Electric Commercial Fryers Compared: Lincat J12, J18, DF66, DF33 and Infernus

Last updated: November 2026

In 30 seconds:

• Decide plug-in or hardwired first. The Lincat DF33 and DF66 plug into 13A sockets. The Lincat J12, J18 and both Infernus free-standing fryers need a hardwired supply fitted by an electrician.
• Lincat rates output in chilled chips an hour: 12kg for the DF33, 24kg for the DF66, 52kg for the J12 and 60kg for the J18.
• Prices run from £639 for the DF33 to £1,669 for the J18. The Infernus twin tank starts from £819 and the 28-litre single tank from £719.
• Twin tanks let you fry chips in one and fish or chicken in the other, with no flavour transfer.
• The costly mistake is ordering a 12kW or 18kW fryer before an electrician has checked your supply.

Saturday lunch in a busy pub kitchen goes one of two ways. Either the chips keep pace with the tickets, or the fryer becomes the bottleneck and every plate waits for it.

An electric commercial fryer is the standard choice for UK cafés, pubs, restaurants and takeaways that have no gas supply, or that would rather keep gas out of the kitchen. Lincat’s Silverlink 600 range is widely regarded as a dependable British benchmark. This guide compares the four Lincat electric fryers and two Infernus models we sell, from £639 to £1,669, on power, oil, output and the supply each one needs.

The six electric fryers at a glance

Chip outputs are Lincat’s own figures for 12mm chilled chips. Infernus does not publish an output figure, so we have not guessed one.

Plug-in or hardwired: decide this before anything else

Lincat’s manual is clear on the dividing line. Models up to 3kW come with a plug and lead. Models over 3kW must be installed by a qualified electrician.

That splits the range neatly. The DF33 and the DF66 are plug and play. The J12, the J18 and the two Infernus fryers are wired into a fixed supply.

What the hardwired fryers draw

• Lincat J12: each tank draws 26A on a 230V single-phase supply, or 13A per phase on two phases of a 400V three-phase supply.
• Lincat J18: each tank draws 39A on a 230V single-phase supply, or 13A per phase on all three phases of a 400V supply.
• Infernus INF-EF10L2: 12kW in total, hardwired on a single-phase supply.
• Infernus INF-EF28L: one 9kW element, hardwired on a single-phase supply.

Those are big loads, and not every small café has the spare capacity. Get your electrician to check the supply before you order, not after the fryer arrives.

Lincat DF33: the compact plug-in fryer

Quick specs

• Power: 3kW, 13A at 230V
• Oil: 7.5 litres, one tank, one basket
• Output: 12kg chilled or 8kg frozen chips an hour
• Size: 300mm wide, 600mm deep, 330mm high
• Weight: 13kg
• Price: from £639

Best for

Cafés, pubs and snack counters that need chips as a side, not as the main event. At 300mm wide it slots in next to a griddle or a bain marie.

Honest note

One tank means one oil. If you fry fish or battered food as well as chips, you will either share the oil or need a second fryer.

Lincat DF66: twin tanks on a counter, still plug-in

Quick specs

• Power: 2 x 3kW, 6kW in total
• Supply: two cables and two 13A plugs, one per tank
• Oil: 15 litres in total, 7.5 litres per tank
• Output: 24kg chilled or 16kg frozen chips an hour
• Size: 600mm wide, 600mm deep, 330mm high
• Price: from £1,069
• View the Lincat DF66 twin tank electric fryer

Best for

Cafés and pubs that fry two kinds of food and want no electrical work. Lincat also describes it as ideal for mobile operations.

Don’t plug it in like this

Lincat’s manual says the DF66 must not go into a twin socket, because the current would exceed the socket rating. Use two separate single sockets.

In a van or trailer, both tanks together are rated 6kW. That is a big load for a generator, so check our what size LPG generator guide before you commit.

Lincat J12: the free-standing twin tank workhorse

Quick specs

• Power: 2 x 6kW, 12kW in total
• Oil: 18 litres in total, 9 litres per tank
• Output: 52kg chilled or 36kg frozen chips an hour
• Size: 600mm wide, 632mm deep
• Supply: hardwired, single or three phase
• Price: from £1,569
• View the Lincat J12 free-standing electric fryer

Best for

Restaurants, pubs and takeaways where chips go out with most plates. It more than doubles the DF66’s chilled output in the same 600mm width.

Honest note

The J12 has an internal drain-off tap, which makes oil changes straightforward. It does need a proper electrical install and a space on the floor, not the counter.

Lincat J18: the high-output choice

Quick specs

• Power: 2 x 9kW, 18kW in total
• Oil: 18 litres in total, 9 litres per tank
• Output: 60kg chilled or 52kg frozen chips an hour
• Size: 600mm wide, 632mm deep
• Supply: hardwired, single or three phase
• Price: from £1,669

Best for

Busy pubs, restaurants and chip shops with a heavy fried menu. The bigger elements matter most with frozen chips, where the J18 is rated 52kg an hour against the J12’s 36kg.

