“Loaded and dangerous: the humble potato becomes the main attraction”

By:  Philip Sanderson, Sales Director at Valentine & Cuisinequip:

Operators are expected to deliver at speed, with consistency and quality, while also managing costs and maintaining stringent allergen controls.

For many fast-food businesses, investing in the right frying equipment is becoming one of the most important operational decisions they can make.

Demand for allergen-free menu options continues to grow, with diners more aware than ever of allergens and dietary requirements. At the same time, operators are under pressure to avoid cross-contamination without sacrificing kitchen space, efficiency or profitability.

This is where the Valentine is helping operators rethink their approach to frying.

Both the CORE and CORE Smart range of fryers are available with twin pan options - and one of the standout features available on the CORE Smart twin pan fryer range is the added option of twin-pumped oil filtration, which provides separate pumps and oil buckets for each fry tank. This allows operators to safely prepare allergen-free products alongside standard menu items, without the risk of oil contamination between tanks. Crucially, it removes the need for operators to invest in two separate fryers solely for allergen control.

For many quick-service restaurants, where kitchen space and energy costs are under constant pressure, this offers significant operational and financial advantages.

Managing allergens within a busy kitchen remains one of the sector’s biggest challenges. Fried menu items such as chicken, fish, onion rings and battered products frequently contain allergens including gluten and dairy. Even if a product itself is gluten-free, cooking it in oil previously used for gluten-containing products can result in cross-contamination and pose a serious health risk to customers.

The twin filtration system available on the Valentine CORE Smart range of fryers helps operators create clear separation between menu categories, reducing contamination risks while maintaining speed of service.

Alongside allergen control, the CORE Smart range has also been developed to help operators improve energy efficiency. The smart digital control panel features six customisable programmes and delivers temperature accuracy of +/- 1°C to ensure consistent cooking results.

An integrated ECO function automatically lowers oil temperatures to 120°C during quieter periods, helping reduce energy consumption, extend oil life and minimise waste. The adaptive cooking setting also automatically detects load size and adjusts cooking times accordingly, helping operators maintain consistency while simplifying kitchen processes.

Available in widths from 200mm to 600mm, with both single and twin tank configurations, the CORE and CORE Smart ranges are designed to suit fast-food kitchens of all sizes. Additional options such as automatic basket lifts, turbo models and advanced filtration systems allow operators to tailor the equipment to their individual operational needs.

As operators continue balancing cost pressures with increasing customer expectations, investment in smarter kitchen technology is becoming essential. By combining intelligent energy-saving features with practical allergen-control solutions such as twin-pumped filtration, the Valentine CORE and CORE Smart fryer ranges provide operators with a way to improve efficiency, reduce risk and avoid the expense of installing multiple dedicated fryers.

For more information on the Valentine equipment range, please visit www.valentinefryers.com or call 0118 957 1344.