This is a game changer when it comes to cooking turkey. Is it even possible to cook whole turkey with deep fried texture without oil? Absolutely yes! This is our undeniable favorite way to cook a whole turkey.
Cooking a turkey in an infrared fryer is a great alternative to deep frying or oven roasting. Infrared fryers use radiant heat to cook food quickly and evenly, producing a juicy turkey with crispy skin in much less time than a traditional oven. But how long exactly should you cook your turkey in an infrared fryer? Here’s a complete guide with timing, tips and tricks for perfect infrared fried turkey.
What is an Infrared Turkey Fryer?
An infrared turkey fryer is a countertop appliance that cooks using infrared radiation instead of hot oil It has an infrared heating element that emits electromagnetic waves to generate heat that cooks the food.
Infrared fryers don’t use any oil, so they are much safer and healthier than deep frying. They produce similar results to deep fried turkey – crispy skin and moist, tender meat. But without the dangers and mess of dealing with gallons of hot oil.
Popular infrared turkey fryer brands include the Char-Broil Big Easy and Masterbuilt XXL Digital Air Fryer Oven.
How Infrared Cooking Works
Infrared radiation directly heats the surface of food through electromagnetic waves It doesn’t rely on hot air circulation like a convection oven
The infrared waves cause water molecules in the food to vibrate rapidly, generating heat through molecular friction. This quickly sears the surface while slowly cooking the interior
The radiant heat crisps up and browns the turkey skin beautifully. While the meat inside gently cooks, stays moist and absorbs all the flavor.
Timing Guidelines for Cooking Turkey in an Infrared Fryer
Cooking time can vary based on the size and shape of your turkey, as well as your particular infrared fryer model. But here are general guidelines:
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Whole turkey – Estimate 10-15 minutes per pound. So a 12 lb turkey will take around 2 hours.
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Turkey breast – Cook for approximately 60-90 minutes for a 5-7 lb breast.
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Turkey legs/drumsticks – Cook for 45-60 minutes per leg or drumstick.
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Wings – Cook for 30-45 minutes for delicious crispy skin wings.
For best results, use an instant read thermometer to check internal temperature rather than relying solely on time. Cook to an internal temperature of 165°F in the thickest part of the breast and 180°F in the thickest part of the thigh.
If the turkey skin starts to get too dark before the interior is fully cooked, tent foil loosely over the top.
Tips for Cooking Turkey in an Infrared Fryer
Follow these tips for perfect infrared fried turkey every time:
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Brine the turkey – Brining keeps the meat incredibly moist and seasoned throughout. Make a simple brine with kosher salt, brown sugar and aromatics. Soak 8-24 hours.
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Pat turkey dry – Thoroughly dry the skin before cooking for ultimate crispness. Let it air dry in the fridge overnight after brining.
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Rub oil on the skin – Coat with a high smoke point oil like avocado or grapeseed oil. This helps crisp the skin.
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Season simply – Just use salt, pepper and poultry seasoning. Avoid sugar-based rubs which can burn.
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Cook breast side up – This allows the delicate white meat to cook evenly along with the legs and thighs. Prop breast up if needed.
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Use a rack – Elevate the turkey on a rack for air circulation and even cooking. The rack often comes with the fryer.
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Tent with foil if needed – To prevent over-browning or drying out, loosely tent foil over the breast or wings.
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Check temperature – Cook to 165°F in breast, 180°F in thighs. Carryover cooking will raise temp 5-10 degrees.
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Let rest before carving – Rest at least 15 minutes to allow juices to redistribute.
Step-by-Step Guide to Infrared Turkey
Follow these simple steps for foolproof infrared fried turkey:
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Thaw – Thaw turkey completely in the fridge 1-2 days before cooking. Do not thaw at room temperature.
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Brine – Make a salty brine with aromatics. Submerge turkey and brine 8-24 hours.
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Dry – Remove turkey from brine, rinse and pat very dry with paper towels. Place on a rack in the fridge overnight, uncovered.
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Prepare Fryer – If first time using, season the fryer per instructions. Heat the unit, preheat for 5-10 minutes.
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Coat and Season – Coat turkey skin all over with oil. Season simply with salt, pepper and poultry seasoning.
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Cook – Place turkey breast side up on fryer rack. Cook approximately 10-15 minutes per pound, until 165°F breast, 180°F thighs.
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Check Temp – Use an instant read thermometer in multiple spots to confirm doneness. Cook longer if needed.
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Rest – Remove turkey from fryer and let rest 15+ minutes before carving.
