Commercial Deep Fryer Maintenance Tips

What equipment is more important to a kitchen than the classic deep fryer? Making sure your commercial deep fryer is running smoothly is a fundamental part of a restaurant’s success. 

In today’s post, commercial restaurant service provides you with some of the best maintenance tips for your restaurant’s commercial deep fryer

Most Common Issues on Commercial Deep Fryers

  • Broken thermostat (incorrect calibration or disconnected wiring)
  • Malfunctioning high limit switch (fails to detect when fryer temps exceed set limit)
  • Broken Thermopile (fails to convert heat from the pilot light into electrical energy – so the fryer oil won’t heat)
  • Blocked-off burners (grease, dust, and food particles can block the burners, giving low, inconsistent gas pressure to the fryer) 

With proper maintenance and daily use, you can avoid these costly issues. It’s good to inform your employees of best-use practices for deep fryers and to have regularly scheduled maintenance inspections for your kitchen equipment.

1. Regulate the Oil Temperature 

Managing your temperature levels is an easy way to maintain your deep fryer’s longevity. Whenever your restaurant isn’t too busy, turn the fryer vats down to a lower temperature to maintain oil quality and lengthen the oil life. 

And, as you know, different foods require different fryer temperatures. For best results, adjust the temp for each different food type.

2. Keep Fryer Vats Clear of Food Particles

Keep the fryer vats covered whenever they’re not in use. Make sure employees aren’t handling food over the fryer vats. If food debris does fall in, these tiny food particles shorten the oil’s life. Fryer oil should be skimmed regularly to help avoid this. 

Some food particles can sink to the bottom and stick to the fryer’s stainless steel, which will start to deteriorate in the long run. 

3. Regularly Filter and Change the Oil

You should have a maintenance schedule for oil changes and filtrations. You can contact a professional technician that specializes in commercial restaurant equipment for more specific instructions. 

Reusing oil without regular filtration cycles will lead to bad-tasting food and a poorer performance from your deep fryer. Your fryer’s lifespan is aided by the use of high-quality oil, despite the temptation to save cost by filling it with cheaper oil. 

If you experience these indicators, you’ll need to change the oil: 

  • Bad smell (smell of oil burning)
  • Poor food taste (stale, burnt, or excessively oily taste) 
  • Discoloration of food (darker colors or burn spots)

4. Adhere to Good Cooking Practices

As you cook with your fryer on a daily basis, it’s important that you follow some of the best practices to ensure a long oil life and a high-functioning commercial deep fryer. 

  • Shake off excess ice crystals from frozen foods before placing them into the oil.
  • Don’t cook too much food at once; it lowers the temperature of the oil. 
  • Don’t reuse the same oil too often; it leads to bad-tasting food and poor fryer performance.
  • Put your fryer away from other equipment that produces flames.

5. Deep Clean Your Fryer 

This will depend on the manufacturer’s manual for your deep fryer. Normal, everyday, surface-level cleanings won’t cover it. A deep clean is required every 3-6 months. This involves a “boil out,” using water and cleaning solution in your fryer vats. 

To make sure your deep fryer and other kitchen equipment are well-maintained and function with high efficiency, your best bet is to purchase a maintenance plan from a professional repairer of commercial restaurant equipment. 

This way, you’ll be able to get ahead of any potential issues with your equipment. A maintenance plan is an investment that can save you money in the long run and prevent costly, reactive repairs that can hinder your kitchen’s productivity. 

Schedule Commercial Restaurant Equipment Repair 

Don’t delay inspection or accurate, professional maintenance. If you’re in need of newly refurbished restaurant equipment, our representatives at CRS can help. For more information about scheduling an inspection, repair, or installation, contact us at (417) 224-2614.