With so many fryer styles and manufacturers to choose from, shopping for a new fryer can be overwhelming! However, with a little bit of basic knowledge of what is available, you can choose the fryer that is right for your needs.
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Tank Capacity
Fryers are often referred to by their tank capacity. For example, a "40 Pound Fryer" will hold up to 40 pounds of fryer oil. Some manufacturers will also rate their units based on the number of pounds of French fries the unit can produce per hour. Generally, a quality fryer can produce a volume equal to 1 1/2 to 2 times the weight of oil it can hold. Thus, a 40 pound fryer could produce up to 80 pounds of French fries per hour, under ideal conditions.
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Sediment Zone
A major difference between fryer types is the "sediment zone". This is where cracklings, small pieces of food, and breading will collect as they fall off during cooking. Some manufacturers may call this area a "cold zone" because the oil in this area is not as hot as the cooking zone.
Tube style gas fryers are a versatile, economical choice for a variety of frying duties. The tube shaped gas heating elements are permanently fixed in the fry pot. These types of fryers excel with high sediment, heavily battered foods.
- Pros
- Suitable for a wide range of heavy frying
- Large sediment zone below the burner tubes allows particles to settle and accumulate
- Cons
- More difficult and time consuming to clean than open pot fryers
- Recommended Applications
- Fried chicken
- Onion blossoms
- Fried fish
- French fries
- Cheese sticks
- Hot wings
- Poppers
Open pot fryers have an unobstructed heating area. Gas models will heat the fry pot from the outside, while Electric models have a heating element that is immersed in the oil. These electric elements usually fold up and out of the way for easy cleaning.
- Pros
- Versatile and suitable for most basic frying needs
- Easy to clean
- Cons
- Small and narrow sediment zone is less suitable for heavy sediment foods
- Recommended Applications
- Fried chicken
- Onion blossoms
- Fried fish
- French fries
- Cheese sticks
- Hot wings
- Poppers
These fryers have a wide, flat bottom that is heated from below. They have no dedicated sediment zone. Flat bottom fryers are best for specialty or delicate items that float near the oil's surface. Because the sediment settles to the bottom of the fryer and remains there until the fryer is cleaned, flavor transfer and a burnt taste may occur if the sediment on the bottom remains too long and scorches.
- Pros
- Great for liquid battered foods
- Great for specialty foods
- Cons
- Difficult to clean
- Lack of sediment zone allows food particles to settle to the bottom and scorch
- Not suitable for high-volume tasks or types of food that you would use an open pot or tube fryer for
- Recommended Applications
- Donuts
- Funnel Cakes
- Tortilla Chips
- Taco Shells
- Tempura
In the past, gas fryers were usually less expensive to operate. However, in recent years, utility rates for gas have increased faster than electric rates. Therefore, you may want to compare gas and electricity rates for your area to help you decide. However, if you're replacing an existing fryer, it may be wise to purchase the same type to avoid having to run new gas or electric hookups.
We offer a selection of floor model fryers in various configurations to fit any budget, from reputable manufacturers like Anets, Dean, and Frymaster. To see our offerings side-by-side, take a look at our comparison chart.
Some small food service operations like delis, concession stands, snack bars, or sandwich shops may not need the level of output or have the space for a large floor model fryer. In those cases, a counter top model may be all that's needed.
We offer a variety of lighter duty counter top fryers in 120 and 208 volt electric configurations from Adcraft and Waring, as well as heavier-duty gas models from Star and Frymaster.
| Type |
Model |
Tank Capacity |
Wattage / BTU |
|
Light Duty Electric
Low volume use in a deli, sandwich shop, or concession stand; Not for constant use
|
Adcraft DF-6L 10 Pound Single Countertop Fryer 120V
|
10 lbs. |
1750 W |
Waring WDF75RC 8.5 lb. Commercial Countertop Deep Fryer 120V
|
8.5 lbs. |
1800 W |
Waring WDF75B 8.5 lb. Commercial Countertop Deep Fryer 208V
|
8.5 lbs. |
2700 W |
Anvil FFA7110 10 Pound Countertop Fryer 110V
|
10 lbs. |
1800 W |
Adcraft DF-6L/2 20 Pound Countertop Fryer Twin Pots 120V
|
20 lbs. |
1750 W per pot |
Anvil FFA8120 20 Pound Countertop Fryer 220V 2 x 2500W
|
20 lbs. |
2500 W per pot |
|
Medium Duty Electric
Medium volume use in a deli, sandwich shop, or concession stand
|
APW Wyott EF-15N 15 lb. Countertop Fryer 208/240V
|
15 lbs. |
5740W @ 208V
4280W @ 240V |
APW Wyott EF-30 30 lb. Countertop Fryer
|
30 lbs. |
12,000 W @ 208V
12,000W @ 240V |
APW Wyott EF-30NT 30 lb. Dual Tank Countertop Fryer 208/240V
|
30 lbs. |
12,000 W @ 208V
12,000W @ 240V |
|
Heavy Duty Gas
Constant, heavy use or when user may not have room for a floor fryer
|
Frymaster J1CSD 15-20 Pound Gas Countertop Fryer
|
20 lbs. |
45,000 BTU |
We carry a range of accessories for your fryer! From fry pots and fry baskets, to filter paper and accessories, fryer oil filtering machines, and gas connectors and hoses, we have everything you need!
Fryer oil is expensive. To get the best performance out of your fryer and prolong the life of your oil and save money, check out our Frypowder Buying Guide!
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