A Guide to Henny Penny Equipment
Founded in 1957 after restaurateur Chester Wagner created the first commercial pressure fryer, Henny Penny has been employee owned since 2015. With headquarters in Eaton, Ohio and offices in France and China, it continues to provide reliable foodservice equipment to operations around the world – including some of the largest names in convenience and quick service. Henny Penny manufactures open-pot and pressure fryers, heated holding cabinets, and warming drawers, as well as parts and accessories foodservice operators need to get the most out of their equipment.
Choosing a Henny Penny Fryer
Pressure Fryers
The company's flagship product, pressure fryers feature a lightweight cast aluminum alloy lid that seals the frypot and its contents to create a pressurized environment. Pressure frying keeps moisture and flavors in the food and keeps excess cooking oil in the frypot. The PFE500 and PFG600 rectangular frypots promote turbulence and tumbling, enabling operators to cook foods quicker and at a lower temperature, making them ideal for freshly breaded, bone-in products.
Open Fryers
Henny Penny offers open fryers that provide fast temperature recovery for menu items needing to remain crispy, such as fries and onion rings. These fryers are available in full, split, or combination vats, and the OFE and OFG 320 Series units have earned the ENERGY STAR® mark.
Henny Penny fryers are powered by LP gas, natural gas, or electricity. Every model has a built-in oil filtrating systems to extend oil life and reduce the amount of oil maintenance needed. This company's pressure and open fryers contain high-efficiency elements in electric units and high-efficiency burners with solid-state ignition in gas models. Exclusive to Henny Penny, these fryers include the Computron™ 1000 or 8000 digital control panels. The Computron 1000 has easy-to-use up/down arrows and includes an LED time/temperature display. The Computron 8000 includes energy-saving mode, filtration, and cook management features. To ensure peak performance, each fryer is tested prior to shipping.
Other Types of Henny Penny Equipment
Henny Penny heated holding cabinets come in full- and half-size units, are powered by dual heavy-duty blower motors, and have ventilated side racks. The self-closing doors are fully insulated, as are the sidewalls and control module. Both sizes feature partial pan removal for convenient loading and unloading. These cabinets have removable air ducts and are made of stainless steel to streamline cleaning, as imperfections can be wiped away regularly. These units are freestanding and have four casters, two of which lock. The HHC900 features a SimpleHold touchpad with an LED temperature display.
This company also offers modular countertop warming drawers that can be stacked or placed side by side. These warmers have one-piece thermoplastic drawers with heavy-duty handles. Henny Penny countertop warmers include programmable touchpad controls with a temperature display.
Understanding Henny Penny Parts & Accessories
Henny Penny parts and accessories help operators maintain fryer quality. Some of these accessories include:
Fryer Brush
Henny Penny makes a fryer brush designed to get to hard-to-reach areas of a fryer. The handle is long and has grips to secure it in the user's hand.
Fryer Pot Scraper
This scraper removes debris and food particles. It isn't intended for use on the curved portion of the frypot or electrical elements.
Fryer Shortening Shuttle®
This disposal unit drains used oil from fryers and enables operators to transport it safely – without having to carry an open container of hot oil. The Fryer Shortening Shuttle is compatible with Henny Penny 320 series, PFE500, PFE600, and fryers with a female quick disconnect.
Prime Cleaner & HD Pads
Henny Penny makes a white crystalline compound that can be added directly to water in the fryer vats. These packets and pads reduce the need for scrubbing by removing impurities, oil, grease, and scorch marks.
Filter Envelopes
These are designed to slide over the filter screen to pick up crumbs and leftover debris from fryers while letting oil freely flow through. Filter envelopes need to be replaced every 10 to 12 uses.
Filter Rinse Hose
This handheld tool attaches to a fryer's female quick disconnect for rinsing debris from the frypot into the filter pan.
The company also has brush kits to help you preserve your fryer by cleaning heating elements, drains, and tubes. The seven-piece fryer supply kit includes spindle lube and a 3⁄16-inch Allen wrench.
Henny Penny makes breading as well. The Regular PHT Breading is recommended for pressure-fried chicken, pork chops, cutlets, and vegetables but shouldn't be used for sweet food items. Regular I PHT Breading is used in place of the Regular PHT breading for a less noticeable taste, showcasing the food's natural flavors. This breading doesn't contain MSG, and it's advised to let breaded product sit for 15 to 30 minutes before frying.
