Festival Season Is Coming — Our Top Fryers
Festival Season Is Coming — Our Top Fryers for Outdoor Catering.
The pitch is booked. The menu is set. But is the fryer ready for what festival season actually demands?
Outdoor catering is a different kind of test. Long days, continuous service, no backup kitchen, and a queue that doesn’t stop because your equipment is struggling. A fryer that performs well in a fixed kitchen can fall behind when it’s running flat out in a trailer from 11am to 10pm. Getting the right fryer sorted before the season starts is one of the most practical decisions an outdoor caterer can make.
LPG or Electric?
For most outdoor and festival operations, LPG is the straightforward choice. Bottled propane means no dependency on mains power or a generator capable of handling the electrical load. Fast heat recovery, simple setup, works anywhere.
Electric fryers are worth considering if your setup includes a reliable generator or mains hook-up. Single phase models run on a standard 13amp plug — no hard wiring — and offer precise temperature control. If power is guaranteed, electric is a perfectly viable option.
No guaranteed power supply? Start with LPG.
What Actually Matters in a Festival Fryer
Capacity Be honest about peak volume. A single tank fryer suits a quieter operation or a menu where frying plays a supporting role. A busy fish and chip or fried food focused pitch needs a twin tank — or at minimum a single tank with generous oil capacity — to sustain continuous service without backing up.
Heat recovery Every time cold food hits the oil, temperature drops. A fryer with strong heat recovery gets back up quickly and keeps food quality consistent through a long service. Weak burners drag — precisely when you need them most.
Countertop or freestanding Countertop fryers suit mobile setups where space is tight. Freestanding units carry larger capacities and handle higher volume. Most trailer and small van operations will be looking at countertop — larger outdoor setups with dedicated kitchen space should consider freestanding.
Build quality Outdoor use is harder on equipment. Vibration in transit, temperature swings, less controlled environments. Commercial build quality handles a full season. Budget units pushed beyond their design limits often don’t.
Fryers Worth Considering
LPG — for pitches without guaranteed power
Infernus LPG Fryer — Professional 23L Single Tank A strong entry point into professional LPG frying. 23 litre capacity with twin baskets — well suited to an outdoor operation getting started or looking for a reliable backup unit.
Parry AGFP LPG Table Top Fryer 7.5L Compact countertop LPG fryer from a long-established UK commercial catering brand. Well suited to smaller operations or setups where frying is one part of a broader menu rather than the main event. Please note delivery on this unit is 5-7 days rather than next working day — plan accordingly.
Blue Seal FastFri FF18 Single Tank Gas Fryer 18L Available in LPG and natural gas — make sure you select the right variant for your setup. The FastFri range is built around fast heat recovery — the single most important performance factor in continuous outdoor service. 18 litre capacity handles genuine volume through a busy day.
PITCO VF35 Freestanding Single Tank LPG Gas Fryer For operations running serious volume. PITCO has a strong reputation in high-output commercial frying. The VF35 is freestanding, built for continuous use, and won’t be the weak point in a large outdoor setup. A graded VF35 is also available at a lower price point — worth checking if budget is a consideration.
Lincat J10/P Twin Tank LPG Gas Fryer — 2 x 12L Twin tanks in LPG — cook different foods at different temperatures simultaneously, manage allergens properly, keep both sides running through peak service. Lincat is the most widely used commercial catering brand in the UK and the J10/P is built for serious outdoor operations.
Electric — if you have reliable power
Infernus INF-172L Countertop Twin Tank 17 Litre Electric Fryer Runs on two standard 13amp plugs — no hard wiring, no three phase supply needed. Twin tanks, 17 litre total capacity, compact countertop footprint. A practical electric option for outdoor setups with a reliable generator or mains hook-up.
Lincat DF66 Twin Tank Electric Fryer Independently controlled tanks with precise temperature management. The DF66 delivers consistent results through continuous service — a solid choice for operations where power supply is not a concern.
Act Before the Season Starts
The UK festival season is already underway. Download Festival hits Donington Park in June, Isle of Wight follows the same month, Latitude arrives in Suffolk in July, and Reading and Leeds closes out August. Food festivals — Taste of London, Edinburgh Food Festival and dozens of regional events — run throughout. The calendar is full and so is demand for outdoor catering pitches.
Next working day delivery is available on many units but not all. If your current fryer is marginal, ageing or simply not sized for the volume you’re planning this summer, now is the time to act — not the weekend it lets you down.
Browse our full LPG and gas fryer range — countertop and freestanding, from compact single tank to high-output twin tank models.
Call us on 01379 641223 if you want to talk through the right option for your setup.
