Easy Ways to Clean My Deep Fryer
Datetime:2013-05-27 Hits:
Deep fryers are a useful addition to the home or business kitchen. Fried food has a great taste and is popular for entertaining. Before cleaning a deep fryer, consult your owner's manual and make sure you follow any specific cleaning instructions. Always unplug a deep fryer before cleaning it and allow it to cool completely. If it hasn't been used a lot, consider saving the oil you just fried in for another use.
Drain and Scrape
The drain and scrape method requires a little elbow grease, but it is by far the most effective way to clean up a deep fryer. Drain the grease out of the fryer and use a metal spatula to scrape down the sides of the fryer. For dried on or cooked on vegetable oil or solids, this may be the only way to get them off. Rinse away all the particles after scraping and wipe out the inside of the fryer with a rag. The inside still will be greasy to the touch, so it can be wiped out with a sponge and soapy water.
Dish Soap and Water
Whether used in combination with the drain and scrape method or on its own, soap and warm or hot water is one of the easiest ways to clean a deep fryer. If the owner's manual says you can, fill the fryer about a quarter full of hot water and add 1 tbsp. of dish soap. Mix it up and fill it the rest of the way. The hot water and soap will loosen a lot of the oil and grease from the sides of the fryer. Use a sponge to wash the rest of it down. Rinse and wash with more soapy water as needed to get the fryer completely clean.
Vinegar
If there is a lot of caked on grease, add 1/2 cup of white vinegar to 2 quarts of boiling water and pour the mixture into the fryer. Fill the fryer up the rest of the way with hot, but not necessarily boiling, water and allow the vinegar to work its magic at degreasing the fryer. Vinegar is acidic and a natural degreaser that won't harm non-stick coatings or give off toxic fumes. Most of the grease will simply wipe away with a sponge or rag after about 30 minutes of soaking.
Degreaser
A commercial degreaser, particularly one with orange oil, will work well to remove stuck on or caked on vegetable oil. This is an easy way to remove the grease that accumulates around handles and other areas of the fryer. Unplug the fryer and spray the degreasing agent on its cooled surface. Allow it to soak for several minutes, or according to the manufacturer's instructions, and then wipe clean. A microfiber sponge or cloth works well to remove grease in combination with a degreasing agent.
