How Much Oil Do You Need for a Butterball Turkey Fryer?

Frying a turkey in oil is a popular cooking method that results in a moist, juicy, and flavorful bird with crispy skin. Many people use Butterball turkey fryers specifically designed for this purpose. But one of the most common questions is – how much oil do you need for a Butterball turkey fryer?

The amount of oil needed depends primarily on the size of your turkey and fryer. Butterball offers electric indoor turkey fryers in different sizes that hold varying amounts of oil. Their smallest fryer holds 2.5 gallons while their largest XL fryer holds up to 2.75 gallons.

As a general rule of thumb, you need about 1 quart of peanut oil per pound of turkey. So for a 10 lb turkey, you’d need around 2.5 gallons of oil. For a 20 lb turkey, about 5 gallons is needed. Always follow your specific fryer’s guidelines and never fill above the maximum fill line. Too much oil can be dangerous.

Here’s a quick overview of how much oil different Butterball fryer models require

• Butterball Digital Turkey Fryer (Model #23010114) – 2.5 gallon oil capacity
• Butterball XL Digital Turkey Fryer (Model #23011114) – 2.75 gallon oil capacity

Step-by-Step Guide to Filling Your Fryer

Filling your Butterball turkey fryer properly ensures safety and ideal cooking Follow these key steps

1. Thaw and dry the turkey thoroughly. Any water on the turkey can cause hot oil to splatter dangerously. Pat the turkey dry inside and out with paper towels.

2. Place turkey in empty fryer. This helps you gauge the amount of oil needed to submerge it.

3. Fill with oil to cover turkey. The oil level should reach about 1-2 inches above the turkey. Never exceed the maximum fill line.

4. Remove turkey and note oil amount. Mark the oil level before removing the turkey. This is how much oil you’ll need.

5. Add back the measured oil. Pour oil into the cold fryer up to the line marked in step 4.

6. Heat oil to 350°F before frying. Get the oil hot gradually to prevent burns or damage to the fryer.

Choosing the Right Oil

The type of oil used for deep frying turkeys also matters. Look for oils with a high smoke point and neutral flavor:

• Peanut oil – The top choice for turkey frying with a smoke point of 450°F. Has a clean, neutral taste that showcases the turkey’s flavor.

• Canola oil – A budget-friendly option with a 400°F smoke point. Mild in flavor.

• Vegetable or soybean oil – Good quality oils with smoke points of 450°F. Impart little flavor.

• Corn oil – Another neutral oil with a smoke point of 450°F. Good for frying.

Avoid using olive oil, butter, lard, or bacon grease since they have lower smoke points and can burn or impart strong flavors.

Turkey Fryer Oil Capacities

To give you a better idea, here are the typical oil amounts needed for Butterball electric turkey fryers based on turkey size:

Butterball Digital Turkey Fryer (2.5 gallon capacity)

• 8-10 lb turkey – 2 gallons oil
• 10-12 lb turkey – 2.5 gallons (maximum fill)

Butterball XL Digital Turkey Fryer (2.75 gallon capacity)

• 12-14 lb turkey – 2.5 gallons oil
• 14-16 lb turkey – 2.75 gallons (maximum fill)

Butterball Oil-Less Turkey Fryer

• 16 lb turkey – No oil needed! Uses infrared heat.

Key Tips for Frying Success

Once you have the right amount of fresh oil in your Butterball turkey fryer, keep these tips in mind:

• Maintain oil temperature at 350-375°F for even cooking.

• Fry turkey 3-4 minutes per pound to an internal temp of 165°F.

• Use a thermometer to monitor oil and internal turkey temp.

• Keep the lid closed as much as possible to accelerate cooking.

• Be extremely careful when lowering and removing the turkey from hot oil.

• Allow oil to cool fully before disposing or straining for reuse.

With the proper amount of oil heated to the ideal temperature, you’ll enjoy the juiciest deep-fried turkey! Just take safety seriously and monitor the fryer at all times. Now invite over hungry guests and wow them with your crispy, golden, melt-in-your-mouth turkey straight from the Butterball fryer!