Honest note

The oil capacity is the same as the J12. You are paying the extra £100 for faster recovery, and you need a supply that can carry 18kW.

Infernus INF-EF10L2: twin tanks for less

Quick specs

• Power: 2 x 6kW, 12kW in total
• Oil: two 10-litre tanks with independent controls
• Extras: two baskets, a storage cupboard underneath, a 12-month parts warranty
• Supply: hardwired, single phase
• Price: from £819

Best for

Takeaways and cafés that want two tanks on a tighter budget. You can idle one tank in a quiet spell to save oil and power.

Infernus INF-EF28L: one big tank, two baskets

Quick specs

• Power: one 9kW element
• Oil: one 28-litre tank taking two baskets side by side
• Temperature: thermostat from 50 to 190°C, with a 230°C high-limit safety stat
• Extras: timer with buzzer, bottom cold zone, liftable element, rear castors
• Supply: hardwired, single phase
• Price: from £719

Best for

Kitchens that fry mostly one kind of food in volume, such as chips. The large single tank holds plenty of oil, but everything shares it.

Who each fryer suits

• Small café, chips as a side: Lincat DF33.
• Café or pub frying two foods, no electrical work: Lincat DF66.
• Pub or restaurant, steady fried menu: Lincat J12.
• Busy kitchen, lots of frozen chips: Lincat J18.
• Two tanks on a budget: Infernus INF-EF10L2.
• One food in volume on a budget: Infernus INF-EF28L.

What you need before it arrives

• The right supply. Two separate single sockets for the DF66. A qualified electrician for every model over 3kW.
• Extraction. Lincat’s manual says to operate its fryers beneath an extraction canopy.
• Clearance. Lincat asks for 100mm at the back and sides and 1,000mm above. Walls and furniture nearby must be non-combustible.
• A level surface. Never move a fryer while the tank holds oil.
• Liquid oil. Lincat’s manual says solid fats must be melted before they go into the tank.

All Lincat models here reach a maximum of 190°C and have a safety thermostat that cuts the power if something goes wrong. Lincat backs them with a 2 year UK mainland warranty.

The biggest mistake: buying the fryer before checking the supply

The most common expensive error is choosing on output, then finding the kitchen cannot power it. A J18 on single phase draws 39A per tank. Upgrading a supply takes time and money, so find out early.

The second mistake is plugging a DF66 into a double socket. It looks tidy, but Lincat says it overloads the socket. Fit two singles.

If your site already has gas, compare these with our Lincat gas fryers compared guide and the Infernus free-standing gas fryer review. For vans and trailers, our best LPG fryer buying guide covers propane models.

Orders over £1,000 can be spread with lease finance, so you can buy now and pay over time.

Electric commercial fryer FAQs

Can I plug a commercial electric fryer into a normal 13A socket?

Only the smaller ones. The Lincat DF33 uses one 13A plug and the DF66 uses two, one per tank. Lincat says models over 3kW must be installed by a qualified electrician, so the J12, J18 and both Infernus fryers are hardwired.

Can the Lincat DF66 go into a double socket?

No. Lincat’s manual says the DF66 must not be installed into a twin socket, because the current would exceed the socket rating. Plug each of its two leads into a separate single socket.

What is the difference between the Lincat J12 and J18?

Power. The J12 has 2 x 6kW elements and the J18 has 2 x 9kW. Both hold 9 litres of oil per tank. Lincat rates the J18 at 60kg of chilled chips an hour against the J12’s 52kg.

Does the Lincat J18 need three-phase power?

No, it can be wired single or three phase. On a 230V single-phase supply each tank draws 39A. On a 400V three-phase supply each tank draws 13A per phase. Your electrician should confirm which suits your building.

How many chips an hour can an electric fryer cook?

It depends on the model. Lincat rates its fryers for 12mm chilled chips: 12kg an hour for the DF33, 24kg for the DF66, 52kg for the J12 and 60kg for the J18. Frozen chips cook more slowly.

Is a twin tank fryer worth it?

Yes, if you fry more than one kind of food. Two tanks keep chips away from fish or chicken, so there is no flavour transfer. You can also switch one tank off in a quiet spell to save oil and power.

Do electric fryers need an extraction canopy?

Lincat’s manual says to operate its fryers beneath an extraction canopy. Frying produces oily vapour whatever the heat source. Check your extraction before the fryer is installed.

What warranty do these fryers have?

The Lincat Silverlink 600 fryers carry a 2 year UK mainland warranty. The Infernus INF-EF10L2 comes with a 12-month parts warranty. Ask us about cover on the Infernus INF-EF28L before you order.