The type of oil you use in your fryers and the way that you keep it clean can have a significant effect on your kitchen operations.  Not only does the type of oil you use affect the taste of your fried foods, but the way you clean it can affect how long you can use it.  If you are looking for ways to streamline your kitchen operations that won’t diminish the quality of your products, then the fryer is a great place to start.
Let’s start by taking a look at some numbers.  The average fryer capacity is about 20 gallons of oil.  At an average cost of around $5 per gallon, that’s $100 per fill.  Now let us assume an average cooking life of 4 days between changing out oil.  Of course, through use you lose about 20% of the oil volume in an average day of use.  That is 4 gallons, or $20, each day.  That comes out to about $180 in oil cost every 4 days.
Selecting an oil with a higher smoke point, such as peanut oil can improve some of the longevity of that oil so that you do not have to change it so frequently.  Peanut oil may cost significantly more per gallon than other oils, but since it will not ruin as quickly you can use it for much longer.  Over time, using more expensive oil can actually save you money.  This is only true if you adequately filter your oil though.
Filtration is extremely important for oil life and for controlling costs.  Filtration is the single biggest factor in the overall life of oil.  By extensively filtering oil and by teaching your staff proper filtration procedures between use, you can almost double the usability of your oil.

For maximum efficiency in oil use, your staff should be filtering the fryer oil using the factory equipped filtration system at least once a shift.  Simply doing this can drastically increase the usable life of the oil in your fryers, saving you a lot of money.  However, there are other basic policies in fryer use that should be stressed to your staff.

What actually causes oil to degenerate and become unusable is the tiny particles that break away from food during frying and remain in the oil.  These particles burn as they remain in the oil and destroy the integrity of the oil.  By using a skimmer to remove particles before they begin to burn and break down, oil can be kept clean and usable.  Your staff should skim fryer oil after every use to keep it lasting as long as possible.

Alternative Fuel Sources:

•P Series: P Series is an alternative fuel that is used in flex-fueled vehicles. This colorless, odorless fuel sits between 89-93 octane.

•Hydrogen: Though most hydrogen is used by refining petroleum, it can also be produced via water. By passing electricity through water, also known as electrolysis, hydrogen is also produced.

•Propane: A natural by product of petroleum and crude oil refining.

•Electricity: Currently on the market there are numerous hybrid cars that utilize both electricity and petroleum based gasoline.

•Bio Diesel: made from vegetable or animal fat, is considered a viable alternative to diesel fuels.

•Blends: These are becoming much more common. These are generally mixes of traditional fuels and alternative fuels such as B20, or E85.

One of the biggest reasons that people make the switch is the environmental impact. Reducing your carbon footprint has become a very big issue and many people seek out alternative fuel as a means to doing just that because they are generally lower in pollutants. As we continue to strive to make the world a better place, another benefit is that use of bio diesel and other alternative fuels helps set the stage for a much more sustainable future. Taking these steps now, ensures a better future for generations to come and alternative fuel sources is just one big step.

Another reason is agriculture. Most of the more environmentally friendly alternative fuels are very agriculture supportive- bio fuels are dependent by and large on the crops that farmers grow- this supports the agriculture industry in a big way. Also, the benefit of it being a sustainable source of fuel, as well as one that replenishes yearly means less dependency on fossil fuels, or fuels that cannot be readily replaced.

Economically speaking, these alternative fuel sources are just as big of a break for the wallet as they are the planet. Not only are alternative fuels generally cheaper to produce, as well as use, but they are also usually easier on equipment. This means longer engine life, which again is an added benefit. On the whole, use of alternative fuel just makes a great deal more sense. As newer techniques for refining come out, making it more convenient, there is no real reason not to make the switch.