Blacktop 360 149186 Operating instructions

  • Hello! I have reviewed the Blacktop 360 Grill-Fryer Users Guide. This document describes a versatile cooking device that combines grilling, frying, griddling, and warming capabilities, with a focus on safety, especially regarding hot oil. It uses a unique infrared grill that heats up quickly. I am ready to answer your questions about the device.
  • What should I do if the oil catches fire?
    Can you use olive oil for frying?
    Do I need to preheat the infrared grill?
Blacktop)360)Grill‐Fryer)Users)Guide)
To#get#the#most#out#of#your#Blacktop#360#Grill‐Fryer,#please#take#a#couple#minutes#and#
peruse#this#guide.#It#explains#the#basic#how‐tos#(and#how‐not‐tos),#and#clues#you#in#to#
some#stuff#you#might#not#immediately#notice#about#this#amazing#device.#No#skimming!#
#
First#and#foremost:#Use#common#sense.#Seriously.#Whenever#you#do#anything#involving#
fire,#hot#frying#oil#or#propane#and#propane#accessories,#you’re#going#to#have#to#use#some#
common#sense#to#keep#everyone#safe.#Safety#first,#as#they#say!#So#make#sure#you#read#
all#of#the#warnings,#and#that#you#completely#understand#what#you're#doing#before#you#
start#doing#it.#We’re#not#trying#to#be#bossy#here;#we#just#want#to#be#sure#you#and#yours#
have#a#good#time.#So#yeah,#remember:#Use#common#sense.#
Basic)Safety#
Make#sure#that#you#monitor#the#Grill‐Fryer#the#entire#time#you're#using#it.#Stuff#gets#
really#hot#really#fast#on#this#bad#boy,#and#food#cooks#really#fast,#too.#So#pay#attention#to#
what#you're#doing.#Oh,#and#that#includes#never#leaving#it#unattended,#even#if#you’re#just#
heating#it#up.#
Mind#your#surroundings!#Never#put#the#Grill‐Fryer#next#to#anything#that#could#catch#fire.#
Fires#cause#damage#to#non‐food#items,#and#that’s#no#fun.#Plus,#tending#to#unnecessary#
fires#can#cut#into#your#precious#eating#and#drinking#time.#So#make#sure#it#has#ample#
space#all#around#you#and#the#Grill‐Fryer#at#all#times.##
Also#keep#an#eye#on#bystanders#potentially#bumping#into#the#Grill‐Fryer#and/or#knocking#
it#over.#People#like#to#throw#balls#around#the#parking#lot#before#games,#so#make#sure#
guys#aren’t#running#slant#routes#into#your#Grill‐Fryer#zone.#
#
Ahhh,#deep‐frying.#Deep‐frying#food#is#really#fun,#and#obviously#tastes#awesome.#Still,#
you#are#dealing#with#hot#oil.#Please#make#sure#the#oil#doesn't#get#splashed#or#spattered,#
and#be#especially#careful#not#to#overheat#to#the#point#of#ignition.##
#
This#we#cannot#stress#enough:#if#the#oil#does#light#on#fire,#do#not#put#water#on#it.#You’ve#
heard#the#phrase#“water#and#oil#don’t#mix”#right?#Well#in#this#case,#water#will#spread#the#
fire#rather#than#put#it#out.#Pouring#baking#soda#or#table#salt#onto#the#fire#should#put#it#
out.#Or#you#can#smother#a#fire#with#a#damp,#wrung‐out#towel.#Now#you#are#aware#of#this#
potential#danger,#make#sure#that#everyone#else#who#gathers#round#understands#this#as#
well.#If#you‘re#still#unclear#on#this,#Google#“water#on#oil#fire”#and#watch#some#videos.##
Actually,#do#it#regardless.#Good#times.#
#
#
#
)
Putting)the)thing)together#
There#is#such#minimal#assembly#required#that#it#seems#strange#to#even#call#it#
“assembly.”#Still,#just#a#few#quick#steps#and#your#Grill‐Fryer#is#ready#to#rock.#
Unfold#the#legs#with#the#Grill‐Fryer#upside#down,#so#legs#up.#Make#sure#the#folding#struts#
pop#in#the#place.#
Grab#the#whole#thing#and#flip#it#over#onto#its#legs.#
