Cleaning Peanut Oil

I filter the breading out of my peanut oil so the oil doesn’t sour so quickly (yes, i store it in the fridge too)

my problem is that the filter i use has a copper mesh and it clogs up after 2-3 uses. I tap it out after each use while fresh.

i was trying to back flush it with hot water, adds one cycle.

so it sat for 4 months (no problem, boat is in dry dock again)

oil gummed up.

soaked it in tap 140F 20 mins, back blew with canned air, no help
soaked in boiling water, back blew canned air, no help
boiling water, with 150psi bench compressor. no help.

i’ve used as much air as i can w/o blowing out the copper.

i soaked/tooth brushed in rub alcohol, no help.
i soaked/brushed with gum thinner, no help.

THOUGHTS???

i think it’s needing a solvent for the gummed oil first.
could try vinegar or even acetone or naptha.

THOUGHTS???

First of all no thinners should be used with items that come incontact with food!
Second I use a funnel that has a plate with holes in the bottom and a paper filter, throw away the paper filter after each use.

http://www.basspro.com/Deep-Fryer-Oil-Funnel-Filter-Six-Pack/product/10221679/69690

http://www.basspro.com/Plastic-Cooking-Oil-Funnel/product/10221680/49776

I would try soaking it in Acetone, just remember to clean it real well afterwards. Also when you finish frying your fish place several thin sliced potatoes into the hot grease. This will remove the fishy taste from the oil.

E-85 will do the trick

Paint filters and cheesecloth work well too.

I’ve used mellita triangles and rounds, cheese cloth and paint filters over the years.

I thought this ‘oil filter/copper screen’ was a step up as I’d be able to run hot oil thru it, but it was too fine. The paint filters have a plastic mesh, so 300F melts them (THAT one was a REAL mess)

And the mesh was too course so the oil went bad fast when stored on the counter.

IF i can get the mesh cleaned out, i’m guessing i’ve got to retreat to the previous methods.

Comercial disposable Coffee Filters,

I went to Gordon’s food service 4 years ago and bought a stainless cone strainer frame and a carton of fibrous filters. The system works great and I’m still on my first box of filters. Warm oil filters faster.

B

could be the best alternative. i’ve used the retail coffee filters and with OIL they clog up.

i’m trying to get a system set up that filters back into the oil bottle, so that is asking alot.. yes, i know…

you know a brand on the gordon frame?? maybe i can see it on the internet… (who does FtF anymore…)

Google bio-diesel filters

I freeze mine and let gravity settle the chunks to the bottom

For the last 5 years I have been using the cheesecloth method. I let the oil cool down and use an empty 39 oz coffee container.I cut a double piece of cheesecloth a little larger than the circumference of the container. I then use 6 clothespins to fasten the cloth to the rim of the container, and pour in the oil. After letting it strain, take the cloth off, put it in the garbage and cput the lid back on the container. I usally get 6-8 uses out of the peanut oil and may get more, but this seems to work the best. There is absolutely no particles in the oil after straining either.

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could be the best alternative. i’ve used the retail coffee filters and with OIL they clog up.

i’m trying to get a system set up that filters back into the oil bottle, so that is asking alot.. yes, i know…

you know a brand on the gordon frame?? maybe i can see it on the internet… (who does FtF anymore…)

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Maybe you have something against the BPS link that I sent earlier? This rather cheep and goes right back into the container. See my previous post.
On the paper filter just invert the pointed end back up in the center and it sets on the bottom screen, WaLa, done!

I use a dishrag thats doubled and thats fairly tightly woven then pour hot oil through that into a pan, all thats in the oil is the stain you can’t remove, this way gets all the sediment and all you have to do is wash the dishrag.

Dan, I hope you used a fairly clean rag to start with!

Lol ya thier always clean.

no, denny, not at all. the filter system they have works ok, especially with hot oil. one of the basic constraints seems to be, IF YOU WANT FINE FILTRATION, is to have more surface area filtering. the MORE of the breading that is removed, the longer the oil lasts at room temp.

SOOO, a long time ago i used the bottom of a veggie steamer in the bottom of a large unscreened funnel and it worked ok, esp if i used the VERY LARGE COMMERCIAL round filters, i.e. i could pour a gallon of hot thru in one pour (kinda important if you’ve got kids and dogs around…)

BUT, the system REQUIRED internet (electricity and WWW) or commrcl supplier ($60 gas), SOOOO i’ve been looking for a better solution. The 1″ copper strainer works for car oil well, but suspect that vegetable oils have a coagl factor or the screen gets jammed. will probably run by Runnings in RW (you P4 guys know it) and try again, if the acetone doesn’t clean it out (yes, i will WASH it thoroughly and toss it after my next test; after all, i have an 8yo on site)

Thanks to all that commented. Mossy- you can get those dish rags in super size at FltFarm. Don’t know about FarmFleet.

If you want to pump it back into the original container, I use one of these pumps and they work well. Just a PITA to clean when your done. I run hot soapy water through it and then flush with clean hot water.

http://www.eastmanoutdoors.com/battery-powered-oil-filter-pump

well, made some progress on the oil filter project.

the mesh is bronze (copper mixed with iron).

On advice of a pharmacist buddy tried hydrocloric acid first. but couldn’t find that. so used sulpheric acid. nope didn’t touch it even with shop air.

So, tried to soak it in acetone, but only found lacquer thinner in the shop. 10 minutes and a quick blow and it was virtually clean.

So, rather than get into THAT bind again, i got an open funnel and put a dish rag in it and a strainer at the bottom of the funnel and now ive got clean oil. 10 days of struggle.

i put the clean filter away and will be afraid to use it the rest of my life, i suspect!!

peanut oil is cheap…throw it out

if THAT is your position, i could use a couple of cases of the stuff. Just go to my PM and I’ll send you a surface address. Goll, I appreciate wonderful sponsors like you…