A used cooking oil filtration system (100) includes a housing (102) defining an interior space (104), a gas source (130), a gas inlet (134) fluidly coupled to the gas source (130) to permit the introduction of a gas to the interior space (104) of the housing (102). The housing (102) further includes a fluid inlet (108), a fluid outlet (114), and filter media (116) disposed proximate the fluid outlet (114). The housing (102) is at least partially immersed in used cooking oil (150) and gas pressure in the interior space is maintained at a first pressure level at which used cooking oil flows into the interior space. The gas source (130) increases the gas pressure in the interior space to a second pressure level at which the used cooking oil flows through the filter media and exits the housing (102) through the fluid outlet (114). Flowing the used cooling oil through the filter media (116) reduces the concentration of one or more contaminants present at a first contaminant level in the used cooking oil to a second contaminant level.

A safety shield is provided that protects persons from hot fluids used with cooking pots used for deep frying over an open flame. The safety shield construction includes an adjustable band that attaches to the outside of a cooking pot, and having an outwardly protruding surface to re-direct spilled hot fluids away from a human user standing near the cooking pot. The safety shield provides a safety zone that deflects any spilled hot fluids away from the human user. The safety shield has an overall inverted V-shape, and as an alternative embodiment can have additional somewhat vertical barriers that help to prevent any spilled cooking oil from touching the human user.

Systems are disclosed for cleaning a fryer using a washing element coupled to a bottom wall of a cooking chamber. An upper portion of the washing element extends above the bottom wall of the cooking chamber and includes a plurality of spray jet nozzles that are separated at predetermined angles relative to one another around a periphery of the upper portion of the washing element to orient the plurality of spray jet nozzles so as to spray a plurality of pressurized streams of the cooking medium to predetermined areas of the cooking chamber, including at least one corner of the cooking chamber. Also disclosed is a fryer that includes a spreader bar that maintains an electric heating coil in the serpentine pattern. The spreader bar is coupled to the upper surface of the electric heating coil and is disposed at a predetermined distance away from the bottom wall.

Methods and apparatus are disclosed to make the process of cooking safer, specifically cooking on hot burners or cooking with hot liquids such as oil. Presented methods and devices in accordance with the present disclosure generally comprise shields that may be temporarily or permanently attached to the body or the handle of cookware or utensils to protect a user's hand from convective and/or radiative heat and from hot liquid splash.

A portable cooking oil distribution device for filling remote fryers with fresh cooking oil. In other embodiments the device can also collect used cooking oil from the fryer. In one embodiment, a portable device includes a fresh oil tank, a three-way valve connected by piping to the fresh oil tank, a pump connected by piping to the three-way valve, and a nozzle connected by piping to the pump, the nozzle having an outlet tube connected to the piping between the pump and the nozzle. The device may also include a used oil tank, a second three-way valve connected by piping to the used oil tank, a second pump connected by piping to the three-way valve, and piping connecting the second pump to the nozzle, where the nozzle includes a inlet tube connected to the piping between the pump and the nozzle.

A moisture control apparatus includes at least one electrode configured to receive at least one of an alternating current or a direct current, and to direct at least one of an electric field, a magnetic field, an electromagnetic field, an electromagnetic wave, a sonic wave, or a supersonic wave toward a substance. The moisture control apparatus further includes a controller configured to communicate with the at least one electrode, wherein the controller is configured to control a voltage applied to the at least one electrode to induce a bonded state between water molecules of moisture present in the substance.

A moisture control apparatus includes at least one electrode configured to receive at least one of an alternating current or a direct current, and to direct at least one of an electric field, a magnetic field, an electromagnetic field, an electromagnetic wave, a sonic wave, or a supersonic wave toward a substance. The moisture control apparatus further includes a controller configured to communicate with the at least one electrode, wherein the controller is configured to control a voltage applied to the at least one electrode to induce a bonded state between water molecules of moisture present in the substance.

An easy handling and installable fryer for cooking materials in an electric-field carrying space includes an oil pot base including an oil pot having an inner surface at least partially being a metal plate, and a metal mesh basket placeable in and out of the pot. The base includes a pot fastener that allows the basket to be placed in the pot without electricity conduction to the inner surface, and a conductor including a conducting electrode on an upper portion of a pot surface opposing a handling side, and insulated from the inner surface that conducts an alternating current to the basket in the pot. The basket includes a basket fastener that allows, with the pot fastener, the basket to be placed in the pot without electricity conduction to the inner surface, and an electricity receiver that receives electricity from the electrode and conducts electricity to the mesh basket metal.

A capacitive sensor and control system is configured to detect the presence (or absence) of fluid within a container. Configured in a vat of a deep fryer, the sensor determines when a level of liquid within the vat is at or above the level of the sensor. The sensor is in communication with the control system and the sensor sends a signal to the control system representative of the presence or absence of liquid within the vat and at the level of the sensor. The controller receives the signal from the sensor, and allows operation of a fluid management system and its associated plumbing to maintain an appropriate level of liquid in the vat.

A moisture control apparatus includes at least one electrode configured to receive at least one of an alternating current or a direct current, and to direct at least one of an electric field, a magnetic field, an electromagnetic field, an electromagnetic wave, a sonic wave, or a supersonic wave toward a substance. The moisture control apparatus further includes a controller configured to communicate with the at least one electrode, wherein the controller is configured to control a voltage applied to the at least one electrode to induce a bonded state between water molecules of moisture present in the substance.