Take#the#saucer#and#put#it#on#top.#Done.#That#wasn’t#so#hard,#right?#Actually,#there#is#a#
bit#of#a#wrinkle#in#this:#See#the#deep#channel#on#the#saucer?#This#lines#up#with#the#notch#
in#the#lower#bowl#just#to#the#right#of#the#controls.#This#is#the#only#way#the#top#should#
ever#be#put#on#the#bottom.#Be#careful#here:#The#saucer#rests#securely#onto#the#base,#but#
it#isn't#attached.#This#makes#handling#and#cleaning#way#easier,#but#just#keep#in#mind#that#
the#saucer#can#come#off#if#the#Grill‐Fryer#is#tipped.##
Where)it’s)at##
#
This#schematic#outlines#where#to#find#the#IR#grill,#griddle,#deep#fryer#and#warming#plate.#
The#controls#for#each#of#these#sections#are#clearly#labeled.#
#
You#can#use#all#four#of#the#areas#at#the#same#time#if#you#so#choose,#just#make#sure#you#
don't#have#so#much#going#on#that#you#can't#monitor#everything,#especially#the#oil#
temperature.#You#don’t#want#anything#spoiling#the#party.#
#
Add‐ons)
#
The#metal#ring#wrapping#around#the#bowl#is#where#your#accessories#attach.#There#are#
also#two#handles#with#notches#welded#onto#the#ring.#Use#these#notches#to#hang#tools#
such#as#tongs,#spatulas#and#strainers.#You#will#need#tools#to#operate#this#thing#safely.#If#
you#didn’t#notice,#that#was#a#hint:#don’t#use#your#hands.#
#
The#cutting#board#can#be#positioned#practically#anywhere#on#ring.#Just#make#sure#that#
you#check#the#overall#stability#before#you#start#cutting.#We#only#want#you#cutting#food.#
Also,#when#you#are#cutting#food#and#not#yourself,#be#especially#careful#not#to#apply#too#
much#pressure,#which#could#cause#the#Grill‐Fryer#to#tip.#
Gas)up)
You’ll#need#propane#to#power#your#Grill‐Fryer.#The#propane#attaches#on#the#underside#
just#to#the#right#of#the#control#panel.#Simply#screw#a#1#lb.#propane#tank#into#the#fitting.#
You#can#also#attach#a#hose#into#said#fitting,#allowing#you#to#use#the#larger#20‐pound#
propane#tanks.#
#
Feel)the)heat)
#
It#starts#with#the#electric#igniter#switch**.#Press#the#igniter#switch#while#also#pressing#the#
appropriate#control#knob#in#and#turning#it#counterclockwise.#You#should#hear#a#“click‐
click‐click”#followed#by#the#sound#of#the#gas#igniting.#Once#your#Grill‐Fryer#is#lit,#adjust#
the#controls#to#get#it#to#the#temperature#you#want.##
#
**The#igniter#needs#one#AA#battery#that#is#not#included.#To#install#the#AA,#simply#
unscrew#the#ring#around#the#button#and#drop#in#the#battery#with#the#positive#end#facing#
up.#Be#careful;#there’s#a#spring#in#the#button.##
#
The)Fryer)
#
Pay#close#attention#to#this#part:#there#are#a#couple#of#rules#to#deep‐frying#food#in#hot#oil.#
Again,#safety#first.#
#
Don't#ever#turn#on#the#burner#for#the#fryer#without#having#any#oil#or#water#in#it.#It's#got#
to#have#some#liquid#in#there#to#absorb#the#heat;#otherwise#you#could#damage#the#
reservoir#and#possibly#the#whole#saucer.#
You’ll#need#to#use#oil#intended#for#frying#such#as#canola,#peanut,#or#vegetable#oil.#Notice#
we#didn’t#suggest#olive#oil?#Do#not#use#olive#oil!#It#burns#at#a#much#lower#temperature#
than#oils#intended#for#frying.#
#
You're#going#to#want#to#heat#oil#to#about#360°F.#That#should#be#an#easy#number#to#
remember,#right?#Well#just#in#case,#we#marked#it#on#the#thermometer#too.#The#red‐
shaded#part#that#says#“Fry#Away”#means#just#that.#You’ll#also#notice#the#area#marked#
“Danger,”#which#is#also#self‐explanatory.#If#not,#think#of#it#as#the#“No#Fry#Zone.”#
