Abstract: A cooking medium level monitoring system includes a cooking vessel, which holds cooking media therein; a heating mechanism that transmits heat to cooking media in the cooking vessel in a first operation state; and temperature sensors for providing data corresponding to sensed temperatures. The temperature sensors include a first temperature sensor disposed at a first level of the cooking vessel and a second temperature sensor disposed at a second level of the cooking vessel above the first level. Further, a controller receives data from the temperature sensors, calculates a temperature differential between the first temperature sensor and the second temperature sensor, and switches to a second operation state, in which the heating mechanism is deactivated, in response to the temperature differential being greater than or equal to a first threshold and less than a second threshold.

Abstract: A cooking apparatus includes a first and second cooking vessel, a drain manifold connecting the first and second cooking vessel to a drain container for storing cooking medium, a first drain valve and second drain valve configured to connect the first and second cooking vessel with the drain container. A first drain lever selectively opens and closes the first drain valve, and a second drain lever selectively opens and closes the second drain valve. A first and second drain lever indicator indicate an operational status of the first and second drain valves, respectively. A controller monitors the first and second drain valve. When the first drain valve is open, the second drain lever indicator indicates a warning when the second drain lever is operated. When the second drain valve is open, the first drain lever indicator indicates a warning when the first drain lever is operated.