Commercial FryersGas Standard Vat
Pitco SSH55 Commercial Fryer Manual
Setup, everyday use, maintenance and troubleshooting for the 50 lb gas standard-vat fryer, with verified specifications.
- Oil capacity50 lb
- TypeGas Standard Vat
- Cooking efficiency57%
- Est. yearly energy cost$982
About the Pitco SSH55
Pitco model SSH55 is a 50 lb gas standard-vat fryer that meets ENERGY STAR efficiency requirements. It has a certified shortening capacity of 50 lb and a frypot 14 in. wide.
Standard-vat fryers are the workhorse of most kitchens, sized for French fries, breaded appetizers and other everyday fried items with a 12–18 in. wide frypot. As a gas fryer, it heats the oil with burners firing through heat-exchange tubes or the frypot walls, venting combustion products through a flue at the rear.
Under the ASTM test method used for ENERGY STAR, it achieved a cooking energy efficiency of 57% and an idle energy rate of 7,940 Btu/h. Its efficiency is higher than 87% of the 91 comparable gas fryers in our database.
Specifications
| Brand | Pitco |
|---|---|
| Model number | SSH55 |
| Vat type | Standard Vat |
| Fuel | Gas |
| Installation | Floor |
| Shortening (oil) capacity | 50 lb |
| Vat width | 14 in. |
| Vat depth | 14 in. |
| Cooking energy efficiency | 57% |
| Idle energy rate | 7,940 Btu/h |
Safety information
- Cooking oil at frying temperature (325–375 °F / 163–191 °C) causes severe burns. Wear heat-resistant gloves and an apron when filtering or draining, and never move a fryer that contains hot oil.
- Keep water away from hot oil. Water or ice in the frypot flashes to steam and can make oil erupt from the vat — shake ice crystals off frozen food, and make sure the frypot is completely dry after cleaning or boil-out.
- Install the fryer under a listed exhaust hood with an automatic fire-suppression system as required by NFPA 96 and your fire authority, and keep a Class K fire extinguisher nearby (typically within 30 ft).
- Never use water on a grease fire. Shut off the fryer's fuel or power, activate the suppression system, and evacuate if the fire is not immediately controlled.
- Do not bypass or tamper with the high-limit control, which shuts the fryer off if oil overheats.
- Keep the floor around the fryer clean and dry; oil on the floor is a serious slip hazard.
- Gas installation, conversion and service must be performed by a qualified gas technician following the National Fuel Gas Code (NFPA 54) and local codes. Leak-test connections with a soap solution, never a flame.
Installation and first-time setup
Fryers must be installed by qualified professionals according to the manufacturer's instructions and local fire, mechanical, gas and electrical codes. External dimensions are not part of the certification data, so take them from the specification sheet.
- Position under the hood
Place the fryer fully within the capture area of the exhaust hood and fire-suppression nozzles. Fryers must be separated from open-flame equipment such as range burners or charbroilers by at least 16 in. (406 mm), or by a steel baffle at least 8 in. (203 mm) high, as required by NFPA 96.
- Level and restrain
Level the fryer front to back and side to side so oil depth is even and the drain works. If the fryer is on casters, lock them and attach a restraining cable so the unit cannot roll and strain the gas or electrical connection.
- Connect gas
Connect a gas line sized for the fryer's rated input with a manual shut-off valve, using a flexible connector certified for commercial cooking appliances. Confirm the fryer is set up for the gas supplied (natural gas or propane), and keep the flue outlet clear.
- Boil out before first use
Fill the frypot to the fill line with water and the boil-out cleaner recommended by the manufacturer, bring it to a gentle simmer — never a rolling boil — and follow the manual's timing. Drain, rinse thoroughly and dry the frypot completely.
- Fill with oil
Fill to the oil-level line — the certified shortening capacity is 50 lb. If you use solid shortening, pack it as the manual directs and use the melt cycle; never heat the fryer empty or with oil below the minimum line.
- Verify temperature
Heat to your usual frying temperature and confirm the oil temperature with a calibrated fryer thermometer before cooking the first load.
Using your fryer
Frying temperatures
Most products fry well between 325 °F and 360 °F (163–182 °C); French fries are commonly cooked at about 350 °F (177 °C). Oil that is too cool makes food greasy, while oil that is too hot browns the outside before the inside is done and breaks the oil down faster. Never set the fryer above the manufacturer's maximum.
Loading baskets
- A common guideline is about 1 lb of food per 6 lb of oil per load. With 50 lb of shortening, that means loads of roughly 8 lb.
- Fill baskets no more than about half full, away from the fryer, and lower them slowly into the oil.
- Shake off excess ice and breading over a pan before frying, never over the frypot.
- Let the oil recover to set temperature between loads; dropping a new load too soon gives soggy, greasy product.
Caring for the oil
- Skim crumbs and floating debris frequently throughout service; burnt particles darken oil and add off-flavors.
- Filter the oil at least once a day — more often with breaded or battered products — following the filtration procedure in the manual.
- Top up with fresh oil to the fill line as levels drop.
- Discard oil when it is dark, foams persistently, smokes at normal frying temperature or tastes off. A total polar materials (TPM) meter gives an objective reading; many operators discard at about 24–27% TPM.
- Cover the vats when the fryer is off and store waste oil in a closed, approved container for collection.
Allergens and product separation
Oil carries allergens from one product to the next. If you fry fish, shellfish or wheat-battered items, dedicate a fryer to them and label it, or communicate shared-fryer risks accurately to guests.
