THE PRODUCT:
Commercial fryers are used in commercial kitchens and can be powered by either electricity or gas. Fryers are defined as either standard or large vat on the basis of their dimensions and capacity.
THE STANDARD:
There are no national standards for commercial fryers. In 2018, Vermont adopted standards for commercial fryers based on ENERGY STAR Version 2.0, which was in effect from 2011until Version 3.0 took effect in October 2016. Colorado, Massachusetts, Nevada, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington, and the District of Columbia adopted the same standards between 2019 and 2021. A standard electric fryer uses on average about 18,000 kWh per year, or roughly 1.5 times the annual electricity use of an average US household. According to EPA, commercial fryers meeting the ENERGY STAR specification offer shorter cook times, faster temperature recovery times, and extended oil life. Electric and gas fryers meeting ENERGY STAR Version 2.0 consume about 15% and 30% less energy, respectively, than standard models.
KEY FACTS:
Commercial fryers that meet the ENERGY STAR specification typically utilize advanced burner and heat exchanger designs, as well as improved insulation to reduce idle energy use. In 2020, 25% of shipments of commercial fryers were ENERGY STAR qualified.
