Basic Operations - 12 Button Control

Overflow Risk

  • The oil may be stirred only during the morning start up procedure. Do not stir the oil at any other time.

  • Moisture and cracklings settles to the bottom of the vat during normal operation. Manually stirring the oil brings the water and hot oil into contact.

  • Ensure the fryer is level.

  • Ensure the oil is at the appropriate level. Oil should never be above the upper vat “fill” line.

  • Ensure the gas control valve and burners are properly adjusted. (Gas units only)

  • Failure to follow these instructions can result in oil overflowing the vat which could cause serious burns, personal injury, fire, and/or property damage.

To avoid serious personal injury or property damage, do not exceed maximum product capacity and filter as recommended by manufacturer.

Do not overload, or place product with extreme moisture content onto racks or in baskets.

  • 12.5 lbs (5.7 kg) is the maximum amount of product per full vat.
  • 6.25 lbs (2.8 kg) is the maximum for the split vat fryers.

To avoid personal injury and fire, ensure that oil completely covers heating elements or gas burner tubes.

Do not bypass the Melt Cycle. The type of oil being used in the fryer determines the amount of heat applied during the Melt Cycle. If the controls are set to the Solid setting, less heat is applied to the solid oil than if the controls were set to Liquid. Too much heat applied to solid oil causes much smoking, and could cause a fire. Match this setting to the type of oil being used at the time. When using new solid oil, it is recommended to melt the solid oil on an outside source before placing oil in the vat.

NOTICE!: Solid oil is not recommended as it can cause clogging and pump failure.

NOTE: The OFG-320 series open fryer has several safety devices which shuts-down the gas supply when they are activated. This procedure should be followed to restart the open fryer and if the shutdown is repeated, a qualified technician should be notified.

The 12 button controls are available on the OFE, OFG, OEA and OGA model fryers. Models OEA and OGA are available with Auto-lift features. The auto-lift controls allow the baskets to be automatically lowered into the oil, at the beginning of the cook cycle, and raised from the oil at the end of the cycle. The timing operation of the two sides of the control can be programmed entirely independent from each other for 2 half baskets, or as one timer for a single full sized basket which will set on both lifts. The default setting from the factory is for two half sized baskets. To change to a single full size basket setting, push and hold the #1 product button while turning on the POWER switch. To change back to the two basket mode, push and hold the #2 product button while turning on the POWER switch. The following is a brief description of the operating procedures for a 12-button control.

  1. Ensure the drain valve is in the closed position, and then place the basket support inside vat.
  2. Ensure the vat is filled with oil to the proper level.
  3. Move power switch to the ON position. Unit automatically goes into the Melt Cycle until the oil temperature reaches 230F (110C). The control then automatically exits the Melt Cycle. Once out of the Melt Cycle, the WAIT LED flashes until the setpoint temperature has been reached. Then the READY LED lights, and the selected product displays on the left and right side of the display.
  4. The Melt Cycle may be bypassed, if desired, by pressing a product button and holding it for five seconds.
  5. If the Energy Save Mode is activated for gas fryers, the pilot light goes out and the blower turns off, if the fryer is idle for 2 minutes with the READY LED lit. Starting a Cook Cycle exits the Energy Save Mode, or if the oil temperature drops until the READY LED goes out, the fryer resumes normal heat-up mode until the READY LED comes back on (See SP-19).
  6. Thoroughly stir oil slowly, to stabilize and equalize the temperature throughout the vat(s).
  7. Lower the baskets without product into the hot oil to coat and keep the product from sticking to the baskets.
  8. Load basket with product:
    • 18 lbs. (8.2 kg) is the maximum amount of product per vat.
  9. Once the required setpoint temperature is reached, lower the basket filled with product into the vat. Or place the basket on the autolift hanger.
  10. Press the START/STOP button, the timer (right or left) starts counting down. At the end of the Cook Cycle a tone sounds and the display flashes DONE. NOTE: A different product can be selected during the first minute of cooking.
  11. Press the START/STOP button to turn off the beeper.
  12. Press the START/STOP button, and then lift the basket from the oil. If a hold time was programmed, the controller automatically starts the hold timer. To view the hold time remaining push the INFO button. At the end of the Hold Mode, a tone sounds, and the display will flash QUALITY and the product name it was timing.
  13. Press and release the START/STOP button. The product name displays. NOTE: In the Cook Mode, when “FILTER SUGGESTED” displays, the operator has the option to filter at this time, or to continue cooking. But, if the operator continues cooking, a filter lockout occurs within the next Cook Cycle, or two. When “FILTER LOCKOUT”, then “YOU *MUST* FILTER NOW........” displays, the PROG button is the only button that will function, until the unit is filtered.