Patent ID: 7981455

Claim:
An automated method of frying food in a fry vat having heated cooking oil contained therein and discharging the fried food into a holding bin comprising: depositing a quantity of food to be fried into one compartment of a circular fry wheel having at least a generally circular perimeter and a plurality of compartments each having an opening towards the perimeter, the fry wheel mounted for rotational movement relative to the radial axis of the fry wheel, which radial axis is fixedly disposed above the normal operating level of the cooking oil in the fry vat, the fry wheel being configured so that during operation of the fry wheel, including during frying and discharge of the food, when one compartment is in a position above the normal operating level of the cooking oil in the fry vat to discharge the quantity of food contained therein, another compartment is entirely below the normal operating level of the oil in the fry vat to cook the food therein; incrementally rotating the fry wheel so that the compartment having food therein travels through the heated cooking oil over a period of time to cause the food to be fried; incrementally rotating the fry wheel so that a compartment having fried food therein is at a position above the level of the cooking oil to cause the fried food to be discharged from the compartment; and directing the fried food that is discharged from the compartment into a holding bin.