While the idea of deep-frying a turkey may seem like a delicious and exciting way to cook your Thanksgiving bird, attempting it with a frozen turkey is a recipe for disaster, as hilariously demonstrated in a viral YouTube video.
The Dangers of Deep-Frying a Frozen Turkey:
Deep-frying a frozen turkey is incredibly dangerous and should never be attempted. The frozen water within the turkey can cause the oil to splatter violently, potentially causing severe burns or even explosions. Additionally, the uneven cooking caused by the frozen state can result in undercooked or unsafe meat.
The YouTube Fail:
The YouTube video serves as a cautionary tale for anyone considering deep-frying a frozen turkey. In the video, the individuals attempt to deep-fry a frozen turkey, resulting in a chaotic and dangerous situation. The oil splatters uncontrollably, engulfing the fryer and surrounding area in flames. Fortunately, no one was seriously injured, but the video serves as a stark reminder of the potential dangers involved.
Alternatives to Deep-Frying a Frozen Turkey:
If you’re looking for a quick and easy way to cook your Thanksgiving turkey there are several safer and more reliable alternatives to deep-frying a frozen bird:
- Thawing and Roasting: The traditional method of thawing and roasting a turkey is a safe and reliable option. Simply thaw the turkey completely in the refrigerator before roasting it in the oven.
- Air Frying: Air fryers offer a healthier and less messy alternative to deep-frying. Simply thaw the turkey partially and cook it in the air fryer according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Slow Cooking: Slow cookers provide a hands-off approach to cooking a turkey. Simply thaw the turkey partially and place it in the slow cooker with your desired seasonings and vegetables. Cook on low for several hours until the turkey is cooked through.
Deep-frying a frozen turkey is a dangerous and ill-advised practice. The YouTube video serves as a cautionary tale, highlighting the potential risks involved. Instead, opt for safer and more reliable methods of cooking your Thanksgiving turkey, such as thawing and roasting, air frying, or slow cooking. Remember, safety should always be your top priority when preparing your holiday feast.
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Every fall, millions of dollars of damage, trips to the ER and even deaths result from attempts to deep-fry turkeys. The vast majority of these accidents happen because people put frozen turkeys into boiling oil. If you are considering deep-frying this year, do not forget to thaw and dry your turkey before placing it in the pot. Failure to do so may lead to an explosive disaster.
What is so dangerous about putting even a partially frozen turkey in a deep-fryer?
I am a chemist who studies plant, fungal and animal compounds and have a love of food chemistry. The reason frozen turkeys explode, at its core, has to do with differences in density. There is a difference in density between oil and water and differences in the density of water between its solid, liquid and gas states. When these density differences interact in just the right way, you get an explosion.
Density is how much an object weighs given a specific volume. For example, imagine you held an ice cube in one hand and a marshmallow in the other. While they are roughly the same size, the ice cube is heavier: It is more dense.
The first important density difference when it comes to frying is that water is more dense than oil. This has to do with how tightly the molecules of each substance pack together and how heavy the atoms are that make up each liquid.
Water molecules are small and pack tightly together. Oil molecules are much larger and don’t pack together as well by comparison. Additionally, water is composed of oxygen and hydrogen atoms, while oils are predominantly carbon and hydrogen. Oxygen is heavier than carbon. This means that, for example, one cup of water has more atoms than one cup of oil, and those individuals atoms are heavier. This is why oil floats on top of water. It is less dense.
While different materials have different densities, liquids, solids and gases of a single material can have different densities as well. You observe this every time you place an ice cube in a glass of water: The ice floats to the top because it is less dense than water.
When water absorbs heat, it changes to its gas phase, steam. Steam occupies 1,700 times the volume as the same number of liquid water molecules. You observe this effect when you boil water in a tea kettle. The force of expanding gas pushes steam out of the kettle through the whistle, causing the squealing noise.
Never Deep-Fry A Frozen Turkey
FAQ
Why is it bad to deep fry frozen turkey?
Why does deep frying a turkey go wrong?
How long to defrost a turkey before deep frying?
Is it better to fry a fresh or frozen turkey?
Are there any failures in frying a Turkey?
You can be the judge of that. Although no explosions or flames were involved, perhaps the most disappointing fail of all is the turkey that never had the chance to be fried. Unless they’re proponents of the five second rule. And it’s better that it dropped on the ground rather than dropping into a vat of boiling oil.
Is deep frying a Turkey dangerous?
However, deep frying a full turkey can be more dangerous than it may seem and these deep fried Thanksgiving turkey fails are proof that the method isn’t for the faint of heart.
Should you deep fry a frozen turkey?
Here’s the physics of why you must never deep fry a frozen turkey. Deep frying is a simple method for cooking with lots of benefits. Unlike the traditional oven-roasting, where heated air externally cooks whatever you put into the oven from the outside, deep fryers work by submerging your food into an extremely hot liquid: oil.
What happens if you boil a frozen turkey?
When a frozen turkey is placed in boiling oil, it causes what the video calls a “B.L.E.V.E” or “boiling liquid expanding vapor explosion.” Scary! This compilation of fails is proof that you shouldn’t deep fry unless you know what you’re doing. From overflowing oil to flames and explosions, it’s entertaining and terrifying all at once.