This Deep Fried Turkey Recipe is not only easy, but it’s also crispy and succulent. The perfect combination for a memorable Thanksgiving Turkey dinner!
Deep frying a whole turkey produces a bird with incredibly moist, tender meat and a crispy golden skin. While it may seem intimidating, deep frying a Butterball turkey is absolutely possible with proper technique. Follow this step-by-step guide for deep frying success.
Select the Right Size Butterball Turkey
When deep frying a whole turkey, size matters A turkey larger than 14 pounds is not recommended for deep frying whole The best practice for a Butterball turkey over 15 pounds is to separate the legs and thighs from the breast and fry them in batches.
Smaller Butterball turkeys around 12 pounds are ideal for frying whole. They will cook evenly and fit nicely into most fryer pots. Avoid going under 10 pounds, as the breasts may cook faster than the dark meat.
Thaw Safely Before Frying
Only deep fry a fully thawed Butterball turkey. Frozen turkeys can cause hot oil to splatter dangerously when added Thaw frozen Butterball turkeys in the refrigerator allowing 24 hours for every 4-5 pounds
Once thawed, pat the turkey dry inside and out with paper towels. Any moisture on the skin will cause splattering during frying.
Use a Turkey Fryer Kit
Investing in a purpose-built propane turkey fryer kit is highly recommended for safety. Quality kits include a sturdy pot, basket, burner, hook, and thermometer. Choose a pot that can hold at least a gallon of oil per pound of turkey.
Never use a cooking pot from the kitchen – it is not built to withstand the high heat. Position the burner on a flat, level surface far away from homes or trees.
Calculate the Right Oil Amount
Too little oil will cause the turkey to cook unevenly, while too much can lead to dangerous boil overs. Place the thawed turkey in the fryer basket then into the empty pot.
Fill with water until the breast is submerged by 1-2 inches. Remove the turkey and mark the water line. This is how much oil you will need. Peanut and canola oils work best.
Heat the Oil Slowly
Pour the oil into the pot up to the water line. Heat the oil very slowly over medium heat. Increase the heat gradually as the oil heats to around 350°F. The oil must maintain this temperature for frying.
Use a deep fry thermometer to monitor the temperature carefully. If the oil smokes or smells, immediately turn off the burner and let the oil cool completely before carefully disposing of it.
Lower and Cook the Turkey
Pat the turkey completely dry one final time. Very slowly lower the turkey into the hot oil using the basket and hook. This prevents splattering.
Once submerged, fry the turkey for around 3-4 minutes per pound, maintaining the oil at 350°F. A 12 pound turkey will need to fry for 36-48 minutes. Use thermometers to check doneness, not time.
Finish and Drain the Turkey
When the breast hits 165°F and the thighs hit 175°F, the Butterball turkey is done frying! Carefully lift it from the oil to drain and rest before carving. The skin will be a beautiful golden brown.
Letting it rest allows the juices to reabsorb for incredibly moist, tender meat. Enjoy your deep fried Butterball masterpiece!
How long does this stay fresh?
You can keep turkey meat in an airtight container in your fridge for 4 to 5 days. When you are ready to reheat it, warm it up in the oven at 350 degrees F for about 10 minutes.
The whole process of making this Deep Fried Turkey Recipe was completely peaceful.
- This Masterbuilt Fryer is electric, so it’s safe to use in the house without fear of explosion.
- The lid protected me and my counters from splattering oil.
- The specially designed vent in the lid, allowed steam to come through, but not smoke, so my house didn’t reek of fry oil.
- Using the lifting hook and an oven mitt to lower and lift the turkey, further protected me from burns.
My turkey was cooked to perfection, in less than half the time it takes in the oven. That is a seriously easy turkey recipe!
The skin was dark, but very flavorful… Not burnt tasting. The turkey meat was ultra-tender and juicy from breast to tail.
To top it all, after the oil had cooled and I got around to cleaning out the fryer, it came with a little spout that made draining it a cinch.
With this kind of cooking method, you do not tie the wings and body together with twine.
If you have always wanted to fry a turkey for Thanksgiving, I can tell you without reservation that this is a great product.
It’s easy to use, super safe, easy to clean up, and you can also use it to boil and steam large quantities of food.
Find it online with quick-ship options on Masterbuilt and Amazon.
Or in nationwide retailers like:
- Home Depot
- Wal-Mart
- Costco
- Lowes
- Academy Sports & Outdoors
- Bass Pro
- Sears
- Target
Masterbuilt’s Butterball Indoor Electric Turkey Fryer is a product I can recommend wholeheartedly.
Ingredients For This Fried Turkey Recipe
The ingredients list is quite simple and very easy to pull off in this recipe.
- Whole Turkey (thawed completely)
- Cooking Oil (preferably few gallons of peanut oil)
- Turkey Injecting Marinade – Homemade or Store-bought
- Turkey Dry Rub Seasoning – Homemade or Store-bought
For the Dry Rub Seasoning
- 3 tablespoons lemon pepper seasoning
- 1 tablespoon poultry seasoning
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons onion powder
For the Injecting Marinade
- 1/2 cup canola oil
- 1/4 cup water
- 1/4 cup lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 1 teaspoon poultry seasoning
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
How to Deep Fry a Turkey in a Fryer
FAQ
Can I deep fry a whole frozen turkey?
Can you deep fry a turkey in any oil?
How do you deep fry a 14 lb Turkey?
14 lb. or less – Can be deep-fried whole. 15 lbs. or more, separate the legs and thighs from the breast and fry them separately. Completely thaw your turkey, or use a fresh turkey. Take the wrapper off of the turkey, and remove and discard the neck and giblets. Pat dry. Add oil to the fryer*. Preheat oil in the fryer to 375° F.
Is deep frying butter safe?
Deep frying butter is safe, but as other sorts of fat, it’s recommended not consume it every day. What is more, when people are warming butter, the level of oxidation is always increasing and the result is that this kind of food become unhealthy.
How do you cook a Turkey in a fryer?
Add oil to the fryer (based on the water line). While the oil is heating, prepare your turkey with any seasonings, marinades, or injected flavor that you desire. When the oil is hot, turn the burner off and slowly lower the turkey into the hot oil. Slowly lowering the basket helps prevent the oil from bubbling over. Turn the burner back on.
How long does it take to deep fry a Turkey?
However, this amount of salt is needed to help cut through the oil and help the turkey taste well-seasoned. This is the best part of deep-frying a turkey. Instead of the usual 13 to 15 minutes, fried turkey takes just three and a half minutes per pound. A ten-pound turkey will take 35 minutes; a 12-pound turkey about 42 minutes.