IS 358 ECN 3592
7
NOTES ON FRYING MEDIA
Ensure oil is always maintained at the level indicated (H-high, L-low). Good quality vegetable oil is
recommended. Animal fat may be used - but must always be melted first. Animal fat has a lower smoke
and fire temperature than vegetable oil and taste is transferred when cooking with it (e.g. onions fried in
animal fat will taint other foods i.e. fish which may follow). This does not occur when cooking with
vegetable oil.
The life expectancy of oils and cooking fats will be lengthened if they are filtered regularly - food particles
not removed turn rancid and reduce oil/fat quality.
Vegetable oils and animal fat are incompatible - e.g. if sausages containing a lot of animal fat are fried in
vegetable oil, the oil will tend to "glue" and spoil.
The life of oil or fat will also be extended if the temperature is turned down when the fryer is not in use -
otherwise if left "full-on" the oil is being subjected to needless heat treatment and thereby destroyed.
Used oil symptoms firstly indicate discolouration by darkening. The oil becomes thin its fat content having
become exhausted. The next symptom is an unhealthy yellow foam which may appear on the surface, and
the third and more serious one is that the oil will boil or "surge" if not changed - thereby causing damage.
Be safe, not sorry. Keep your oil in good condition and ensure a healthier food product and happier
customers.
Please note also, that "spent" oil will have a lower flash point than new oil and therefore present a greater
fire hazard. Also avoid overflow from over-wet loads or over-large batches.
In time, oil/fat may build up as a dried-on residue on tanks, baskets etc., although this can be minimised on
baskets by regular washing in hot water and detergent. If, subsequently, it cannot be removed by normal
cleaning, various branded cleansers are available such as "Carb 'n' off" which makes removal easy after
overnight application. Carb „n‟ off is available from us Part No. FCB01.
If a fryer is to be out of use for a lengthy period, drain and clean the tank. Lightly oil tanks below the batter
plate with cooking oil.
Warning : Always allow oil to cool to a maximum 55
o
C before draining.
