Combination pressure and open frying apparatus

A pressure frying apparatus, comprising:

• at least one selectively closeable frypot configured to cook food product, the at least one selectively closeable frypot including an access opening for food product;
• a cover configured to selectively close the access opening and seal the at least one selectively closeable frypot, the cover being movable from a closed position to an open position;
• a clamping mechanism including at least one clamping surface configured to urge the cover toward the closed position and a spindle rotatably coupled to the cover and configured to move the at least one clamping surface from an unclamped position to a clamped position that clamps the cover in the closed position, the spindle including a shaft and a handle selectively mounted to the shaft, the handle being configured to be selectively mounted to the shaft in a plurality of positions relative to the shaft,
• wherein the at least one selectively closeable frypot is configured to operate as a pressure frying platform when the cover is clamped in the closed position and the at least one selectively closeable frypot is configured to operate as an open flying platform when the cover is in the open position.