but would welcome any input from owners of this or something similar. I normally don't cook for large crowds so figured the 4 gallon would be enough. Any input would be greatly appreciated, thanks. 

I had the pleasure of having lunch with the owners a few weeks ago when they were visiting Houston. I can not emphisize enough how great it was to meet such a great husband and wife team...
They both have such a passion for quality, customer service and their employees.
Smaller family owned companies are almost unheard of today. R&V Works employs family and locals from their small town in Lousiana who also believe in making quality USA products. 
Their products are sold at many local places in the Houston area. Their stuff is thick and solid with excellent welds. They are made for years of hard use.
I hope you have a chance to see their fryers before you jump on the cheap stuff.
There is no comparison in quality.
I was temped by the low price stainless Bayou models untill I got my hands on one to see the difference.They are so thin and unstable compared to the Cajun Fryer.
They are also getting ready to launch a heavy guage aluminum model.
Will be great for people like myself in the Gulf Coast where everything rusts...
Also great for people who would like to transport at times. It's very light compared to the steel and stainless steel. Price will be a little more than their standard steel model but much cheaper than their stainless fryer. It's also important to know that "quality" stainless steel is expensive and not all companies use high quality stainless to build their products.
Sorry for the ramble but meeting the owners and talking to them about their products and company was refreshing. Remided me so much of Tom and the Ceramic Grill Store.