Why does the ready light stay on for a long time on my fryer?

A ready or heating light that stays on for longer than expected usually means the oil is still coming up to temperature, the fryer has been overloaded, or cold or wet food has lowered the oil temperature. The manuals state that the heating light stays on during warm-up and the thermostat cycles on and off to hold the temperature.

1. Allow the fryer to preheat fully before adding food. Expected result: the ready light should change state once the set temperature is reached. If it never changes after a sensible warm-up time, stop using the appliance.
2. Check that you have not added too much food at once. Expected result: smaller batches should recover heat more quickly. If the light stays on because the fryer cannot recover, reduce the load next time.
3. Make sure food is dry and not partly frozen with excess ice. Expected result: drier food should cause less splashing and less temperature drop. If wet food or ice causes violent bubbling, stop using the fryer.
4. Check that the oil level is within the marked range and that the bowl and heating area are dry after cleaning. Expected result: the fryer should heat more consistently. If the problem remains and you cannot confirm safe operation, stop using it and contact the retailer or store where it was purchased.

Never add water to oil to try to cool or clean the fryer. If the fryer overheats, smells burnt or behaves erratically, stop using it immediately.