Vulcan Innovates with PowerFry & QuickFry Series

Upon its debut more than a decade ago, the Vulcan PowerFry VK series immediately established itself as a groundbreaking product line because of its unique heat exchange tube. Traditional fryers have what's known as a one-pass heat exchange tube, in which heat goes from the source, through the tube, then up a flue to heat the oil. The more times heat passes through the oil of a deep fryer, the more opportunity there is for the oil to absorb that heat.

In traditional units, heat spreads slowly through the oil in a potentially inefficient manner, but the FivePass Heat Transfer System utilized by the PowerFry VK 5 (ThreePass for the PowerFry VK 3, a smaller model) takes a different approach. With this system, the heat has passed through the oil five times by the time it reaches the flue, so this deep fryer comes to temperature quicker than a one-pass system. Its energy efficiency is reflected in the ENERGY STAR rating the entire line has earned, making it one of several lines Vulcan offers that have earned this rating. The SmartStart Ignition System not only speeds up recovery times between batches, but also extends oil life by preventing burn-off in the preheat process.

Because this process allows for more even heating of oil, the Vulcan PowerFry VK series boasts 60-percent cooking efficiency and 72-percent thermal efficiency in the PowerFry3 and 66-percent cooking efficiency and 78-percent thermal efficiency in the PowerFry5.

That sounds impressive – but what does it mean for operators? It means faster setup, greater throughput, and shorter cook times. In other words, both gas and electric models use less power to produce better results than fryers using traditional technology.

The savings don't just come in the form of the energy bill, as the optional KleenScreen PLUS® system enables oil to be drained and screened from the frypot, removing even miniscule particulates and significantly extending oil life by two to six times what it would be without filtration. This significantly reduces operating costs and improves return on investment, as it traps particles 40 to 60 times smaller than what paper filters are capable of.

Both sizes of the Vulcan QuickFry are available with analog, digital, or computer controls.

• Analog controls are good for independent operators that fry by sight and sound, rather than utilizing built-in timers.


• Digital controls are ideal for operations with a limited fry mix on their menu or for establishments without many time-sensitive items.


• Computer controls handle as many as 18 preset timer options per vat. These are meant for chains and operators looking for precise control over frying. It's also great for operations that feature a heavy fry mix.

All QuickFry models feature three melt modes designed for various types of solid shortening to be used, and all have dry-fire prevention systems; this means the fryer will not fire without oil in the vat. Because of the efficiency of the fryer, the flue temperatures are far lower than traditional fryer designs, leading to much cooler kitchens and more comfortable working conditions.

Regarding efficiency, the QuickFry boasts huge efficiency levels: the 75-pound fryer is 13-percent more efficient than standard 75-pound models and takes up a smaller footprint in the kitchen as well. The 50-pound fryer also enhances productivity with a similar footprint as most 60-pound-capacity fryers, saving on oil costs.

The QuickFry series is designed to extend the life of oil, which can lead to significant savings over time. All QuickFry models feature a quick-filter function, which drains the oil, filters it, refills the vat, and brings the oil back to temp in less than three minutes, regardless of vat size. This also serves to keep staff safer, as employees don't have to handling the potentially hot oil during this process.