TURKEY day coming! Need advice on "frying" a Turkey

[daniel boob]

Peanut oil is highly recommended since it has a high burn point. My first was a butterball and is was yummy. The next year we got a 16# whopper and used a turkey syringe with a mixture of salted butter (not margarine), salt, and pepper to season. One of the problems with the butterball turkey was it was flat on seasoning - but still real yummy. When frying birds, you need to keep the seasoning under the skin so it won't fry away. And these birds can't get enough salt. Anyway, the 16# was probably twice as good as the butterball.

I use a hook through the cavity with a big pot. The size of the pot doesn't matter to me - the fire does though. If the temp outside varies (or the wind is blowing) or it is extremely cold, take several readings with a thermomoter before dunking the bird. You don't want the oil temp to fluctuate.

If you're really wanting to have a serious turkey meal, consider Bleu Cheese Dressing, Oyster Dressing, grilled bacon-wrapped asparagus, and pecan and goat cheese over greens. It's a Texas thing.

Enjoy it. This year, we'll probably do another 16# turkey - although I'm considering frying 2 ducks - my wife is suspect because of the fat content.

[lelio]

Can you give us a follow up post when this disaster occurs? Frying turkeys is an accident waiting to happen.
Having said that, I would make sure that:
1) you're outside
2) the turkey is thawed, as ice crystals will pop and explode when heated up
3) you have some sort of broom handle used to lower the turkey, as the oil spits up and hits whatever in a 3' radius
4) don't use that much oil. Maybe even go for a dry run with unheated oil to see how much you need

[glock rocks]

don't do this.

[katykelly]

This is the only way we cook turkey! Use peanut oil for frying. Sometimes I buy the marinade for injecting, other times I make my own. I rub the skin with cajun spice. I always soak my turkey the night before in buttermilk. Good Luck!

[1bigdictator]

Sounds good to me... I am a novice turkey frier.

[1Old Pro]

Real good advice

[ppaul]

Some tasty links for y'all.....

Senator John Breaux, Louisiana, Specialty Recipe for Cajun Deep Fried Turkey

Jim's Cajun Deep Fried Turkey

National Turkey Federation's Deep Fried Turkey Recipe

Emeril Lagasse's Deep Fried Cajun Turkey Recipe

[texpat72]

The guys in my family also use peanut oil. I agree with Free Paul about the cooker. Much safer!

[Cyber Liberty]

I think I can help a little. I started frying turkeys last year.

It's not a good idea to use your grill for a heat source. Too much risk of spillover having a disasterous effect. I purchased a frying grill base at my local grocery store last year, but I've seen them at Wal-Mart. You get a set of hardware that include everything you'll need, with instructions for use. You provide the gas bottle.

The kit has the perforated liner. The liner is a better choice than the "hooks" you refer to.

The kit also has a long thermometer. You'll need it, so keep it handy.

Oil? Peanut oil has the best qualities, in that it has a relatively high smoke point. I've used canola, too. Don't use shortening because it burns way too easily and is hard to control the temperature. The key to selecting the right oil is smoke point. Get the highest you can.

It takes about 4 minutes per pound of turkey, so a 13-pounder cooked in about 42 minutes at 350 degrees F.

As to the size you want, maximum weight will come with your instructions that come in the deep-frying kit.

One piece of advice you didn't ask for: Make sure the bird is completely thawed, and that you've thoroughly blotted out all moisture inside and outside the bird. Any traces of water will cause you grief, because it's the nature of water to evaporate when hitting 350 degree oil. Forcefully, if necessary.

I'd recommend that you do what I did when I first got my turkey frier: Buy a whole uncut chicken and experiment on members of your immediate family before you cook for company.

[Drango]

Make sure your local PETA chapter doesn't hear about this...

[phasma proeliator]

You need to do this.

[PBRSTREETGANG]

Don't fill the deep fryer to the brim with oil. UNDERESTIMATE the amount of oil needed!

Put Bird in empty pot ahead of time and then fill with enough water to cover. Remove bird and this will show you about how much peanut oil it will take to submerge the turkey later.

[fight_truth_decay]

[blackdog]

Just cook it until it floats. When you first put it in you will see it sinks to the bottom. When it bobs like a cork, it is done. I like to add a bunch of jalepeno's to the caldron as well to impart that zip to the flavor of the bird. This year we are doing a goose, then cold smoking it for a few hours after frying. I've been feeding the damn goose since May. I am REALLY looking forward to thanksgiving!

[AgentEcho]

Don't get into the injecting craze. There are all kinds of flavor injectors out there and I think my family has tried all of them. THEY'RE ALL DISGUSTING. I made all of the cooks in the family (myself included though I stopped after the first try) swear off the use of these things.

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

I've been feeding the damn goose since May. I am REALLY looking forward to thanksgiving!

LOL! You should see all the geese around here in suburban Chicago, who have decided that it's not worth the effort to fly south any more when they have a cushy life living around the retention "ponds" here these days. The only time they left over the last several years was when we got 40" of snow in about 3 weeks.

[FreePaul]

If the temp outside varies (or the wind is blowing) or it is extremely cold,...

I made a circular shield of twelve inch sheet metal flashing. This protected the burner and lower portion of the pot from wind. It made a big difference in getting the oil temperature up and keeping it there.

[fight_truth_decay]

Get one of those big cans of Peanut Oil at Home Depot and no where fills the Turkey Fryer

[geege]

www.foodtv.com

Just type in "turkey" or "fried turkey".........there's lots of recipes.......boy that sounds delish........