Are you looking to buy new commercial fryers for your restaurant, fast food joint, or other food service establishment? Purchasing suitable fryers can help improve your kitchen's efficiency and productivity. However, with so many different models and options on the market, it can take time to decide what to look for. In this blog post, I'll provide my top tips for choosing the best commercial fryers for your needs. Whether you're buying your first fryer or looking to upgrade older models, this guide will help you make the right decision.
Key Factors to Consider Before Buying
Before you start shopping around, there are a few key factors you need to consider first:
Type of Frying You'll Be Doing
What kind of food will you be frying? The type of fryers you need can vary significantly depending on if you'll be frying foods like french fries, chicken, doughnuts, fish, etc. Make sure to get fryers explicitly designed for your menu items.
Required Fryer Capacity
Think about your peak hours and how much food you need to pump out. Get enough fryers and baskets to meet your production capacity needs. Underpowered fryers can bottleneck your kitchen during rush times.
Available Space
Measure out your kitchen space and account for necessary clearances around the fryers. This will determine what size units you can accommodate. Make sure to leave enough room around fryers for safe operation.
Gas vs. Electric Models
What kind of fuel source do you have available? This will dictate what type of fryers you can get. Gas fryers heat up quicker, but electric models are more straightforward to use.
Filtration Needs
Having good oil filtration is essential for producing quality fried foods. Make sure the fryers you get include built-in filtration or have space for external filter systems.
Safety Features
Look for essential safety features like autogas shutoffs, safety thermostats, shortening melt modes, and fire suppression systems. Safer fryers reduce the risk of accidents in your kitchen.
Available Ventilation
Proper ventilation is a must for commercial fryers. Make sure your kitchen has enough hood capacity and exhaust power to handle the fryers you want to buy.
Key Fryer Features to Evaluate
Once you know what you're looking for in general terms, here are some of the specific fryer features you should evaluate:
Fry Pot Material
Pots come in stainless steel, aluminized steel, or mild steel. Stainless steel is the most durable option if you can afford it. Mild steel is prone to corrosion over time.
Number of Fry Baskets
Having multiple baskets lets you fry more portions at once. Just make sure your kitchen staff can safely manage the number of baskets you get.
Temperature Controls
Look for adjustable thermostats that allow your crew to dial in the perfect oil temperature for different menu items. Digital controls offer the best accuracy.
Timer Functions
Timers ensure you cook items for the right amount of time. Programmable timers that handle multiple products are the most convenient.
Melt Cycle
A melt cycle brings the oil to the proper temperature gradually to avoid scorching. This preserves oil quality for more prolonged use.
Auto Top-Off
Auto top-off replenishes the oil level if it drops too low. This prevents damage to elements and saves you from manually topping off.
Boil-Out Mode
Boil-out modes help clean the fry pot by heating water to boil away debris. This makes cleanup quicker and easier.
Oil Filtration
As mentioned, good filtration prolongs oil life. Look for built-in filtration as well as easy access to external systems.
Construction Quality
Buy the best quality materials you can afford. Thicker steel and welded joints last longer than cheaper lightweight fryers.
Warranty Coverage
A more extended warranty indicates a more reliable, better-built product. Most commercial fryers should come with at least a 1-2 year warranty.
Choosing Between Major Brands
When it comes to commercial fryers, you generally get what you pay for. Here is a quick rundown of the major brands to consider:
Pitco
One of the most popular fryer brands, known for high performance and innovative features. Parts are readily available. Models range from economical to heavy-duty.
Vulcan
Top choice for many restaurants, Vulcan makes user-friendly fryers built to handle demanding use. Great for operations with limited staff training.
Frymaster
Frymaster fryers excel at high-volume frying with fast recovery and precise controls. The Frymaster Dean brand offers budget-friendly options.
Imperial
Imperial commercial fryers deliver solid quality and reliability at reasonable prices. Models with Oil Miser filtration maximize oil life.
Key Takeaways on Buying Commercial Fryers
To recap, here are my final tips for choosing the best commercial fryers:
Match fryer capacity and capability to your menu and production needs
Prioritize key safety features like autogas shutoff and fire suppression
Look for fryers with high-end touches like digital controls and boil-out modes
Choose reputable brands known for quality construction and durability
Don't skimp on filtration - it's crucial for great-tasting fried foods
Make sure you have the ventilation required for your new fryers
Finding a suitable fryer for your kitchen doesn't have to be complicated. Now that you know what to look for, you can shop with confidence and get equipment that improves efficiency and quality. Give me a call if you need any advice on selecting commercial fryers for your restaurant!
Conclusion
Purchasing the right commercial fryer for your restaurant or food service establishment is a crucial decision that can significantly impact your kitchen's efficiency and productivity. Main Auction Services, Inc. can assist you in making this decision by considering factors such as the type of frying you'll be doing, required fryer capacity, available space, fuel source, filtration needs, safety features, ventilation, and critical fryer features like fry pot material, number of fry baskets, temperature controls, timer functions, melt cycle, auto top-off, boil-out mode, oil filtration, construction quality, and warranty coverage. With Main Auction Services, Inc.'s expertise, you can make an informed choice that meets your specific needs and enhances your kitchen operations.