Filter screen modification to improve filtration performance

A fryer apparatus, comprising:

• a cooking chamber configured to store cooking medium therein and to cook food products therein;
• a filter pan removably attached to the cooking chamber, the filter pan comprising:
• a bottom wall surrounded by four side walls;
• an inlet passage configured to receive a cooking medium;
• a filter element configured to filter the cooking medium before it is discharged, wherein the filter element is configured to be removably attached to the bottom wall and extends in a lateral direction along a length of the filter pan;
• a plug attached to the filter element, wherein the filter element is configured to create an air gap between the bottom wall and the filter element, wherein the air gap is lateral to the plug;
• and
• an outlet passage attached to the plug and configured to discharge the cooking medium;
• and
• a pump configured to circulate the cooking medium in the fryer apparatus between the filter pan and the cooking chamber,
• wherein the filter element comprises:
• a first end;
• a second end opposite the first end, wherein the second end is spaced apart from the first end by a distance along the lateral direction;
• a center located between the first and second ends, wherein the plug is attached to the filter element at the center;
• a first bend formed in the filter element between the first end and the center;
• and
• a second bend formed in the filter element between the second end and the center, wherein the filter element defines portions on opposite sides of the first and second bends that are oriented at a non-zero angle from a plane parallel to the bottom wall of the filter pan such that the portions of the filter element extend away from and towards the bottom wall on opposite sides of each of the first and second bends, thereby generating the air gap so as to be defined by a larger spacing of the filter element from the bottom wall adjacent the first and second bends as compared to a spacing between the filter element and the bottom wall adjacent the first and second ends.