Autofry Cleaning Instructions
Regular cleaning of your Autofry unit helps ensure proper performance, food quality and customer safety. If you’re looking for information on how to care for your unit, these Autofry cleaning instructions outline daily, weekly and quarterly maintenance procedures that will help keep your machine safe and efficient for as long as possible.
This guide contains information for MTI-10, FFG-10 and MTI-40e ventless deep fryer units.
Supplies
- Warm Water
- Mild Detergent
- Cleaning Cloths
- Paper Towels
- Quaternary Ammonia Cleaner or Iodine
- Stainless Steel Polish
- Kote® Soil Shield
- Small Screwdriver
- Safety Glasses
- Protective Gloves
Pre-Cleaning Procedure
Hot oil and surfaces pose a burn risk, so be sure to wear safety glasses and gloves, as well as let the unit cool down sufficiently, before cleaning the unit.
- Step 1. Turn the unit off - Use the power button to turn the unit off.
- Step 2. Unplug the fryer - In order to minimize electrical hazards, disconnect the power cord from the outlet.
- Step 3. Cool down the fryer - Allow the unit to cool down for a minimum of 15-20 minutes before continuing.
- Step 4. Take out the removable parts - Remove the food entry chute, food exit chute, wire food basket, filter cover plate, grease baffle and second filter either with a screwdriver or by pulling them out of the unit. Refer to the user’s manual for more detailed instructions.
- Step 5. Make a sanitizing solution - Use quaternary ammonia or iodine solution to make a sanitizing solution. For more specific directions, refer to the manufacturer’s label on the bottle of the cleaning chemical.
- Step 6. Check to see if the room temperature is at least 75°F (23.9°C) - For the sanitizing solution to work properly, the ambient temperature should be at least 75°F (23.9°C). If the temperature is below this minimum, turn on the heat.
Daily Cleaning Instructions
Take care when cleaning near the fire system actuation cables and fusible link in the interior cabinet so as not to cause an accidental discharge of the fire system.
- Step 1. Wash the detached parts - Use warm, soapy water to clean the parts that were removed during the pre-cleaning procedure. Rinse away any remaining particles or suds with clean water. Then, use a soft cloth to dry the detached parts thoroughly.
- Step 2. Wipe the charcoal filter - Use a damp cloth to wipe down the exterior surfaces of the charcoal filter and then dry when finished. Don’t soak the charcoal filter since doing so can cause irreparable damage.
- Step 3. Filter the oil (if needed) - If necessary, filter the oil.
- Step 4. Clean the interior surfaces - Wash the unit’s interior with warm water, mild detergent and soft cloths, then rinse with clean water before drying with a soft cloth.
- Step 5. Sanitize the unit - Disinfect the detached parts and interior surfaces with the cleaning solution made during the pre-cleaning procedure.
- Step 6. Polish the exterior - Use a clean, soft cloth to apply stainless steel polish to the exterior surfaces.
- Step 7. Add oil (if necessary) - If needed, add oil or shortening.
Weekly Maintenance Procedure
Be sure to dispose of drained oil in an environmentally-safe way.
- Step 1. Clean the detached parts and charcoal filter - Before beginning the weekly maintenance procedure, clean the detached parts and charcoal filter by following steps 1 and 2 of the daily cleaning procedure.
- Step 2. Maintain the heater box assembly (FFG-10 and MTI-10 models only) - If cleaning a FFG-10 or MTI-10 unit, uninstall and wipe the heater box assembly with a damp cloth and then dry. Don’t soak the heater box since doing so can damage it.
- Step 3. Drain the oil - Empty the oil vats into a separate container and discard the oil.
- Step 4. Clean the oil vat - Use warm, soapy water and a soft cloth to clean the oil vat surfaces. Rinse with clean water and dry with a cloth, too.
- Step 5. Apply Kote® Soil Shield (FFG-10 and MTI-10 models only) - If cleaning a FFG-10 or MTI-10 unit, apply soil shield to the surfaces within the oil vat.
- Step 6. Wash the interior surfaces - Clean the unit’s interior surfaces with warm water, mild detergent and a clean cloth. Then, rinse away any remaining residues before drying the interior with a soft cloth.
- Step 7. Disinfect the removable parts and interior surfaces - Use the cleaning solution made during the pre-cleaning procedure to sanitize the detached parts and interior surfaces of the unit.
Quarterly Cleaning Instructions
Remember to clean the charcoal filter a minimum of once every 3 months as part of the quarterly cleaning procedure.
- Step 1. Complete the weekly cleaning procedure - Perform steps 1-6 of the weekly cleaning instructions before beginning the quarterly cleaning procedure.
- Step 2. Clean the top panel and fire damper - Remove the top panel and fire damper and then wash them with warm, soapy water. Remember to rinse away any remaining residues or suds with clean water and then dry with a soft cloth.
- Step 3. Clean the fan area - Use a damp cloth to clean the fan area and then dry it with a soft cloth.
- Step 4. Empty the charcoal filter - Take out the charcoal filter and remove the screws holding the perforated cover in place.
- Step 5. Wash and dry the charcoal filter - Clean the reusable housing and perforated screen with warm, soapy water. Then, rinse with clean water and dry with a cloth.
- Step 6. Reinstall the top panel, fire damper and charcoal filter - Return the top panel, fire damper and charcoal filter to the unit.
Resuming Normal Operation
- Step 1. Reinstall the detached parts - Return the food entry chute, food exit chute, wire food basket, filter cover plate, grease baffle and second filter to the fryer. See the owner’s manual for more detailed instructions.
- Step 2. Restore power to the unit - Plug the power cord into an electrical outlet.
- Step 3. Use the unit normally - Once power has been restored, turn the unit on and resume normal operation.
If you found the information in this article useful, be sure to take a look at our Autofry MTI series error codes article as well. For more information on how to care for your specific unit, our large library of Autofry manuals is a great resource.