Henny Penny Safe Open Fryers

For Aussie QSR firms, safe open fryers equal injury-free workplaces

Workplace health and safety (WPHS) is a critical issue for any Australian entrepreneur, especially those in the fast growing QSR industry. As more businesses expand on the back of young, often inexperienced employees entering the workforce, the likelihood of workplace accidents—especially in the kitchen—has become more common in the past few years.

The numbers definitely say it all: according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ Work-Related Injuries Australia, 2009-2010 survey published in 2013, the “accommodation & food services industry had the second highest incidence rate of work-related injury for young workers,” with burns being cited as the most common injury.

Costly spills, fires, and injuries are just some of the nightmarish scenarios restaurant owners have to contend with everyday. This has left them wondering: would it be possible to reduce accidents by adopting safer, more user-friendly appliances that still manage to deliver solid results?

Henny Penny, a leading maker of food equipment, has rolled out its Evolution Elite Open Fryers—a low-oil volume oil management frying system that guarantees topnotch safety when it comes to frying. This latest line-up complements Henny Penny’s existing 320 Series, 340 Series, and OFE-291/OFG-391 open fryers.

“WPHS is becoming a greater focus, and employers want to ensure that their staff are kept safe while operating equipment. Restaurant owners want to be able to provide the best quality product to the customers every time and they rely on the equipment they purchase to achieve this for them,” says Malcolm Stirling, Henny Penny national accounts manager.

The Evolution Elite was developed to provide the best—and safest—frying experience for the discerning restaurant owner.

Hinged elements on electric Evolution Elites make cleaning vats quicker, easier, and safer, while an automatic locking, single-well drain pan means draining used oil is now also a safer operation.

Meanwhile, the Evolution Elite’s main safety feature is the SmartFilter Express, a safe, fast, and efficient integrated filtration system that drains used shortening in real time via a disposable filter. Not only does the system drain shortening, but it also manages to extend the life of frying oil by as much as 10 times longer—allowing for repeated use without sacrificing food quality.
The SmartFilter Express works like a charm: the fryer monitors oil usage and prompts the user when filtration is necessary. During the process, the FilterBeacon lights up to indicate when to both open and close the drain valve. The system takes care of the rest by filtering the oil; rinsing away crumbs and returning hot and filtered oil to the vat within four minutes. Meanwhile, all the other vats continue to cook uninterrupted.

Evolution Elite is also cost-efficient, requiring 40% less oil than a standard 50-pound fryer (based on ASTM International standards). With the Oil Guardian oil replenishment system, the Evolution Elite uses sensors to monitor and maintain oil levels by adding small quantities of fresh oil often from the fryer cabinet reservoir. This eliminates manual add-backs, translating into fewer oil disposals and less mess.

The Evolution Elite comes with up to four heavy-duty stainless steel vats and a seven-year pot warranty, in electric and gas variants. An electric model is capable of holding 15 litres per full vat, while the gas model can handle 14 litres per full vat. Fryers can be configured with full or split vats for maximum flexibility.