Oil Management Guide

1. Some basic characteristics of oils/fats which need to be taken into consideration

2. The potential problems encountered when frying.

3. How each of these problems can be minimised/controlled.

4. Other considerations that need to be taken into account when choosing which frying medium to use

1. Some basic characteristics of oils and fats

Oils and fats are made up of mixtures of triglycerides and each triglyceride is made up of three fatty acids that are attached to a glycerol molecule.

When a glycerol molecule and three fatty acid molecules are brought together the product is a Triglyceride and water, unfortunately this reaction is a reversible reaction and thus a Triglyceride will breakdown to produce free fatty acids when it comes into contact with water - This is the first important point to note.

In addition the fatty acids themselves are of differing types both in chain length but more importantly in terms of degree of saturation. The levels of un-saturation are described in terms of Saturated, Monounsaturated, and Di or Tri-unsaturated (Polyunsaturated).

A saturated fatty acid has no areas of weakness and is thus classed as very stable

A monounsaturated fatty acid as its name suggests (mono = one) has one area of weakness and thus only has relative stability

However Di and tri unsaturated fatty acids as their name suggests (di = two and tri = three) have two or three areas of weakness and are thus classed as unstable.

It is these areas of weakness along the fatty acid molecule that make that particular fatty acid susceptible to reaction with oxygen -This is the second important point to note.

So when edible oils and fats are subjected to the frying process they are very susceptible to both.

1. Oxidative breakdown via reaction with Oxygen

2. Hydrolytic breakdown via reaction with water.

In addition the frying process is carried out at elevated temperatures which itself leads to Thermal breakdown.

We need to be aware that during the frying process all three of these forms of oil degradation are taking place at the same time and so we need to take positive steps to minimise their effect, see section 3 below.

2. Potential problems encountered when frying.

During the frying process oils and fats have to combat an array of attack from various sources.

1. Oxygen ( Fryer open to contact with the air)

2. High Temperatures ( Heat required for frying the food)

3. Water ( The food is usually wet when it is fried)

4. Dirt ( Particulate matter, namely frying debris)

5. Light ( Fryer open to contact with light )

6. Soaps ( Left over from cleaning)

7. Trace metals ( Equipment/utensils contain oxidative catalysts
such as copper, iron or brass)

Attack from these sources will lead to the following Physical/ Chemical breakdown

Visual Effects include:

OIL OR FAT DARKENS IN COLOUR
INCREASED FROTHING
INCREASED SMOKING

Chemical Effects:

INCREASED FATTY ACID LEVELS

These aforementioned observations during the breakdown will with time lead to poor odours and tastes not only in the oil but more importantly in the finished fried product.

The Free fatty acid level, colour level, smoke point and flash point can all be measured analytically, however, in the small frying trade it is the visual signs that are used to monitor the quality of the oil.
Note: with time the free fatty acid level and colour increases in value while the smoke and flash points decrease in value. These increases and decreases are closely related to each other

There comes a point during the frying process when all these parameters start to accelerate and it is at this point that the oil starts to break down very rapidly

There is a period of reasonable Free Fatty Acid stability beyond which the oil will begin to degrade very rapidy.

Pure free fatty acids are used in many technical applications because of their “wetting properties” it is this effect that one observes when one sees a higher then normal absorption of oil into the final fried product and so obviously the higher the percentage absorption into the finished product the greater the bearing the oil has on finished product quality.

These raised levels of Fatty Acids are also in direct relationship with the increased frothing and increased smoking. Not only do we see a reduction in product quality but we also increase the risk of either environmental problems through excessive odours or at the worst the risk of a fire. This then leads us into the area of risk reduction and the positive steps we need to take to minimise oil breakdown.

3. Minimising the effect of oil breakdown.

The issues involved in oil breakdown are fairly complex and all efforts should be made to reduce the “loading Effect” against the oil. As the oil is subject to extreme conditions it will inevitably lead to deterioration, the control of which can either extend or reduce the lifetime of the oil.

Lets consider each of the factors.

a. Frying Temperature and effective control of such.

Accurate temperature control is essential, the frying of chips should be done between 170 and 180 C and the frying of fish should be done between 175 and 185 C. These frying ranges are best maintained by the use of a thermostat and it is always good practice to check the accuracy of the thermostat from time to time by the use of a dip thermometer.

Frying at too high a temperature will result in food that is darkly coloured plus the breakdown process of the oil will proceed much faster (For every 10C rise in temperature above the recommended frying temperature of 180C the thermal stability of the oil will be halved.

Frying at too low a temperature will result in food being too greasy through excessive absorption of the oil.

So the key here is for proper and effective heat control – use an accurate and well maintained thermostat. It is also recommended that an automatic safety cut out is installed to ensure the oil is kept well below its flash point and thus reduces the risk of fire.

b. Correct preparation of raw materials in particular moisture levels

I think it is fair to say that fish poses very few problems with regard to moisture levels as it is usually left to defrost into drip trays thus leaving very little free moisture on the product. The main cause of oil breakdown thus comes from excessive moisture on the chips.

Chips or other potato products are usually prepared well in advance of cooking and in some cases potatoes will have a tendency to discolour if left for any period of time untreated, thus there are several products on the market which can be employed to stop this discolouration.
These products ensure that the potatoes can be well drained of moisture and stand for much longer periods of time without deterioration.

