Why Is My Cooking Grease Foaming?

What is Cooking Grease Foam, and What Does it Mean? 

The foods we usually fry, like chicken, fish, and potatoes, are packed with water. The coating or batter usually traps all of the moisture inside, but some water can escape. 

Some bubbles on the top of the fryer are fine. That’s just water from the food evaporating. There are some other, more worrisome causes of excessive foam, though.  

Contamination 

The most common cause of cooking grease foam is contamination. The batter and coating on the food can often float off in the fryer, releasing that water into the oil that causes excessive bubbling. The more food particles that break away, the more foam in your fryer oil. 

This contamination might cause some off-flavors in your food, or at the very least indicate when the oil needs to be filtered or disposed of. If oil isn’t properly cared for and frequently switched out, your food quality will suffer.

Your Oil is Too Hot 

Any splatter from water in oil grease indicates that it’s hot enough to cook food properly. However, even common frying oils like vegetable oil and peanut oil can become too hot to function properly. 

The optimum temperature for fryer oil is between 350°F and 375° F. This ensures that the food will be thoroughly and safely cooked without burning the outside. All oil has a smoke point, where it burns and smokes, and can even result in a grease fire. 

The best oils for frying have quite high smoke points, usually 400°F or higher. However, even if oil doesn’t reach its smoke point, it can still be too hot. Overheated oil will burn the outside of the food without cooking the center, and it will cause excessing foaming due to the protein breakdown at the molecular level. 

When Should You Dispose of Used Cooking Oil? 

Cooking oil can be filtered and used several times before it needs to be disposed of. However, there is a limit to what filtering can do, so look for signs that it’s time to get rid of used cooking oil. Keep an eye out for: 

• A dark color and goopy texture 

• A bitter, acidic smell 

• Excessive foam, even when cooking at the right temperature 

Every restaurant or commercial kitchen has different needs when it comes to how often to dispose of used cooking oil. It very much depends on output, the kind of coating used to fry and how much fryer space you have.

How to Reduce Foam in Frying Oil 

You want to keep your frying oil as fresh as possible to create the highest quality food for your customers and guests. Here are a few ways to reduce foam. 

Cook at a Lower Temperature 

Make sure that your fryer oil is right in that 350°F-375° F pocket. This not only ensures that fried food is the beautiful golden brown that customers expect, but also that the grease won’t bubble up and cause problems. This temperature range not only keeps you compliant with food safety guidelines, but it protects cooks from foam and aggressive oil splatter. 

Get Rid of Excess Moisture 

Some fried foods like chicken and fish have a lot of moisture content. While you can’t do much about their chemical makeup, you can keep the exterior as dry as possible before dredging and frying it. Everything that goes in the fryer should be patted dry as much as possible to reduce foaming. 

In addition, make sure to shake off any excess batter or breading to reduce how much of it comes off in the fryer. 

Regular Cleaning 

Filter oil regularly, and get rid of it before it affects your food. Used cooking oil tanks and direct pump systems make it easy to empty and store spent grease that’s unfit for frying. Fresh, clean oil is one of the simplest ways to ensure quality food for diners. 

Trust DAR PRO For Your UCO Needs 

No matter how much used cooking oil comes out of your commercial kitchen, DAR PRO has a solution for you. We’ll help you pick out the UCO system that best fits your needs, and collect it for recycling around your schedule.

Running a quality commercial kitchen is a significant undertaking. Automated used cooking oil systems and responsive customer service from DAR PRO can take some of the work off your plate. We’ll take care of your used cooking oil so you don’t have to. Call us today at 1-855-327-7761.