The quality of cooking oil in a deep fryer has a direct effect on safety, palatability, and cost-efficiency. On the one hand, spent cooking oil reduces the flavour and digestibility of food; on the other, changing the oil too often will raise production costs.
To combat this, Instrument Choice recommends a device that measures Total Polar Materials (TPM) - Testo's 270 Cooking Oil Tester.
The Benefits of a Cooking Oil Tester
High-temperature cooking degrades the integrity of frying fats and oils,
producing Total Polar Materials or TPMs. These compounds comprise
monoglycerides, diglycerides, free fatty acids as well as other oxidised
products, which compromise the quality of cooking oils, most notably spoiling
taste, appearance, consistency, and overall quality.
|
Percentage of polar materials
|
Classification of fat aging
|
| Less than 1–14% TPM | Fresh cooking fat |
| 14–18% TPM | Slightly used |
| 18–22% TPM | Used, but still OK |
| 22–24% TPM | Heavily used, change the fat |
| Greater than 24%* | Spent cooking fat |
*The threshold for 'spent' cooking oil varies from country to country, and it varies depending on the relevant food authority. Visit your local food authority for more information.
Testo 270 Cooking Oil Tester IC-0563 2750
The Testo 270 cooking oil tester determines the TPM of various cooking oils quickly and reliably so that you can decide whether the TPM levels are within acceptable ranges. The device's robust and ergonomic design is well-suited for use in challenging commercial food preparation environments. Common applications for the Testo 270 include health and safety inspections, in hotels, restaurants, canteen kitchens, catering, quality control, and food production.
Testo 270 Features and Benefits:
-
A 'traffic light' backlit display makes it easy to evaluate the quality of
cooking oils at a glance.
- Green: The TPM content is OK.
- Orange: TPM value is borderline.
- Red: TPM value exceeded.
- There is no need to wait for the oil to cool to take measurements. This feature makes quick readings of hot deep-frying oil and back-to-back measurements of different deep fat fryers possible.
- A dishwasher-proof cover (included) is easy to remove, and this facilitates frequent cleaning.
- The meter is IP65 rated (waterproof), which helps avoid damage from accidental splashing.
- An easy-to-clean coating protects the breakproof oil sensor.
- A smooth to operate, intuitive keypad makes accurate TPM readings possible in as little as 20 seconds.
Testo 270 Specifications:
TPM Measuring Range: 0.0 to 40.0 %TPM
Accuracy: ±2%TPM
Resolution:0.5 %TPM
Temperature Measuring Range: +40°C to +200°C
Resolution: 0.1°C
Conclusion
Maintaining food safety and quality is an enormous ongoing challenge. Testo Instruments are experts in the manufacture of food quality and safety measuring equipment, and the Testo 270 cooking oil tester is an outstanding example of their prowess. This unit is uncomplicated to use and maintain, plus it's packed with advanced features that will help you manage your frying oil, so it's health-safe, economical to use, and your fried food is consistently delicious.
Want more information or the Testo 270 price? Speak with an Instrument Choice Scientist! We're here to help! Call 1300 737 871 or email customer-service@instrumentchoice.com.au.