Choose a gas fryer if you fry in volume all day and have a gas line under a hood; choose an electric fryer if you fry smaller batches, have no gas, or need a countertop unit that plugs in. Most full size 40 to 80 lb floor fryers are gas, while most countertop fryers of 10 to 15 lb per tank are electric, so the volume you fry often decides the fuel for you.
Both make good fries, wings and fish. This guide compares them on capacity, utilities, installation, heat and cleaning, using the models we carry, and ends with rules for choosing.
How each one heats
A gas fryer burns natural gas or propane in tubes that run through the oil or under the tank. Output is rated in BTU per hour. The Cookline CF40-LP fryer uses three cast iron tube burners at 30,000 BTU each, 90,000 BTU in total, for 40 lb of oil. Its millivolt thermostat needs no electrical connection, so it keeps frying in a power cut.
An electric fryer heats the oil with an element that sits in the oil. Output is rated in watts. The Cookline DF15-1-120 is a 15 lb countertop fryer with a 1,750 W element on 120 V, adjustable from 122 to 374 F, with a high limit cutoff at 446 F. The Waring WDF1300 holds 10 lb of oil on 120 V, runs from 170 to 390 F and has a 60 minute timer.
Capacity and recovery
Recovery is how fast the oil comes back to temperature after a basket of frozen food goes in. Output relative to the amount of oil decides it. A 40 lb gas fryer at 90,000 BTU has a lot of burner for its oil, which is why floor gas fryers handle steady lunch volume. Small electric countertop units on a 120 V outlet are limited by the outlet: the DF15-1-120 page notes that 1,750 W uses most of a 15 amp circuit. That suits batches, not a continuous rush. The Waring WDF1300 page lists up to 10 lb of fries per hour.
For more electric capacity, look at dual tank or 220 V models: the Cookline DF15-2-220 has two 15 lb tanks on 220 V at 5 kW.
Utilities and installation
- Gas fryers need a gas line sized for the load and a licensed installer. Many models are set for one gas type: the CF40-LP is propane, the CF40-NG natural gas, and the Migali C-F40E-NG is natural gas only and not field convertible. Order the right gas type.
- Electric countertop fryers plug into a standard outlet; give each its own circuit. Larger electric fryers need 208 to 240 V circuits installed by an electrician.
Hoods
The gas fryer pages on our site state that fryers must go under a hood. For electric fryers the pages say to check local code: countertop fryers may still need a hood where you are. Ask your fire and mechanical code office before you buy, because the hood often costs more than the fryer.
Operating cost and efficiency
Gas versus electric running cost depends on local utility rates, so compare with your own bills. Within gas fryers, Energy Star models move more heat into the oil: the Migali C-F40E-NG holds 40 lb of oil at 66,000 BTU, where Migali’s standard 40 lb natural gas model is rated at 102,000 BTU. On a line where the fryer runs all day, that difference adds up.
Heat in the kitchen
Gas fryers vent burner heat through a flue at the back, which adds heat to the line and the hood. Electric fryers have no flue, so less of their heat goes into the room. In a small kitchen without much air conditioning, that can matter.
Cleaning and oil life
- A cold zone below the heat lets crumbs settle where they burn less, which helps oil last. The CF40-LP and the WDF1300 both list a cold zone.
- Gas floor fryers drain through a valve at the front into a pan or a filter.
- Electric countertop fryers often have a removable pot or a tilt-back element. The DF15-1-120 has a removable fry pot; the WDF1300 has a tilt-back removable element and a front drain spigot.
- The Food Code asks that in-use cooking equipment food-contact surfaces be cleaned at least every 24 hours, but hot oil cooking and filtering equipment may instead follow a cleaning schedule approved by the health department (12VAC5-421-1790 and 1780 in Virginia’s adoption).
Choose gas if
- You fry steadily through every service.
- You have a gas line and a hood, or are building both.
- You want frying to keep going in a power outage (millivolt models).
Choose electric if
- You fry small batches or add fried items to a menu that is not built around them.
- You have no gas line, such as in many food trucks, bars, cafes and kiosks.
- You want a countertop unit that can move.
Ordering from Express KitchQuip
Freight with liftgate delivery to the 48 contiguous states is included in the price. Fryers are powered equipment with a 7 day return window from delivery, and lease-to-own financing is available on items from 500 dollars. Browse all commercial deep fryers, gas fryers, or our fryer splash guard for the space between a fryer and the next appliance.
Frequently asked questions
Do gas fryers need electricity?
Not if they use a millivolt thermostat, like the Cookline CF40-LP and CF40-NG. Models with solid state controls do.
Can I convert a natural gas fryer to propane?
Some can with a kit; some cannot. The Migali C-F40E-NG page says it is not field convertible. Check the product page.
Does an electric countertop fryer need a hood?
It depends on local code. The product pages tell you to check with your inspector.
Which is cheaper to run?
It depends on your gas and electric rates and how many hours the fryer runs.
Your local fire and health officials have the final say on installation.