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I got a Tefal deep fryer for Christmas (yay!) which has an automatic filtering system so you can re-use oil multiple times. When reading through the manual it says 'Do not use groundnut (i.e. peanut) oil', without any explanation as to why. My understanding is that refined peanut oil has a high smoke point and is a widely used choice for deep frying, but I suspect they have a good reason for this very prominent recommendation.

Why not use peanut oil? Is it due to a relatively high gelling point, does the oil break down in storage, or is there some sort of property I don't know about?

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On the T-fal USA website, they address this in their FAQ section. (A quick check on the UK Tefal site shows the same question.) Regardless of which model of fryer you have, it seems that all of their home fryers have the same question & answer regarding peanut oil--indicating it is a recommendation that applies to all T-fal fryers.

Frequently asked questions --> Various Topics:

WHY DO YOU NOT RECOMMEND USING PEANUT OIL?

Peanut oil has a lower smoking point than most vegetable oils, so it may slightly smoke at frying temperatures. It also imparts a slight flavour that may or may not be desirable.

So, it would seem this isn't necessarily a functional detail specific to this fryer, but rather an opinion on peanut oil itself.

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    That's very odd, AFAIK peanut oil has a smoking point of about 440F, any idea what they are basing that on?
    – GdD
    Jan 4, 2022 at 16:48
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    Purely guessing, maybe they are worried that folks will fry in unrefined peanut oil, which is commercially available, but with a smoke point below 350F would be a fire hazard if you picked up the wrong kind. Most other suitable fry oils aren't available in an unrefined version, the way peanut oil is.
    – AMtwo
    Jan 4, 2022 at 17:31
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    I don't think it is "refined peanut oil is iffy on temperature". Based on this table in Wikipedia, refined peanut oil is right in the same range as canola, general vegetable oil, corn oil, soybean oil, etc. The only way this makes sense is a lawyerly concern about unrefined peanut oil.
    – manassehkatz-Moving 2 Codidact
    Jan 5, 2022 at 3:56
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    @Kaz Which is why I never buy the "just peanuts" or "organic" or "natural" peanut butter :-)
    – manassehkatz-Moving 2 Codidact
    Jan 5, 2022 at 18:04
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    @manassehkatz-Moving2Codidact Problem is, the alternatives are extended with cheap, unhealthy hydrogenated oil and starches and such, and taste weird. I mix mine with a hand mixer, using the corkscrew-style attachments for thick batters. Then put it in the fridge; it never separates before consumption.
    – Kaz
    Jan 5, 2022 at 21:38

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