Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I ordered this because of all the glowing reviews here. (And because I wanted to make better french fries at home.) I've grown to trust what other Amazonian reviewers say about products, and I try to be thorough and diligent in my own comments. Here is why I am returning this deep fryer to Amazon: It's doesn't get HOT enough! All the recipes I've been reading about quality fried food -- yes, there *is* such a thing -- say that you have to heat the oil to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. That's why I decided to closely watch the temperature of the oil by using my immersible digital thermometer. According to the fryer's instructions, it takes the unit about 20 minutes to reach 375, and then the signal light goes out. My signal light went out when it reached only 330 degrees! That's hardly "ready" for frying, but I wouldn't have known that if I hadn't used my own thermometer. I waited a few more minutes, and it eventually reached 359. Naturally, the temp falls again when you lower any amount of food into the oil, but the heating unit never seems to kick itself back on. So the ultimate cooking temp of 375 degrees isn't possible, I guess. The end result? Food that was not crispy enough and way too greasy. I'm just not willing to keep a kitchen appliance this big and bulky if it doesn't perform to its specifications. Thank you, Amazon, for making it so easy to RETURN this product. :) Feb 2, 2010: p.s. Don't miss the comments posted on this review. There's a lot of strong opinions, and a lot of helpful info there, too. Feb 17, 2011: About a year ago, commenter ILoveGadgets (see[.]for her/his profile) suggested trying a Breville EW30XL Electric Gourmet Wok for deep fryer. I eventually ordered one, and I love it! Turned to the max temp, I've been able to fry up lots of goodies. I monitored it with my digital thermometer and it stayed at around 375 degrees. It's not really DEEP, but it's WIDE, and the glass lid keeps most of the oil from splattering everywhere. The only drawback is that it is rather large, so you need to have somewhere to store it. Definitely worth considering, guys!