The Ultimate Guide to Turkey Fryers + Detailed Reviews

It may not be the traditional-or mess-free-way to cook a turkey…

…but deep-frying produces tasty results.

In the frying vat, the bird emerges with juicy meat…

…and skin so crispy you’ll fight over the leftovers.

If you don’t want to watch a roasting turkey for hours…

…deep frying will cook a turkey more quickly than traditional roasting.

As you can’t deep-fry a turkey on the stovetop…

…this method could be a good choice if you don’t have a lot of oven…

…or kitchen space, especially when you’re preparing holiday meals.

There are plenty of considerations…

…before you fry up a turkey feast for Thanksgiving, tailgate, or another event…

…including the precautions you need to take…

…and the products you need to buy to pull it off safely.

With the right tools and skills you can safely fry a turkey without catching it on fire.

The first thing you’ll need to do is gather the necessary equipment…

…which includes a gas cooker, a stockpot, a grip hook, a thermometer, and gloves.

You can either buy everything you need piecemeal or as a complete kit.

Before we move into next section, let’s hear Phill’s story…

As I was so sad that my turkey fryer was broken,

I thought I couldn’t cook turkey this Thanksgiving.

My wife appeared in front of me when I woke up one morning, asking me to follow her.

Apparently she bought a turkey fryer for me!

It was such a happy moment that I could not stop smiling.

This year, we can still enjoy turkey for Thanksgiving. 

Now…

Considerations for Choosing a Great Turkey Fryer

Consider the characteristics that set so-so fryers apart…

…from the best of the best after learning how to fry a turkey safely.

Get the facts about turkey fryers before purchasing one:

type, materials, capacity, power source, cooking settings, and safety features.

Type

There are many different types of turkey fryers available on the market today…

…and the best fryer for each individual depends on its intended use.

• Models made of propane are durable and usually reliable. Keep in mind that adding a propane tank and its refills to the purchase will increase the cost.
• Rather than using gas to cook the turkey, oilless fryers typically use infrared or other cooking methods. They are usually expensive and can’t accommodate very large birds.
• Electric turkey fryers cook the turkey by radiating heat from a heating element. A propane fryer is usually smaller and used for indoor cooking.

Cooking a turkey takes a long time, and many fryers must be used outdoors…

…to reduce the risk of fire or injury.

A few indoor turkey fryers are available…

…but they’re smaller than outdoor models…

…and can’t accommodate a large Thanksgiving turkey, for example.

For smaller poultry like quails, chickens, and ducks, an indoor fryer is useful.

Read on…

Material

Turkey fryers are typically made from steel, aluminum…

…stainless steel, cast iron, or a combination of these materials.

Smaller fryer parts, however, may be made of plastic or rubber.

Consider the fryer’s weight and bulk as well.

Steel and cast iron are both heavy, so they’re large.

Due to the fact that the fryer must be moved, you should also consider storage space.

Capacity

The capacity of turkey fryers is usually measured by their quart capacity…

…which is usually between 24 and 44 quarts.

An average-size turkey can fit in this container.

The capacity of a fryer is also listed in pounds, or the weight of the bird it can hold.

A 15-pound bird can be cooked in most indoor fryers.

Power

The power of a turkey fryer is measured…

…in either British thermal units (BTUs) or watts.

Propane fryer power is measured in BTUs…

…which, for most models on the market, range from 50,000 to 200,000.

High BTUs enable the fryer to bring large quantities of oil or water to a boil;

…however, the higher the BTUs, the less control the cook has over the heat.

One more number appears on some outdoor turkey fryers:

…the pounds per square inch (psi) of the propane regulator.

The regulators on turkey fryers produce 10 to 20 psi.

Watts are also used to measure fryer power.

A typical indoor turkey fryer uses approximately 6,100 BTUs, or 1,800 watts.

Cooking Settings

An outdoor propane fryer features a simple knob for adjusting the flame…

…just like a gas stovetop or grill.

There may be more than one setting on an oilless or electric turkey fryer…

…increasing its versatility.

An indoor fryer may have a rotisserie setting…

…and a basket for deep frying, for instance. 

Air fryers are a healthier way to cook food.

“Before frying a turkey, measure the oil, weigh the turkey, and prepare all the supplies. On the day of the event, cooks can keep their focus on that giant pot of boiling oil. “

Rebecca Wolken – Professional Culinary Writer

Here’s the real deal…

Our Top Picks for Turkey Fryer

Here are the best turkey fryers on the market.

Let’s go through them one by one…

King Kooker 12RTF Turkey Fryer Package

All the necessary cooking tools are included in this complete set for frying turkey.

The 12-inch outdoor cooker has a 38,000 BTU cast burner…

…for cooking turkeys up to 20 pounds.

When the turkey is done cooking, you will remove it…

…from the oil using the turkey rack and lifting hook.

Although you won’t need the lid while cooking a turkey…

…it will be useful while preheating the oil or cooking other foods.

You can monitor the oil temperature with a thermometer…

…with an extra-long probe while keeping your distance from the hot oil…

…and the flame can be controlled to maintain the desired temperature.

