Henny Penny Fryer Maintenance Guide

Fryers are an essential component for many restaurants. Regular cleaning ensures your fryers stay sanitary and look fresh. Sticking to a maintenance schedule will also keep your fryers working in optimal condition.

The Henny Penny Company

Henny Penny is an American manufacturer of commercial food equipment. The company is based in Eaton, Ohio and has been the leading force in fryer innovations for over 50 years. The company has numerous well-known clients, such as MacDonald’s, Wendy’s, and KFC.

Fryer Categories

Henny Penny continues to produce several types of Henny Penny Fryers to this day. Its fryers are separated into two main categories—the open fryer category and pressure fryer category. Open frying is when food is submerged into hot oil. This method is used for crispy foods such as fries and foods that float in liquids. Pressure frying, on the other hand, requires a lid to be placed above the hot oil to pressurize the cooking environment. This technique produces consistent flavors and ensures the food stays moist. It is also the most time efficient method, making it ideal for high volume restaurants. Since both categories of fryers are vastly different in operation and design, various maintenance procedures are required when dealing with the different types of fryers.

Open Fryer Maintenance Schedule

The Henny Penny open fryer requires regular maintenance procedures that are outlined in the operator manual. Each method is described in detail in the handbook, with the frequency also indicated. For example, Henny Penny electric open fryers require daily cleaning of the fry pot and changing of the filter envelope. Cleaning of its Nylatrons, on the other hand, is only required every month. Procedures such as lubricating the carriage wheels and inspecting the Counter-Weight cables only need to be performed yearly.

Open Fryer Maintenance Procedures

The Nylatrons are the strips of nylon plastic material that accumulate grease over time. To clean them, simply spray a strong degreaser over the Nylatrons while wearing protective gloves. Then, spread the degreaser by moving the lid up and down several times. Finally, wipe off the degreaser along with the accumulated dirt using a towel. The carriage wheels on the open fryers need to be lubricated annually to ensure easy movement of the lid. This lubrication is done by removing the back shroud of the fryer and placing a small amount of lube on all sides of the wheels. Counter-weight cables should be inspected every year. They should also be replaced immediately after failing an inspection, or every ten years, regardless of inspection results. They can be found by lifting the back cover of the fryer. During an inspection, look for signs of cracks, missing pieces, and signs of wear and tear. Some units on the Henny Penny open fryers are also equipped with a Wipe mode. This technology carries out automatic cleaning of the control board with the simple press of a button.

Pressure Fryer Maintenance Schedule

Henny Penny pressure fryers are designed with more parts and require a more complicated set of maintenance procedures compared to open fryers. The maintenance schedule is divided into daily, weekly, quarterly, annually, and “as required” tasks. Examples of these tasks include cleaning the dead weight valve, which needs to be done daily, and reversing the lid gasket, which needs to be done quarterly. Since Henny Penny produces many pressure fryer models, check your operator’s manual for the exact procedures required for your specific model. You can also find a detailed annual inspection checklist in your operator’s manual for a thorough inspection.

Fryer Oil Maintenance

Another important step to properly maintaining your Henny Penny fryers is taking care of the oil you pour into your fryers. The oil is directly linked to the taste of the food you serve, and not following proper maintenance procedures can affect your restaurant’s reputation. Below are tips for proper oil maintenance so you can continue making great tasting foods. The first tip is to always set your fryer temperature to the recommended cooking temperature. It may be tempting to turn up the cooking temperature so your foods can cook faster, but doing so runs the risk of burning the oil. Oil also lasts longer when using lower cooking temperatures, so you can save some money on replacing the oil. The second tip is to filter the oil, ideally once a day, using fryer oil filters specially designed for fryer oils. This filtration prevents particles from accumulating inside the oil and helps your oil last longer.

Final Thoughts

Henny Penny fryers play a major role in the everyday operations of many restaurants. Proper maintenance ensures your fryers stay clean and fully functional. This maintenance is done by following the maintenance procedures outlined in your Henny Penny fryer’s operator manual. You should also take proper care to maintain your fryer oils so your foods continue to taste great.