Addressing Problems With Your Frymaster Before It Fries Your Business

Working in the restaurant business means ensuring the safety of your customers. A big part of ensuring customer safety is to serve properly cooked foods. It is estimated that there are approximately 48 million instances of foodborne illnesses each year, one of which is food poisoning. If your fryer is on the fritz, it can lead to foodborne illnesses and other issues that could hurt your business. It is important that you are aware of the problems and how to address problems with your fryer.

Oil Does Not Heat to the Proper Temperature

If you turn your fryer on, you expect it to reach the temperature you set for safe food frying. However, if the oil does not reach the proper temperature, it will not cook the food properly, which means you run the risk of serving undercooked food. Use a thermostat or a pyrometer to check the temperature of the oil.

If the temperature reflected does not match the temperature you have the fryer set at, it could indicate a temperature control problem. Typically, if the temperature of the oil does not match the set temperature, it means the following:

• The thermostat's calibration is off
• The shaft to the thermostat is loose
• The thermostat wire is loose or disconnected
• The thermostat unit is defective or broken

Make sure you contact a fryer repair technician as soon as possible. The technician can determine the exact cause of your problem and either replace or repair the thermostat as needed.

Oil Does Not Filter Correctly

When you fry foods, you want to make sure the oil filters properly or it could lead to issues. An issue that you can face if your fryer has filtration problems is cross-contamination. Cross-contamination could lead to problems with illnesses and food-related allergies. It is important that you have your fryer inspected immediately.

Oil filtration issues can be related to the following:

• Worn or missing O-rings (pump will pull in air, which prevents proper filtration)
• Blocked pump

A qualified technician can diagnose your fryer to determine if you need O-ring replacement, a new pump, or to have blockages dislodged from the pump. Keep in mind that it is common for food particles to lodge in the pump and the pump's suction tube. A drain snake can help remove lodged particles of food. If, however, the oil still does not filter correctly even after using a drain snake, you will need a technician to provide the proper repair services.

There Is Not Heat at All

What happens when your fryer doesn't fry? The most obvious answer is that you cannot serve fried foods. The bright side is that you will not have to worry about serving undercooked or cross-contaminated foods to your customers. However, you then must worry about upset customers. Imagine a customer ordering fried chicken and a side of onion rings only to be told that it is not possible to serve them those things.

In that instance, your customers will likely get up and walk out, which could lead to negative reviews. If your fryer is not heating up, it could be a sign of a pilot issue or a problem with the burner. Check to make sure the pilot is clean and free of debris. Debris can clog the pilot. The same is true of a burner that only has a partial flame or even no flame at all rather than a full flame.

If you notice any issues with your fryer, make sure you address them as soon as possible. The sooner you do, the more likely it is that you will avoid any issues with sick or unhappy customers.

Contact a technician who offers services such as Frymaster repairs.