A continuous fryer includes a vessel (kettle) 11 containing oil 13. A pump 39 moves the oil in a predetermined direction 12. At the upstream end 15 of the kettle is a flow control device 34 that aids in maintaining linear flow through the vessel. The product to be fried may be dropped into the kettle from a conveyor 18 where a set of paddles 24 may rotate in the oil to aid moving the product from one end of the kettle to the other. A second set of paddles 27, which rotate at a different velocity to that of the first paddles, may be used. The flow controller may have a passages 36 in body 35 through which the oil flows. The flow controller may receive signals from downstream temperature sensors and operate a motor to move plates (45 fig.4) that have passages (47 fig.4) that when not aligned with passages 36.
