Abstract: A deep fryer has a vessel in which cooking medium such as fat or oil is contained and a heater to heat the medium to a cooking temperature. A basket is provided for carrying the food to be cooked. The basket is carried on a transport means which raises it out of the cooking medium and lowers it back in again at least one time during the cooking cycle. An embodiment is disclosed in which the basket is detachably mounted on a vertical slide on the wall of the vessel. The slide is driven via transmission means by a stepper motor. A microprocessor-based controller determines the number and the timing of the raising and lowering operation.