Frying Turkey

[bernie]

This is probably the wrong forum for this and I apologize if I'm wrong for asking this here but does anyone have any suggestions on a good turkey fryer? With thanksgiving coming up I was thinking about getting one. :)

I've seen the charbroil big-easy NO OIL infrared turkey cookers--any opinion on those as well? I'm guessing the flavor probably isnt as good in one of these..

thanks!!!! :)

 

[fire it up]

From what I have heard the no oil fryers aren't all that great. I have never used one myself so I can't say for sure but that is what I have heard.
I do have a turkey fryer but have never used it for more than huge pots of chili and canning sauces but am going to do a turkey this year, cajun injected and rubbed deep fried turkey, supposed to be the bees knees.

 

[bernie]

Im thinking about picking up this one here:

http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/st...009000_325-9-0

It's pretty cheap, $39 or so and i figure i can make a mean veal stock with the stock pot when i'm not frying stuff up :)

 

[fire it up]

Looks pretty similar to the one I have.
Completely forgot that it is also great for making stock.
Recently smoked a cajun injected shicken and made a chipotle chicken stock out f it, could have drank a bowl of that by itself.
I would say go for it, looks like a great fryer and not a bad price, have you ever had deep fried turkey before?
Used to have it all the time when I lived down South and it is amazing, especially cajun deep fried, man I'm about to start drooling.
Also if you eat seafood you can do crab boils and things like that as well.

 

[ronp]

I never did understand why anybody would spend the money for the fryer and then spend 35 dollars for the oil. Way more than the turkey. Plus the dangers of a fire they can cause.

Yes I have read of how great they taste, but so does a smoked turkey. Just MHO.

 

[bernie]

I've never ever had deep-fried turkey though i've heard so much about it. The wife and I just recently bought a home so I'm finally getting all the toys I want :) I cant wait to try it come thanksgiving, gotta search for recipes and stuff!

 

[mr mac]

So true that many folks set out with the greatest of intentions and then get way out of their league very quickly and disaster is not too far behind! I too enjoy the taste of a smoked turkey but a fried one can be just as good!

The key to a good turkey rig is all about the safety! Alton Brown gave a great lesson on finding the right equipment and how to safely deploy it in the episode titled, "Fry, Turkey, Fry." Worth a look IMHO!

Mac

 

[fire it up]

So how about this...
Smoked and then deep fried cajun turkey?
How good would that be?

 

[ronp]

Probably unbeleaviable, but the issue of the price of the fryer and the oil?
Maybe I am a cheap o but I wouldn't pay more for the oil than the turkey or the fryer. Smoking is still good.

 

[pineywoods]

Bernie I haven't ever used the oil less fryer and more than likely never will from the reports I've heard from friends who have. I have a couple turkey fryers and I don't find much difference in them as long as the pot is deep enough. I don't have one with the spigot on the side but I think my next one will have one. I bought an oil pump and a filter and save my oil and suggest you check them out they are a lot less expensive than wasting the oil. Don't overfill the oil and put the turkey in slowly. I do mine outside and on concrete as I have had them overflow a couple times.

Ron you need to try a fried turkey before you judge it. I like smoked turkey but I also like fried so does my family and they demand both at Thanksgiving. Last year I smoked a turkey to 140 internal then fried it to 170 internal and it was very good I'll be doing more of them.

Peanut oil has gotten pricey but I find I can do several turkey fries with the same oil as long as I strain it and store it properly. We eat either smoked or fried turkey quite often around here. My wife works every other Thanksgiving and I end up cooking 4-5 turkeys for her and her coworkers plus a couple for family here at the house.

 

[ronp]

I wasn't judging it since I have never had one, I am sure they are great. Just commenting on the economics of it. For me and Carol it would not be worth it, thats all I was trying to say.

 

[pineywoods]

Seems my thread from last years Thanksgiving cook got lost in the crash heres one pic of the smoke fried turkey

 

[ronp]

Looks great Jerry, and tasted good no doubt!

 

[bernie]

mm that looks good!

 

[beer-b-q]

I have a Bayou Classic 30 quart propane turkey fryer, I also have a second one which I am not sure of the manufacturer but I don't like it as it doesn't heat good.

I love Deep Fried Turkey and if you are careful and filter it you can reuse the oil over several times...

Always remember to use outside away from buildings and be very careful and make sure your turkey is dry & no parts are still frozen when you place it in the hot oil.

Jerry that looks great...

 

[gnubee]

I agree with Ron. It was probably my Scottish Heritage but I Haven't fried one because of the cost of the oil. Which by the way is way more expensive north of the Border than it is down South in the States.


Peanut oil. Hah! I't would cost you a second mortgage on your house and probably your Marriage too if you bought enough Peanut oil to deep fry a Turkey up here in the frozen north.

I buy small 11 oz bottles of peanut oil to stir fry Chinese and Thai foods and the price of it kills me.

 

[freshmeat]

Rock on! What a great idea. I was not a member or lurker when you posted this...if you care to relive the details I am all for it.

I have fried many big birds and very comfortable with a protocol that is safe and delicious. I hand pump / strain oil for reuse as well. I am a newbie in the smoking arena; once bird hits internal temp on smoker do you immediately go to oil (I have not smoked big bird yet so have no idea at this point if external moisture is present), do you add additional rub on the beast between the smoke and oil bath, during the smoking phase is the cavity packed with onions / citrus or such?

This place is awesome.

 

[reents]

Be sure the one you buy has a good sturdy base and be sure to fill with water for proper oil amount required. To avoid boil over after Turkey ready to be cooked place turkey in the cold oil first to coat it than heat up oil and place Turkey in SLOWLY. It will tase excellent. As far as oil I use vegetable oil and I can not tell the diffrence between that and peanut oil.

 

[smokingohiobutcher]

What reents said... the veggie oil works just as good and much cheeper. Be sure you get a fryer with an inner and outer ring of holes for the flames. You will have faster recovery times. Also be sure to get a sentry valve the are awesome! It will remove any chance of overheating the oil and burning it. I'll post a link when I find it.

 

[pepeskitty]

We own a Masterbuilt Electric turkey fryer and are bery pleased with it. You can fry your turkey safely in the comfort of your warm home. I have had fried bird but not smoked so I cannot comment on both. I know some here talk about the cost and the initial cost is a little high if using peanut oil. (I have tried it both ways and peanut oil does taste better to us) But think about the initial cost of smoking meats too. You will have quite a bit wrapped up no matter which way you go. We all seem to like preparing it as much as eating it. So getting there is half the fun.