The Ultimate Guide to Deep Frying a Turkey: Size Matters!

Check Your Bird for Ice, Twice

Another thing you definitely dont want to do is put a wet or icy turkey in hot oil. The result could land you in the hospital, particularly if there are chunks of ice.

Take extra caution because a turkey that appears completely defrosted may still have ice inside of it, particularly in the space between the ribs. That cavity functions as a miniature icebox of its own, and it may remain extremely cold inside even after the bird has completely thawed. Make sure there is no ice concealed within, and thoroughly dry the bird on both the inside and outside before submerging it in the heated oil.

How to Fry a Turkey Outdoors

This is the best-known method, and has spawned a slew of unfortunate deep-fried-turkey disaster videos. Frankly, I think this method is pretty darned dangerous.

An outdoor turkey-frying rig is required, which comes with a burner and stand, a pot, an oil thermometer, a hanger for the bird, and a lowering mechanism. I used a Brinkmann model; Kenji has used the Bayou Classic. Neither of us has complaints about them.

Youll also need a propane tank. You should not try to jury-rig your own setup.

When utilizing this method, the most common mistakes people make are: placing the fryer in close proximity to a house or other combustible object; filling the pot to the brim with hot oil, which spills over when the turkey is lowered into it; and dropping the turkey, which causes the hot oil to splash.

Additionally, you ought to keep a fire extinguisher designated for fighting grease fires close by. It is exceedingly risky to try putting out a grease fire with water.

To avoid an overflow of oil, its necessary to first determine exactly how much oil you need. To achieve that, place the turkey in the pot and gradually add water, measuring as you go, until the turkey is covered by about half an inch. Then, take the turkey out and pat dry with paper towels.

Once the turkey is removed, the water in the pot should be below the maximum-fill line. Pour out the water, dry the pot well, then fill the pot with the equivalent amount of oil.

A good setup should be in an open area, a safe distance from anything combustible. As you can see in the image above, we placed the propane tank and burner on a concrete surface, and nothing is visible for around ten feet in any direction. Make sure not to step in between the burner and the propane tank as this could trip the gas line and send the oil pot over.

Once the oil has reached its temperature, about 350°F, insert the hanger through the bird.

Make sure its hooks catch the bird well.

You should be able to hold the turkey securely.

You should not have any skin showing when you lower the turkey into the oil. You should wear sturdy oven mitts and sturdy shoes. Shorts and sandals are a bad idea.

To ensure there is absolutely no chance of a flare-up during the turkey entry, Kenji advises turning off the burner for this portion and then relighting it once the turkey is in the pot. That’s a good idea (you’ll see why in a moment), but there are risks involved because you’ll have to fumble around under a pot of boiling oil to relight the burner after the bird is in.

Lower the turkey very, very slowly. Gently ease the turkey into the oil, and if something seems off, carefully lift it out rather than lowering it in—splashing oil can seriously damage you.

You can see why it’s a good idea to turn off the burner before lowering the turkey into the oil in the above photo, as well as why it’s not a good idea to use the largest possible bird—in this case, 18 pounds.

Even though I made sure the turkey was dry and free of ice, measured my oil carefully to account for displacement, and lowered it slowly, once the turkey was fully in the pot, a jet of hot oil still managed to shoot out of it. This particular shot shows me running to the fire extinguisher and screaming at Vicky to get out as we see oil splattering out of the pot and some of it igniting near the burner.

The good news is that everything went smoothly and quickly came under control, but this is a prime illustration of how dangerous deep-frying a turkey can still be, even when done properly.

Once the turkey is in, itll fry pretty quickly. The general consensus is three minutes per pound of bird, but I would start checking it even earlier. My oil level was higher than the turkey at first, but as it cooked, it gradually dropped, exposing some of it in the end. This didnt have any negative impact on the bird or its skin.

When you’re ready to take the turkey’s temperature using an instant-read thermometer, fish it out with the hook and carefully raise it, letting the oil drip off as you do so.

It helps to recruit a friend to check the temperature.

When it reaches an internal temperature of 145°F, its ready. Let it rest for about 20 minutes before cutting into it.

How to Deep Fry a Turkey

FAQ

What is the biggest size turkey you can deep fry?

What is the maximum size of turkey?

Can you fry a turkey at 250?

How big should a deep fried turkey be?

You can ensure that your deep-fried turkey turns juicy and delicious with a little planning. While there is no definitive answer, most experts agree that the max size turkey for a 30-quart fryer is between 12- 20 pounds. This is based on the assumption that the turkey will be fully submerged in the oil and that the fryer will be filled.

How much oil do you need to deep fry a Turkey?

Depending on the size of your fryer, you can usually deep fry turkeys up to 18-20 pounds in weight. The size of a turkey that you can deep fry in your fryer depends on the size of your fryer. Generally, you should use 4 to 5 gallons of oil for a 12-14 pound turkey in an 8-quart fryer.

Can a 20 pound turkey fit in a deep fryer?

The answer to whether or not a 20-pound turkey can fit in a deep fryer depends on the size of your fryer. Generally speaking, most standard home-style deep fryers have an oil capacity ranging from around 3 to 5 gallons. If you have a 5-gallon fryer, you should be able to fit a 20-pound turkey easily.

How many pounds can a turkey fryer hold?

You’ll need to make sure that your turkey is fully thawed and that you have enough oil to cover it. You’ll also need to take the size of your fryer into account. While most home fryers can accommodate a turkey up to 16 pounds, some larger commercial fryers can handle birds up to 30 pounds.