Can You Put Butter on a Turkey Before Deep Frying?

How to Deep Fry a Turkey – this deep fried turkey recipe provides a step-by-step tutorial on the fastest way to cook your bird for the holidays – your turkey will be moist, flavorful and done in no time! The perfect Thanksgiving turkey!

Deep frying turkey has become an increasingly popular cooking method in recent years The appeal is easy to understand – a deep fried turkey cooks quickly and results in tender, juicy meat encased in an ultra-crispy, golden brown skin But one question that often comes up is can you put butter on a turkey before deep frying it? Let’s take a closer look.

Why Butter Your Turkey Before Frying?

Coating the turkey’s skin and flesh with butter serves multiple purposes

Flavor – Butter adds richness, enhances turkey’s delicate flavor. Herb butters can provide even more depth
Moisture – The milk fats in butter help keep turkey meat succulent and prevent it from drying out.
Browning – Butter promotes browning through Maillard reaction. This amplifies flavor and visual appeal.

So buttering a turkey before frying makes good sense from a culinary perspective. But it’s vital to use proper technique to maximize benefits and avoid potential pitfalls.

Best Practices for Butter and Deep Fried Turkey

Here are some key tips on using butter with a deep fried turkey:

Use unsalted butter – Salted butter can make the turkey overly salty. Unsalted allows better control over seasonings.
Soften the butter – Soft, spreadable butter adheres to the skin and penetrates flesh better than cold, hard butter.
Focus on the flesh – Slather plenty of butter under the skin rather than only on surface. This bastes meat from inside out.
Take food safety precautions – Keep raw turkey chilled until frying. Don’t let butter sit out too long before using.
Pat turkey dry – Remove excess moisture before frying. This prevents dangerous oil spatter during cooking.
Fry carefully – Hot oil can be hazardous. Follow safety steps like using a deep fry thermometer and avoid overfilling.

Alternatives to Butter for Frying

While butter is an excellent option, other fats can also work well:

Olive oil – Adds flavorful fruitiness. Best for herb rubs and marinades.
Duck fat – Imparts rich, savory notes. Superb for poultry.
Bacon grease – Provides smoky pork essence. Complements salty rubs or brines.
Vegetable oil – Neutral flavor allows turkey’s natural taste to shine. Also more budget-friendly.

So feel free to get creative with different fats and flavor profiles. Just be sure to dry the turkey thoroughly after marinating or rubbing to prevent splattering issues.

Buttering a turkey before deep frying is perfectly fine and often highly recommended by experienced cooks. Following proper food handling and frying techniques helps ensure optimal results. While butter is an excellent choice, cooks can also experiment with various oils and animal fats to create their ideal deep fried turkey. Just focus on safety and drying the skin, and your holiday bird will turn out moist, golden and delicious.

can you put butter on a turkey before deep frying

Best Deep Fried Turkey

Did you know there was a way to fast-track your turkey cooking without sacrificing flavor OR moisture!? There is – deep-frying! Deep-frying turkey only takes 3 1/2 minutes per pound! This you gotta try – plus, think of all that free oven space…..

When I first heard of the concept of deep-frying a turkey, I envisioned that the turkey would end up incredibly dry and …. well, gross (I am picturing the turkey from National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation where Cousin Eddy cooks the turkey and it bursts open upon the slightest touch of a sharp knife and it is essentially empty inside it is so dry). I was wrong. I was blown away with how moist the turkey was and how much flavor it had. Now, there is something to be said for slow-roasting a turkey – don’t get me wrong – but this recipe is so delicious and so FAST, you may never go back!

Best Oil for Deep Frying Turkey

The best oil for deep frying turkey is peanut oil because it has a high smoke point (or flash point) which makes it less likely to catch fire compared to other oils. The smoke point of peanut oil is 450 degrees F. So, if you need to choose an alternative cooking oil just ensure it has a smoke point of at least 450 degrees F.

Can you put butter on a turkey before deep-frying?

FAQ

How to prep turkey for deep frying?

Season the turkey inside and out with 1/4 cup kosher salt. Gently pull up the skin covering the breast meat and season the breast and thigh meat as well — you may not use all the salt. Refrigerate uncovered 24 to 36 hours. 1 hour before frying, let the turkey sit at room temperature.

Should I put melted butter on turkey before cooking?

In this classic turkey recipe, the herb butter does double duty. Part of it is rubbed under the skin and over the meat of the bird for a major boost in flavor. The rest is melted and brushed over the skin to ensure that gorgeous golden brown exterior that signifies a perfectly done turkey.

Can I deep fry in butter?

Use the Right Oil. Frying foods in butter, margarine, olive oil or animal fat is not recommended because of low temperature smoke – that’s the point at which a fat begins to break down and burn.

What not to do when deep frying a turkey?

A small amount of cooking oil coming into contact with the burner can cause a large fire. An overfilled cooking pot or partially frozen turkey will cause cooking oil to spill when the turkey is inserted. The sides of the cooking pot, lid and pot handles can get dangerously hot, creating severe burn hazards.

How do you cook a Turkey in oil before frying?

Pat the turkey dry again just before frying. Turn off the burner and lower the turkey into the oil very slowly. On the big day, when your oil is hot enough for frying (and you’ve taken the chill off the turkey), you’ll want to be prepared to lower the turkey into the oil (wearing your heat-resistant gloves) with control.

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.

Can you fry a Turkey outside?

Choose a fryer designed specifically for frying turkeys outside (or inside). Thaw the turkey completely, remove giblets, separate the legs, and pat the turkey dry before placing in oil. Don safety gear such as long, heavy-duty oven mitts and a lead apron, and have thermometers, a fire extinguisher, and other tools close at hand.

Is deep frying a Turkey a good idea?

A deep-fried turkey is the crispiest-skinned, juiciest bird you’ll ever eat. But cooking one at home can be daunting. Deep-fried Thanksgiving turkeys have gotten plenty of bad press, particularly from those earnest home cooks who didn’t do quite enough research before deep frying a whole bird.