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Carve and Enjoy! – Carve turkey and serve immediately for maximum juiciness and flavor.
Infrared Turkey Fryer Benefits
Here are some of the biggest benefits of using an infrared turkey fryer:
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No oil – It’s much safer and healthier than deep frying with gallons of hot oil.
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Moist meat – Turkey stays incredibly juicy thanks to infrared heat and brining.
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Crispy skin – Infrared waves deliver crunchy, golden brown skin.
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Even cooking – Infrared heat surrounds food evenly, no rotating needed.
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Fantastic flavor – Turkey gets infused with lots of seasoning from the brine.
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Faster – Cooks in about half the time of oven roasting.
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Easy – Very simple to operate. Just season, set timer and heat.
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Compact – Infrared fryers take up minimal counter space for their performance.
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Versatile – Can be used to cook much more than just turkey!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you put stuffing in an infrared turkey?
No, do not stuff an infrared fried turkey. Stuffing prevents even cooking and may harbor bacteria. Cook stuffing separately.
What size turkey fits in an infrared fryer?
Most infrared fryers can accommodate a 16-20 lb turkey. Some extra large models may fit up to a 25 lb turkey. Check your model’s capacity.
Do you flip the turkey while infrared cooking?
No, infrared heat surrounds the food so there is no need to flip or rotate the turkey. Cook breast side up the entire time.
Can you reuse infrared turkey fryer cooking bags?
Yes, cooking bags can be washed and reused many times unless they have tears or holes. Hand wash carefully.
Can you infrared fry frozen turkey?
No, only cook fully thawed turkey in an infrared fryer for food safety. Thaw turkey in the refrigerator 1-2 days before cooking.
The Best Infrared Turkey Fryers
Here are top-rated infrared turkey fryer models to consider:
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Char-Broil Big Easy – Very popular 3-in-1 infrared fryer, grill and smoker. Holds up to 16 lb turkey.
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Masterbuilt XXL Air Fryer Oven – Extra large infrared oven that fits 20 lb turkey. Advanced touch controls.
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NuWave Bravo XL – Smart infrared convection oven with 10 cooking presets. Good for turkeys up to 18 lbs.
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Ninja Foodi Digital Fry Oven – Infrared + convection + dehydrator modes. Fits up to 7 lb turkey breast.
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Cosori CO130-AO 12-in-1 Air Fryer Toaster Oven – Budget option with 12 functions including infrared convection.
The Takeaway on Infrared Turkey Cooking Times
Cooking turkey in an infrared fryer produces delicious results in way less time than the oven, while being much safer than deep frying. For whole turkeys, estimate roughly 10-15 minutes per pound. And for turkey breasts, plan on 60-90 minutes of cook time.
Use an instant read thermometer to confirm doneness, not just time. Allow the turkey to rest before slicing for juicy, tender infrared fried turkey that will be the star of your holiday table.
Pros & Cons of Char-Broil Big Easy Oil Less Deep Fryer & Other Brands of Similar Style:
PROS:
- Energy Efficient and uses less power than traditional full sized oven.
- Frees up oven space if you need to cook lots of other oven foods or if you don’t have a lot of oven space.
- Cooks quicker than traditional oven and the skin is super crispy. Our tests on 14 pound fully thawed turkey took about 2.3 hours-3 hours
- No hassle with almost no oil and the most you would need is a light spray of oil to help crisp the food better. So it’s a healthier way of cooking crispy foods.
- Easy Clean up. The glass bowl is super easy to clean.
- Drip Pan. All the turkey juices drop into a dip pan for you to make delicious homemade gravy.
- Feeds more people. The large oil less deep fryer size allows you to cook larger portions of food for more people. It’s great to cook meals for 4 people or more.
- Crispy Skin. Wow, the skin is awesome.
- Makes one of the juiciest, crispy skinned turkeys. And is so easy!
CONS:
- Once assembled, it’s big and bulky. But it does pack into the box easily storing in your garage.
- Outdoor use only. It’s powered by a propane tank so you have to use it outside and weather is a factor.
- No Stuffing in the turkey. The manufacture suggests cooking the stuffing separately, not inside the turkey.
Watch the Amazing Turkey in the Oil-Less Deep Fryer
We love how delicious and easy the Big Easy hooks up to a propane tank and cooks the turkey in the outdoors without odors filling up the house. We’ve seen a few electric versions over the years, including one by Masterbuilt. It looked awesome, but before had a chance to buy & test it, it was discontinued. However, we love the Big Easy propane air fryer, so no big loss. Looks like propane wins!