fried – Beyond The Kitchen Sink

Finally A French Fry Vending Machine (In Belgium)

Good french fries are hard to find. And if you’re an American, they can be far away too. Like Western Europe far away. Now that’s not to say that awesome pommes frites, fritten or friet cannot be found here in the States, and we do have our share of duck fat-fried potatoes populating our landscape, but when it comes it fast and easy french fry action, we are stuck with fast-food (and no, McDonald’s fries are not awesome).

Belgium has three official languages (Dutch, French, and German) and with that trifecta of speech it should come as no surprise that fried potatoes are a big deal in that part of the world. So much so that they have French Fry Vending Machines.

Above is shown a French Fry Vending Machine in action in Chaussee de Gand Steenweg op Gent in Brussels, Belgium. Ninety seconds to fries. Only a few bucks. No squeaky voiced teen pretending to watch the fry basket. And yes, they are served with mayo (or ketchup).

Start Your Own Carny Cart For $169.99

There is one thing that every food stall in every carnival or fair must provide: fried food. Once this understanding has been understood, the next step is to decide what to fry. Naturally, potatoes come to mind for having a good ratio of deliciousness to cheapness. But still, one needs to put a spin on things to stand out.

The 10w Stainless Steel Automatic Food Slicer Cutter Twister Machine is exactly what the carny ordered.

For the low, low price of $169.99 you too can be making tornado potatoes from the comfort of your very own food stall. Or perhaps even the home, it being time for back to school and all — which in that case this little rotary cutter is a double bonus! Use during the school year might not provide the healthiest options (oh, just put an apple in there or something), but when summer rolls around next year, the family will be all set to rake it in from the rubes.

PS: One order, please.

PPS: The last time BTKS featured a similar rotary slicer it had a price of over $500!

***UPDATE 12/4/24: What inflation? The link above no longer works, so here is a Tornado Potatoes Spiral Cutter French Fry Machine for even less! Cha-ching!

High Domed Stainless-Steel Mesh Splatter Cover

Cooking is messy business. When it is not food scraps littering the workspace, it’s spills and splashes finding a way to get on and in to everything. One way to keep grease from raining down on the stovetop is with the High Domed Stainless-Steel Mesh Splatter Cover. Like any splatter screen, it features a fine mesh construction, but with its high-domed nature and its convenient opening for utensils, this particular model offers expanded usability. Fits 10-inch to 12-inch diameter pans. Oh, and it’s dishwasher-safe, meaning that no matter what you throw at it this cover has you, well, covered.

*** UPDATE 5/18/15 ***

Product link updated. BTKS has you covered!

Excelsteel Stainless Steel 13-Inch Round Splatter Screen

Tornado Potatoes From The Comfort Of Home

Gold Medal 5280M Motorized Ribbon Fry Cutter

If you have been to any state fair in the recent past, you have seen it: the tornado potato. The spiral-cut deep-fried treat can be found wrapped around a hot dog or just served on its own. For those that find themselves unable to resist the lure of the barkers, and hence try to stay away from the midway, there is another option. Now, with the Gold Medal 5280M Motorized Ribbon Fry Cutter you can have the flavor of the carnival in your very own home.

Continue reading Tornado Potatoes From The Comfort Of Home

Produce Fried Food Out Of Thin Air

Phillips AirFryer introduced at IFA 2010

Fat may equal flavor, but that doesnâ€™t mean there isnâ€™t another option. Rather than suffer through bland food or questionable fat-free products, take a dip in a little bit of oil. But how to get the most flavor out of the fat without adverse heath effects? With air, of course.

The Phillips AirFryer, introduced at IFA 2010, is an upcoming product designed to minimize fat while maximizing flavor. Able to create â€œdelicious meals with up to 80% less fatâ€, the new kitchen appliance uses circulating air around an enclosed heating element to get the job done. When considered along with the T-fal Actifry, itâ€™s beginning to look like low-fat fried food isnâ€™t just a lot of hot air.

Twist Up A Batch Of Curly Fries

Curly Fry Cutter by Progressive International

Curly fries may have been the last great excuse to rationalize a trip to a fast food restaurant. After all, they aren’t exactly easy to make at home; at least not with a kitchen knife. With the Curly Fry Cutter by Progressive International on hand, the dastardly delights can always be just a potato away.

With stainless-steel blades and a unique threaded rod, the 3-cup capacity cutting tool makes quick work of a pile of potatoes. Capable of making slices or a continuous spiral of potatoes or yams, the kitchen gadget makes it easy to prep distinctive creations ready to drop in the deep fryer. And as the cutter is top-rack dishwasher-safe, even the old excuse of not wanting to do the dishes can’t be used to promote a trip to the drive-thru.