No one ever said, “let’s start a catering business because it’s an easy life” equally, we have never heard anyone claim that that food business will make you a millionaire overnight. It’s a tough industry, with long hours and a lot of hard work to succeed.
Don’t worry; there are some things that you can do to make your life a little easier, and one of those is to choose the right catering equipment. In this article, we will be looking at commercial fryers and how to ensure you select the best energy efficient model for your business.
Commercial fryers come in all shapes and sizes, but for this article, we will be focusing on freestanding models. When choosing any catering equipment, there are always a few key things to consider. Still, with commercial fryers, there are a few additional factors that you need to take into account to ensure your cooking equipment operates a little more efficiently.
Let’s start with the basics – What is a commercial fryer?
What is a commercial fryer?
A commercial fryer is nothing like the equipment you use at home. Rather than made to produce an occasional batch of chips every week they are designed for heavy-duty use and can be used to cook large quantities of food quickly and efficiently (more on efficiency later).
Different types of commercial fryers are available on the market, freestanding pedestal fryers and countertop models. Here we will concentrate on freestanding models as they deliver the high output that the majority of commercial kitchens require.
What should I look for in an energy-efficient commercial fryer?
The bullet points below summarise what you should look for – let’s discuss them in more detail.
- Proper oil filtration to reduce the number of oil changes and cut costs on replacement oil
• Finding a model that uses less oil as standard
• How to choose the best size commercial fryer
• Important information about recovery times
• What are the best, most efficient shutdown procedures?
• How correct maintenance can extend the life of your machine
Number one on the list is a no-brainer – you want to save money on oil, so choosing a fryer with proper oil filtration makes sense. Efficient filtration will prolong the life of your oil and reduce the number of changes, saving you precious time and money.
When it comes to oil usage, all commercial fryers use oil, but some models use less than others. If you are looking for an energy-efficient fryer, look for a model that uses less oil as standard.
Size matters – one of the most important considerations is the size of the fryer. It’s vital to choose the right size for your business. If you select a too-small fryer, you will constantly be cooking in batches, leading to longer wait times for your customers.
However, if you choose a fryer that is too large, you will be using more oil than necessary, which will not only be a waste of money but also impact the quality of your food. Incorrect sizing will affect your food’s quality as well as the effectiveness of your fryer. If you’re unsure which size machine is best for your business experts such as those at FFD Catering Equipment can help to determine your business needs.
When it comes to commercial fryers, size really does matter.
All commercial fryers have what is known as a recovery time – this is the amount of time it takes for the oil to heat back up to cooking temperature after adding food to the fryer.
The longer the recovery time, the less efficient your fryer will be. When comparing different models, make sure you check the recovery times so that you can choose the most efficient option.
When you have finished using your fryer for the day, it is important to follow the correct shutdown procedures. Each machine is different, but carefully following the instructions will make life easier and more efficient in the long run.
As with any piece of catering equipment, proper maintenance is key to prolonging the life of your commercial fryer. By keeping on top of things like descaling and cleaning, you can ensure your machine runs smoothly for years to come.
Lastly, decide whether you want a gas or electric fryer. If you are looking for an energy-efficient option, then experts will often agree that an electric fryer is the way to go.
Commercial Fryers – Gas or Electric?
With rising energy costs, is it cheaper to opt for gas or electricity to run your commercial fryer long-term? Industry professionals previously considered that gas-powered commercial fryers were more affordable in the long run; however more expensive to buy initially. Because of recent events, this is now in question.
While gas is still marginly cheaper per kWh with a lower standing charge than electricity the rising prices may mean that this could change in the future.
This means that while gas freestanding fryers remain arguably the most cost effective to run from a purely energy usage aspect when based on cold hard figures, an electric fryer is definitely the way to go for overall efficiency. Thanks to the added efficiency features standard to electric models including ease of maintainenance, quicker heating, less oil usage, shorter recovery times and increased heat retention etc. the relative disparity in energy cost per kWh is soon outweighed.