Saving energy between rushes
At idle this fryer burns about 7,940 Btu/h. Use any idle or standby mode during slow periods, and turn the fryer off between meal periods rather than holding it at full temperature for hours. Keeping oil hot without frying also shortens oil life.
Care and maintenance
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| During service | Skim debris and check oil level; top up as needed. |
| Daily | Filter the oil, wipe down the exterior, backsplash and surrounding area, and clean the baskets. Clean hood filters as often as your cooking volume requires. |
| Weekly | Drain the oil and boil out the frypot with the recommended cleaner (or as often as the manual specifies); inspect the drain valve, baskets and basket hangers. |
| Monthly | Check thermostat accuracy with a calibrated thermometer and inspect the flue for grease or blockages. |
| Every 6 months | Have the hood fire-suppression system inspected and serviced by a licensed contractor, and have hoods and ducts cleaned on the schedule NFPA 96 sets for your cooking volume. |
| Annually | Have a qualified technician service the burners, pilot or ignition system and gas valve, and check combustion. |
Troubleshooting
Most fryer problems involve oil condition, temperature or loading. Let the oil cool before inspecting the frypot, and consult the code table in your manufacturer's manual if a computer controller displays a code.
| Problem | Possible cause | What to try |
|---|---|---|
| Fryer will not heat | Gas valve closed; pilot out or ignition fault; high-limit control tripped; no power to controls. | Open the gas valve and check power; relight or reset per the manual once. If it will not stay lit, call a technician. |
| Slow temperature recovery | Overloaded baskets; low gas pressure or carbon on heat-exchange tubes; thermostat out of calibration. | Reduce load size; have the heat source and thermostat checked. |
| Oil foams or boils over | Water or boil-out cleaner residue in the vat; degraded oil; wet product; overloading. | Turn the fryer off and let foam subside; drain, rinse and dry the vat; replace old oil; dry product and reduce load size. |
| Oil smokes at normal temperature | Oil broken down; temperature set too high; burnt crumbs in the vat. | Check temperature with a thermometer; skim and filter; replace the oil. |
| Food greasy or soggy | Oil temperature too low; baskets overloaded; not enough recovery time between loads. | Verify temperature; reduce load size; wait for the ready signal before the next load. |
| Food dark outside but undercooked inside | Oil too hot; old, darkened oil; pieces too large. | Lower the setting and verify with a thermometer; filter or change the oil; cut product smaller. |
| High-limit control trips repeatedly | Thermostat or temperature probe failure. | Stop using the fryer and call a qualified technician — this is a safety shutdown. |
| Pilot or burner goes out | Drafts from fans or doors; faulty thermocouple or flame sensor; low gas pressure. | Eliminate drafts; have the flame-safety components and gas pressure checked. |
Energy use and running costs
Cooking energy efficiency is the share of the fryer's energy that ends up in the food during the standard ASTM test. At 57%, the Pitco SSH55 transfers 57 Btu into the food for every 100 Btu it consumes — the rest leaves mainly through the flue, which is why gas fryers rate lower than electric models.
The estimate below assumes 100 lb of frozen fries a day (about 570 Btu absorbed per pound), 12 operating hours with 10 of them spent idling between loads, and 365 days a year, with gas at $1.50/therm and electricity at $0.17/kWh.
| Energy use | Per day | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Cooking (100 lb of food at 57% efficiency) | 1 therms | $548 |
| Idling (7,940 Btu/h for 10 h) | 0.79 therms | $435 |
| Estimated total | $982 |
Idling alone costs about $0.12 per hour, so turning the fryer down or off during slow periods pays off quickly.
Its idle energy rate is lower than 28% of the 90 comparable gas fryers in our database.
Actual costs depend on menu, volume, oil temperature and how long the fryer is held hot without cooking.
Frequently asked questions
How much oil does the Pitco SSH55 hold?
Its certified shortening capacity is 50 lb, in a frypot 14 in. wide. Always fill to the oil-level line marked in the vat.
How efficient is the Pitco SSH55?
It achieved 57% cooking energy efficiency under the ASTM test method used for ENERGY STAR — typical for a high-efficiency gas fryer, which loses some heat through the flue.
How much gas does the Pitco SSH55 use at idle?
Its idle energy rate is 7,940 Btu/h, about 0.08 therms per hour or $0.12 at $1.50/therm.
What does the Pitco SSH55 cost to run per year?
Roughly $982 a year, assuming 100 lb of fries a day, 12 operating hours with 10 at idle, and 365 days a year at $0.17/kWh and $1.50/therm. Your actual cost depends on volume and operating hours.
How much food can I fry at once in the Pitco SSH55?
Using the common guideline of about 1 lb of food per 6 lb of oil, loads of roughly 8 lb for 50 lb of oil keep recovery time short and product crisp. Fill baskets no more than half full.
How often should I filter and boil out a Pitco fryer?
Filter the oil at least once a day — more often with breaded products — and boil out the frypot about weekly or as Pitco's manual specifies. Always rinse and dry the vat completely before refilling.
Sources and disclaimer
Specifications on this page come from the ENERGY STAR certified commercial fryers dataset published by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (record certified October 19, 2016), retrieved October 7, 2026.
The setup, operating, maintenance and troubleshooting guidance is written by ManualHarbor's editors for this specific product type and configuration. It is an independent guide — not a reproduction of the manufacturer's manual — and ManualHarbor is not affiliated with Pitco. Always follow the safety instructions, installation requirements and warranty terms supplied with your unit, and contact Pitco or an authorized service provider for warranty repairs and replacement parts.
Running-cost figures use assumed U.S. average utility prices and are estimates for comparison only. See our editorial methodology for details.
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