If#the#oil#starts#to#smoke,#it's#too#hot,#and#you’re#starting#to#tempt#fate#regarding#that#oil#
fire#business#we#talked#about#earlier.#If#this#happens,#turn#off#the#heat#and#let#the#oil#
cool.#If#you#overheat#the#oil#for#too#long,#the#oil#will#break#down,#rendering#it#useless#for#
effectively#frying#your#food.#
When#you#drop#food#into#properly#heated#oil,#you#will#see#the#surface#of#your#food#
bubbling#away.#This#means#it's#frying.#Woohoo!#But#be#careful;#you#don’t#want#that#
same#bubbling#action#on#your#hand.#
We#mentioned#earlier#that#water#and#oil#do#not#mix.#Really,#you#should#never#mix#any#
other#liquid#(water,#soda,#beer,#etc.)#with#hot#oil.#It#will#cause#the#oil#to#bubble#wildly#
and#spatter#all#over#the#place.#Avoid#this#at#all#costs!#
#
It#should#go#without#saying#after#all#our#oil/water#talk,#but#never#fry#if#it's#raining#or#
heavily#snowing.#This#will#get#liquid#into#the#oil#and,#as#you’ve#learned,#terrible#things#
could#happen.#
#
And#don’t#forget,#the#reservoir#ain’t#just#for#frying.#You#can#use#it#to#boil#water,#make#
soup#or#fondue,#heat#barbecue#sauces#or#baked#beans,#etc.##
OK,#you#should#now#be#ready#to#start#frying.#But#remember,#if#the#oil#does#catch#fire,#do#
not#put#water#on#it.#Did#we#mention#that#before?#Absolutely#we#did.#Repetition#works.#
And#repetition#works.#Water#on#an#oil#fire#will#spread#the#fire#and#cause#an#explosion,#
and#you#definitely#do#not#want#to#cause#an#explosion#or#any#other#kind#of#conflagration.#
#
The)Infrared)Grill)
#
If#you’ve#never#used#a#ceramic#infrared#grill#before,#understand#that#they#operate#much#
differently#compared#to#traditional#grills.#
#
IR#grills#heat#up#fast,#so#there’s#really#no#need#to#preheat.#A#couple#of#minutes#and#bang!#
You’re#ready#to#grill.#No#waiting#20‐30#minutes.#Also,#IR#grills#get#much#hotter#than#
conventional#gas#grills.#This#Grill‐Fryer#reaches#temperatures#exceeding#650°F,#about#
twice#as#hot#as#other#portable#grills.#
#
In#fact,#it#gets#so#hot#you#have#to#remember#that#the#food#will#sear#and#cook#much#
quicker#than#you#might#be#used#to.#Even#frozen#foods#will#thaw#and#cook#super#fast.#
Infrared#burners#use#penetrating#heat,#meaning#the#food#gets#cooked#throughout#rather#
than#just#heating#it#from#the#exterior.#
#
Cooking#over#IR#provides#so#much#heat,#that#you#will#probably#find#it#much#easier#to#
manage#temperatures#without#using#the#lid.##You#really#should#experiment#with#it#in#
order#to#get#the#hang#of#it.#
#
When#the#IR#burner#is#turned#on,#you#won't#necessarily#see#a#bright#external#flame#like#
on#a#conventional#grill.#Instead,#you'll#see#the#white#ceramic#element#begin#to#glow#fiery#
orange.#If#you're#in#bright#sunlight,#this#glow#may#be#hard#to#see,#but#you'll#definitely#feel#
the#heat.#
#
The#IR#ceramic#element#gets#so#hot#that#it#easily#burns#off#bits#of#food#and#grease#that#
fall#upon#it.#So#it’s#kind#of#self‐cleaning.#However,#if#the#ceramic#starts#to#collect#too#
much#debris,#you#can#simply#brush#it#off.#But#only#do#this#after#the#Grill‐Fryer#is#
completely#cooled,#Einstein.#
#
#
#
The)Griddle)
#
The#griddle#works#just#as#you#would#expect#it#to.#Turn#on#the#heat#and#the#whole#flat#
surface#gets#hot.#
The#griddle#works#great#as#a#compliment#to#the#grill.#Here’s#where#you#can#cook#up#
bacon#or#onions#or#mushrooms#for#your#burgers,#heat#your#buns#(the#bread#kind),#or#
warm#tortillas#for#fish#tacos.##