So the key here is to ensure the potatoes are well washed after chipping ( to remove all the free starch that has been released) all chips are evenly treated and all treated potatoes are well drained prior to cooking.

These steps prevent excess starch and/or moisture making contact with the oil, which will help reduce the speed of oil breakdown.

c. Particulate production and its efficient removal

The main causes of particulate production are, batter scraps, from the frying of battered fish and other food particles mainly starches from potatoes which are insoluble in the oil.

The reason particulates are a problem is because they create a large surface area for the oil to react upon, plus the particulates themselves can accumulate, become charred and cause additional breakdown products as well as aid oil polymerisation.

It is always good practice to continue to sieve out the batter scraps after each and every frying, however the very minute black specs which can pass through a fairly fine sieve need a much more efficient system for removal and this involves a more sophisticated filtration system.

All the pans used for frying should be filtered on a daily basis. In most cases the cleaning system involves removing the hot oil from the pan, cleaning the pan by the removal of any built up brown resinous material and then filtering the oil through a very fine mesh back into the clean pan. Once a week a more thorough clean should be carried out, when the pan is empty it should be given a scrubbing with hot water and detergent. Care must be taken at this point to ensure that all detergent used is thoroughly rinsed away and the frier is completely dry before putting back the oil.

So the key here is to have a daily filtration regime which will remove any free particles and a scheduled deep clean which will remove products of polymerisation.

d. Minimising contact with air and light.

In the section on characteristics of the oil/fat we encountered the idea of un-saturation. The degree of un-saturation is related to the relative stability of the oil, so the more unsaturated the oil/fat has, the more areas of weakness it has and consequently the more unstable it is.
When the oil comes into contact with light and air it gives rise to an Oxidation reaction ( as it reacts with the oxygen in the air) which forms decomposition products. These products are formed due to the breakdown at the weakest point and they give rise to “off odours” and poor flavours, they also contribute to lowering the smoke and flash point of the oil.

To minimise the effect of light and air the frying range covers should be closed when the fryer is not being used.

e. Minimising contact with soaps.

It is recommended that the frier is deep cleaned on a regular basis using a soap or detergent. Care must be taken to ensure that all traces of soap/detergent are thoroughly rinsed away as both soap and alkaline detergents generally promote the breakdown of oil.

To minimise the effect of soaps always thoroughly rinse and dry the pan before adding fresh oil.

f. Minimising the effect of trace metals ( copper, Iron, Brass. )

Trace metals such as Copper and Iron have a catalytic effect on the oil breakdown i.e they increase the speed at which the breakdown occurs. For this reason you should ensure that all utensils, fixtures and fittings are made from stainless steel. In addition it is recommended that salt is not added to the food prior to frying as the sodium ions from the salt (Sodium Chloride ) also catalyse the oxidation reactions.

The key here is to only use stainless steel utensils, fixtures and fittings.

4. Some other considerations

a. Top Up

One factor that will reduce the increase in breakdown of the oil is that of oil turnover, if the oil is constantly been used up by absorption into the finished product then the pan will need constant topping up with fresh oil. This in turn will keep the oil reasonably fresh and if the rate of replacement is high enough the discarding of oil may not be necessary.

b. Oils containing synthetic Antioxidants and Anti-forming agents

All vegetable oils contain a level of natural antioxidants, however, these levels are reduced by some of the processing steps carried out by the manufacturer. In order to prolong the shelf life of the packaged product the manufacturer can add synthetic antioxidants to the oil, which is denoted by an E number declaration. Unfortunately their effect is only very minimal, as heat and steam (in the frier) combine to break them down and volatilise them.
Anti-foaming agents can also be added by the manufacturer, these products which are silicone based form a mono layer on the surface of the oil and this helps to reduce oxygen ingress.

c. Which oil?

Each oil has its own stability profile, however, the manufacturer has at his disposal some means of improving the stability of a less stable liquid oil. The method the manufacturer will use is called Hydrogenation, this process in effect changes the oils characteristics by removing one or more areas of weakness and in doing so the liquid oil becomes more solid. The benefit of this is a medium with a longer life but on the down side the hydrogenated product is more costly and contains a much higher level of “Trans Fatty Acids”.

Manufacturers have carried out tests to measure the stability of different types of oil and fat. From the results a table of an oils/ fats stability can be drawn up – see below

1. Hydrogenated Fats = Most Stable

2. Palm oil

3. Groundnut/ Dripping

4. Rapeseed oil = Least Stable

The type of oil used in the fish and chip trade is very dependent upon the region in which it is used and customer preference

Remember a good tasting product, well presented and packaged at a fair price will go a long way to ensuring customers make repeat visits.

Final Summary

In this document we have covered the main factors involved in the frying process. We have looked at some basic oil and fat chemistry and the role`s heat and oxygen play in oil breakdown.
We also looked at other factors that contribute to oil breakdown and how these can be minimised and controlled.

Finally we looked at some other considerations which need to be taken into account when choosing the correct frying medium, customer preference and geographical region being the most important.
In the final summary it must be said that the life of a frying oil is under the control of the frier and the process he/ she subjects it to with regard to heat, moisture, air, frying debris, light, trace metals and soaps.