How Many Gallons is a Turkey Fryer Pot?

As Thanksgiving approaches many people look forward to cooking a juicy turkey in an outdoor turkey fryer. But before purchasing a turkey fryer it’s important to understand how many gallons the pot holds. The size of the pot determines what size turkey you can cook. Let’s take a look at common turkey fryer pot sizes and how many gallons they hold.

Typical Turkey Fryer Pot Sizes

Turkey fryer pots come in a variety of sizes, usually ranging from about 10 to 30 quarts. Here are some of the most common sizes:

• 10-quart turkey fryer pot Holds roughly 25 gallons of oil Good for turkeys up to 10 lbs.

• 14-quart turkey fryer pot: Holds about 3.5 gallons. Accommodates turkeys up to 14 lbs.

• 16-quart turkey fryer pot: Holds approximately 4 gallons. Fits turkeys up to 16 lbs.

• 20-quart turkey fryer pot: Holds around 5 gallons. For turkeys up to 18 lbs.

• 30-quart turkey fryer pot: Holds about 7.5 gallons oil. Fits turkeys up to 20 lbs.

As you can see, the pot size corresponds roughly to the maximum turkey size, at about 1 quart per pound of turkey. Bigger pots allow you to fry a larger bird.

Gallon Conversion

To figure out exactly how many gallons a turkey fryer holds, you need to do a quick conversion from quarts to gallons.

• 1 gallon = 4 quarts

So for example, a 20-quart pot holds 5 gallons because 20 quarts divided by 4 quarts per gallon equals 5 gallons.

Here’s a breakdown of some common turkey fryer pot sizes and their gallon capacity:

• 10-quart = 2.5 gallons

• 14-quart = 3.5 gallons

• 16-quart = 4 gallons

• 20-quart = 5 gallons

• 30-quart = 7.5 gallons

As a general rule of thumb, divide the quart capacity by 4 to get the number of gallons.

Choosing the Right Size

When selecting a turkey fryer, make sure to choose a pot big enough for the bird you want to cook. Allow about a quart per pound of turkey. You also need to leave 3-4 inches of headspace at the top once the turkey is submerged in oil.

If the pot is too small, the oil may overflow when you add the turkey, leading to a dangerous situation. Err on the side of a slightly bigger pot to be safe.

For a 10-14 lb turkey, a 14-16 quart pot is ideal. For a 15-18 lb bird, go with a 20-quart. And for turkeys 18-20 lbs, choose a 30-quart pot.

Here are some recommended pot sizes based on turkey weight:

• 10-14 lb turkey: 14 or 16-quart pot (3.5 – 4 gallons)

• 15-18 lb turkey: 20-quart pot (5 gallons)

• 18-20 lb turkey: 30-quart pot (7.5 gallons)

Make sure you select a burner or propane tank with enough BTUs to heat the amount of oil in your pot. More gallons require more heating power.

Sample Turkey Fryers and Gallon Capacities

To give you a better idea, here are some example turkey fryer pots with their capacities in gallons:

• Bayou Classic 3025 30-Quart Turkey Fryer Pot – Holds 7.5 gallons

• Char-Broil Big Easy TRU Infrared Turkey Fryer – 16-quart pot holds 4 gallons

• Masterbuilt XXL 40-Quart Turkey Fryer Pot – 10 gallon capacity

• Butterball XL Electric Turkey Fryer – Holds up to a 20 lb turkey in an 8 gallon pot

• Bayou Classic 1118 – 32-quart stainless steel pot holds 8 gallons

• Waring Pro Professional Turkey Fryer – 30-quart aluminum pot holds 7.5 gallons

Oil Fill Lines

Most turkey fryer pots include gallon fill lines inside the pot. This lets you measure how much oil you need without having to convert quart capacity to gallons.

The markings are designed to fill the pot with enough oil to safely cook a turkey of a certain weight. Be sure to pay attention to these fill lines as you add oil rather than just tops off the pot.

Safety Tips

When using a turkey fryer, keep these safety guidelines in mind:

• Place the pot on a flat, even surface far away from any buildings or trees.

• Don’t overfill the pot with oil past the fill lines.

• Slowly lower the turkey into the hot oil to prevent splatter.

• Monitor the oil temperature carefully and adjust the burner as needed.

• Turn off the flame before removing the turkey to prevent fires.

• Completely thaw and dry out your turkey before frying.

• Have a fire extinguisher on hand just in case.