Abstract: At least one of the heated side walls of the oil container of a deep fryer is unbent to have planar interior and exterior surfaces. A sheet metal channel member, secured to the exterior surface of that side wall by flanges that flatwise overlie it, defines a tubular pocket which is open at one end. An electric heating element is embedded in an elongated heating body of electrically insulating material that is lengthwise slidably received in the tubular pocket with a close fit to be readily replaceable. Heat that the heating body radiates outwardly away from the wall is imparted to the channel member, the flanges of which transfer such heat to the wall in zones adjacent to the heating body.

Abstract: The deep-fat fryer has an upper basket (41), a heating source (8) below and a heat exchanger in between (13) for the exchange of heat between a gaseous heat exchange medium (57) and the frying oil (55). Thereby thermosiphonic oil circulation results. A blower (29, 31, 32, 33) is arranged, whereof a blower rotor (31) imparts a higher velocity of flow to the heat exchange medium (57) in the heat exchanger (13). The blower (29, 31 through 33) is arranged in the fresh air supply duct (56), in the gas vent (57) and in the cool air supply duct (58) for cooling the flue gases. The three blower wheels (31 through 33) are arranged on one and the same drive shaft (30). This deep-fat fryer takes significantly better advantage of the heat conducted to it. With large energy densities relative to the oil volume, it has minimal specific heating surface loadings and thereby affords optimal relationships.