The cooker also includes a battery-operated timer…

…(requires 2 AAA batteries, not included)…

…so you will know when it is time to check the food.

Pros:

• Large capacity
• Includes a battery-operated timer

Cons:

• Pot is prone to dents

Keep going…

Char-Broil The Big Easy Oil-Less Turkey Fryer

You will appreciate the oil-less fryer’s performance…

…if you crave the crispy exterior of a fried turkey…

…but don’t want to deal with the mess and precautions involved with oil frying.

With this grill, you can cook whole birds, rib roasts, pork tenderloins…

…and more using infrared technology.

You can connect this to a propane tank, which you’ll need to provide.

It holds up to 16 pounds of turkey, and since there is no oil to dissolve seasoning…

…you can use a rub to give the bird a unique taste.

There are also lots of accessories available for separate purchase…

…including two-tiered cooking baskets.

This fryer gives customers perfectly crisp skin…

…and juicy meat-the hallmark of a “fried” turkey.

Pros:

• Oil-free design
• Easy to use and clean

Cons:

• Expensive

Go on…

Bayou Classic High-Pressure Propane Burner

The propane gas cooker can save you money over kits…

…that include both a pot and accessories if you already have a large, nearly 30-quart pot.

A 14-inch diameter cooking surface and a low center of gravity…

…ensure it can handle your largest stockpots and wide-set legs provide stability.

The burner can support pots up to 100 quarts in weight…

…which will allow you to cook an average turkey on it.

With a maximum BTU of 59,000 and a 360-degree windscreen…

…this gas cooker is capable of operating.

Pros:

• Powerful
• Wide, sturdy legs

Cons: 

• Windscreen doesn’t always work

Last, but not least…

Bayou Classic 44-Quart “Big Bird” Kit

It features a 44-quart stainless steel pot…

…made of 20-gauge commercial stainless steel…

…that can hold a turkey weighing over 25 pounds…

…so you can feed the whole family and have leftovers for lunch.

This can be used to boil, steam, fry…

…and brew beer after you have finished making turkey.

Since the pot is made of non-reactive stainless steel…

…you can cook acidic foods with it…

…such as those giant tomatoes you’ll be canning…

…and stainless steel is easy to sterilize, which will be appreciated by home brewers.

Even though the pot is dishwasher safe…

…it is unlikely to fit in your home dishwasher.

The package includes a vented stainless steel lid…

…an aluminum poultry rack, an aluminum grab hook…

…a 12-inch thermometer that reads between 50 and 750 degrees…

…a stainless steel seasoning injector, and an insulated glove.

With the SS30 burner, you can easily add and remove items…

…from the large pot thanks to the low profile (just 12 inches from the ground).

It comes with a high-pressure regulator that controls propane flow…

…and a 48″ hose for convenient placement.

Pros:

• It has a large capacity
• Kits that are comprehensive
• Quality materials

Cons:

• Lackluster thermometer
• For smaller birds, it is too big
• The poultry rack bends

Turkey Fryer Accessories

Turkey Frying Thermometer

Bayou Classic Stainless Steel Thermometer

• Stainless steel
• 12 inch length
• 50f – 400f thermometer
• Tempered Glass Face

In order to make your turkey as delicious as possible, you’ll need to cook it…

…to the correct internal temperature (175-180 degrees). If you overcook your turkey…

…it’ll be dry and won’t be as good as if you cooked it to just the correct temperature.

Turkey Frying Gloves

Turkey frying gloves work great for carving too. You can use them to move the turkey…

…from the frying rack to the carving board. There are a ton of uses for serious…

…BBQ gloves, as we’re sure you’ll discover soon enough.

Turkey Frying Seasoning Packs

King Kooker 96348 Deep Fried Turkey Seasoning Pack

• 16oz garlic butter with herbs injectable marinade
• 7 oz Cajun seasoning
• Easy-to-use marinade injector
• King kooker deep fried turkey seasoning pack

It is possible to make your own turkey seasoning. Or, you can buy a turkey…

…seasoning pack that is all ready to go. These seasoning kits really are delicious…

…and you’ll have your family and friends coming back for more,…

…and more the next year!

Turkey Frying Racks and Hooks

Bayou Classic 0835 Complete Poultry Frying Rack

• Every component accessory needed to deep fry a whole turkey or 3 chickens
• Perforated aluminum poultry rack
• 9.5-In Width x 13-in Height
• Lift hook
• 2-Oz seasoning injector with stainless needle

This turkey fryer rack kit also includes a meat hook so you can grab your…

…deep fried turkey easily and safely. A 25+ pound turkey jumbling around…

…in vat of hot oil is indeed a bad, bad thing.

Don’t forget to put on your BBQ gloves though!

Sum Up!

You’ll need the Bayou Classic 44-Quart Big Bird Kit when cooking a large bird…

…which comes with a pot lid, rack, grab hook, thermometer, burner…

…propane hose, pressure regulator…

…and seasoning injector as well as an insulated glove.

Conclusion

There you have it, our top picks for turkey fryer.

How will you fry your turkeys for next Thanksgiving?

Do you already know which turkey fryer you are going to purchase?

We would also appreciate it if you shared this article…

…with your friends if you found it helpful. 

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