But#the#griddle#can#also#function#as#your#main#cooking#area#for#stuff#like#bacon#and#eggs,#
hash#browns#or#pancakes.#Yes,#we#are#implying,#nay,#encouraging#you#to#make#breakfast#
on#the#Grill‐Fryer.#Why#not?###
You#can#use#a#little#cooking#oil,#spray#or#butter#on#the#surface#to#prevent#the#food#from#
sticking.#You#can#use#butter#for#a#lot#of#things,#actually,#and#most#of#them#are#delicious.#
#
Warming)Plate)
The#warming#plate#gives#you#a#space#to#put#cooked#food#that’s#ready#to#eat,#using#the#
radiant#created#by#the#burners#inside#to#keep#your#food#warm.#Pretty#basic#stuff.#But#
this#zone#is#particularly#good#for#setting#out#your#fried#foods.#It’s#slightly#angled#toward#
the#center#and#has#channels#leading#into#the#fryer,#so#any#excess#oil#drains#off#your#food#
and#back#into#the#fryer.#Where#it#belongs.###
Liquid)Catch)Bottle)
#
The#liquid#catch#bottle#is#provided#so#you#can#store#and/or#drain#your#cooking#oil.##
To#store#oil,#remove#lid,#fill#with#oil,#replace#lid.#You#get#all#that?##
Draining#oil#is#much#more#interesting.#But#first,#do#not#drain#oil#until#the#saucer#and#the#
oil#have#cooled#down#(less#than#100°F).#OK,#saucer#and#oil#are#cool?#Cool.#Hang#the#
bottle#off#the#frame#ring#underneath#the#opening#of#the#groove#channel#leading#from#
the#reservoir#to#the#edge#of#the#saucer.#Now,#standing#on#the#opposite#side#of#the#
bottle,#slowly#lift#the#saucer#and#allow#the#oil#to#pour#away#from#you#and#into#the#bottle.#
If#done#properly,#the#saucer#rests#on#the#base#as#the#oil#pours#into#the#bottle.#If#done#
improperly,#well,#you’ve#most#likely#got#a#mess#on#your#hands…and#maybe#your#shoes.##
Cleanup)
#
Everyone’s#favorite#part#of#grilling!#Nothing#beats#cleaning#up#a#mess#on#a#full#stomach.#
Did#you#detect#any#sarcasm#there?#Hope#so,#but#don’t#let#that#get#you#down.#We#hate#
cleaning#up#as#much#as#you#do,#so#we#thought#“wouldn’t#it#be#cool#if#cleaning#up#wasn’t#
such#a#pain?”#We#took#this#completely#original#thought#and#applied#it#to#the#Grill‐Fryer.##
First,#wait#until#the#Grill‐Fryer#is#cooled#down#before#engaging#in#your#cleanup#activities.#
Once#the#saucer#is#cooled#down#and#you've#drained#the#cooking#oil,#you#can#safely#clean#
it.#All#you#need#to#do#is#use#paper#towels#or#an#equivalent#to#wipe#up#any#mess#from#the#
reservoir,#griddle,#and#warming#plate.#You#can#also#do#the#same#to#the#legs,#control#
panel,#outer#bowl,#etc.#The#grill#keeps#itself#clean#for#the#most#part,#but#scrub#off#any#
char#if#it#has#built#up.#
#
Check#the#grease#pan#underneath#the#main#housing.#If#it’s#accumulated#greasy#build‐up,#
get#rid#of#it.##
#
Like#any#other#grill,#after#frequent#use#you#may#have#to#wipe#down#the#inside#of#the#
bowl#under#the#saucer#to#clear#out#any#collected#grease#or#charred#food.#
#
What)did)we)learn?)
Pop#quiz:#what#happens#when#you#put#water#on#an#oil#fire?#
Sorry,#we#admittedly#harped#on#the#whole#oil#fire#thing,#but#it’s#no#joke.#We#just#think#
you#look#great#with#eyebrows#and#want#you#to#keep#them.#That’s#all.#
Anyway,#you#should#now#be#armed#with#enough#frying#and#IR#grilling#knowledge#to#blow#
people#away#with#your#culinary#skills.#But#like#we#said#earlier,#we#encourage#you#to#
experiment#with#your#Grill‐Fryer.#Case#in#point:#one#of#our#grill#masters#deep‐fried#
pickles#wrapped#in#bacon.#And#they#were#amazing.##
What#do#you#got?##
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