Questions You Should Ask When Purchasing a Commercial Deep Fryer

Deep-frying is a relatively simple concept; you heat up a pot of oil to a specified temperature and submerge food in the oil to cook. Unfortunately, it isn’t always as simple as that, and various factors can impact whether a specific deep fryer is right for you. Therefore, when trying to figure out the best fryer for your business, you need to think of a few simple questions to determine the commercial deep fryer best suited for your needs.

What Do You Plan On Frying?
The type of food you are proposing to cook will regulate the kind of pot or basket you will need. In most cases, the primary factor to consider is how you prepare your food because, depending on whether the item is battered or breaded, this will determine the amount of sediment that will release into the oil.

What Shape Is the Vat?
The shape of the vat (generally either an open-pot or tube-style) will ascertain whether you will have a cold zone within your fryer. This area is a spot in the pot that fills with oil but doesn’t heat to the proper cooking temperature. Many cooks desire this feature because it prevents the sediment of batter, breading, or small pieces of food from burning and tainting the oil.

Will a Specialty Option Work?
Your menu will determine if a specialty fryer may work for your needs. Specialty fryers can include corn dog fryers, donut fryers, funnel cake fryers, and more.

Will You Be Using Electric or Gas?
There are two main power types of commercial deep fryer options: electric and gas. Each choice can determine the overall cost of your appliance. When deciding on the heat source for your fryer, you need to consider how it will affect the unit design. For example, you can only get tube-style and open-top fry pots if you choose a gas-powered model, or how electric fryer burners are submerged in the oil offering a more efficient heat transfer. Other benefits for gas and electric powered fryers include:

Electric
• Simple to Install
• Requires fewer connections
• No fear of gas leaks
• Faster recovery
• Safer than propane
• Smaller models are more portable than gas options
• No interior heat baffles

Gas
• Power outages will not affect the power source
• Employees are more likely to be familiar with this type of fryer
• More shapes available for fry pots
• Heats and cools quicker than electric fryer options

What Size Do You Need?
The size of your fryer should be made based on the available space you have for the fryer and the amount of food you plan on cooking. For smaller kitchens, there are commercial options available in either drop-in or countertop models. However, it is essential to remember full-size options offer more special features than countertop options. Oil capacities range from 6 pounds to 47 pounds for countertop fryers and 15 pounds to 150-pound volumes for floor models.

For more information on choosing a commercial deep fryer, talk to the experienced associates at Gator Chef by sending a message to Info@gatorchef.com today or by calling 1-888-944-2867.