An efficient and safe fry-top is first and foremost a clean fry-top. In fact, the high performance, reliability and durability of equipment that is a major player in professional kitchens in many places depend on daily rigorous hygiene. Find out in this article how to clean professional fry-tops of all types, from steel to iron, and which simple actions and natural cleaning products you can use to achieve excellent results.
How to clean professional fry-tops? It depends on the type of surface!
Cleaning the fry-top is an activity that must be carried out with great care after each use and, therefore, at the end of the service. To best clean a professional fry-top without damaging the surface, you should know that there are different fry-top cleaning products to use depending on the material its surface is made of, which can be steel, iron, polished chrome. or superchrome. The surfaces of the professional fry-top are made of different materials and have different characteristics (smooth or grooved plate) to meet specific needs. And it is very important to take this into account when carrying out daily cleaning operations.
Products and tools for cleaning smooth and grooved fry-tops: our recommendations
Generally speaking, the most appropriate products for cleaning the fry-top are neutral detergents. A few drops of common dish detergent, which is an excellent degreaser, may be fine, while aggressive products such as caustic soda or chlorine-based detergents which corrode and ruin surfaces should be avoided.
The fry-top cleaning operations must always be carried while the equipment is turning off, when the surface is still hot, but not too hot, at a temperature between 50 and 70 degrees. In this way, cooking residues soften and can easily be removed from the surface with a specific scraper that can be purchased as an accessory. The first step is to pour plenty of clean water on the surface, distribute a neutral detergent on the fry-top and leave it in action for few seconds. Then, rinse with clean water, checking that no residues of product remain on the surface. Finally, we proceed to dry very carefully the entire surface of the fry-top.
Another important thing. Professional fry-tops are equipped with a practical tray for collecting liquids and cooking residues: before starting to clean the fry-top, make sure you have it empty to avoid overflowing.
Brilliant fry-top in steel and iron in three steps
If these are the general indications on how to clean fry-tops of all types, it is good to know that what makes the difference in choosing the most suitable tools and methods of cleaning the fry-top is always the material of which the plate is made of.
To clean the steel fry-top you need to know, for example, whether the surface is made of shiny chromed steel or other types of steel, as in the case of our SuperChrome fry-top, whose surface is made with a particular chrome plating system which makes it slightly crimped and rough to guarantee better cooking performance, great non-stick, greater resistance to impacts and oxidation. In the case of SuperChrome, the surface must be cleaned with a metal scraper and neutral soaps. In about 30 minutes SuperChrome reaches a temperature below 60°C and allows you to carry out a deep cleaning even with a normal yellow-green scrub sponge for washing dishes, and water.
(inserire mini video pulizia SuperChrome)
For the cleaning of the fry-top with a shiny chrome surface, the advice is not to use scourer or the common yellow-green sponge, because there is a risk of ruining the insulating surface of the chrome. It is better to use specific tools, such as spatulas or softer, non-ferrous materials that do not scratch the surface. Even a normal non-abrasive cloth like those used to clean a mirror can be fine.
There are still different indications on how to clean the iron fry-top. You can use abrasive pads or sharp objects to remove dirt. After having carefully dried the surface, it is essential to rub the surface with a cloth soaked in edible oil. In fact, greasing it creates an insulating layer which protects from the iron oxidation and therefore from the formation of rust. This operation, however, is not necessary in chrome surfaces because the shiny patina is like a compact paint that acts as an insulator and prevents oxidation beneath the surface.
As an alternative to chemical detergents, you can use natural methods to sanitize and keep fry-tops efficient. By diluting a tenth of vinegar in a litre of water you obtain an efficient detergent and degreaser. However, placing ice directly on the hot plate causes a thermal shock which makes easier the dirt detachment from the surface. However, be careful: if the temperature difference is too big, it could ruin the surface of the fry-top.
Read also: how to clean a professional fryer
Extra advice: how to remove rust from a fry-top and how to clean a scratched fry-top
It may happen that the surface of our fry-top oxidizes and rust appears. An electrochemical phenomenon that occurs when iron or other metal alloys containing iron, such as steel, are repeatedly exposed to oxygen, water or other corrosive agents for a rather long period of time.
There is no doubt that the best solution is always to prevent the problem of oxidation by following the correct cleaning routine for the fry-top, carefully drying its surface after washing and, in the case of ferrous materials, greasing the surface, especially if the straightener hasn't been used for a while. However, if you have to deal with this problem, how can you remove rust from a fry-top without damaging it?
The most effective and fastest solution is to use a stainless-steel scourer which, when slid over the surface in the direction of the satin finish, guarantees an intense abrasive action, removing rust without altering the base material of the fry-top which will return as good as new.
What if scratches or striation are caused on the surfaces? Here's how to clean a grooved fry-top: smooth it using very fine stainless-steel wool or abrasive felt pads made of fibrous synthetic material, rubbing in the direction of the satin finish; rinse thoroughly and dry carefully.
Do you want more information on how to clean professional fry-tops? Contact us by writing to lotus@lotuscookers.it or fill out the contact form.