Patent ID: 7798058

Claim:
A fryer comprising: an oil pan for containing frying oil; a fryer hood enclosing the volume immediately above the oil pan; at least one steam stack on said fryer hood; an upstream end for receiving a product to be fried in said oil pan; a product-entry point where the product will enter the frying oil during operation; a fryer midsection adjacent said upstream end, said fryer midsection located downstream of said upstream end; a downstream end adjacent said fryer midsection for removing the product; a steam shield positioned slightly downstream from the product-entry point and located within the fryer hood, thereby separating said upstream end from said fryer midsection; and at least one non-condensable inert gas manifold(s) for introducing a non-condensable inert gas, each manifold having at least one inert gas port(s), wherein at least one of said non-condensable inert gas port(s) is located within said upstream end and upstream of said steam shield.