Kara Zorn on October 31, 2012 0 Comments The holidays are fast approaching and it’s time to start collecting ideas and recipes for those festive feasts! For a special treat this Thanksgiving, try deep frying your turkey. If you have not fried a turkey before, there are a few tips you can follow to ensure you not only do it safely, but get the tastiest meal in the end. For the most part, small turkeys will work best. This will be dependent on the type of deep fryer you are using, but we would advise to try to keep your turkey under 15 pounds. Deep frying a turkey not only keeps the bird extremely moist, but you still have the option to season your bird by using a dry rub or injecting marinade. Another important note: Frying your turkey is much faster than cooking it in the oven and it’s a good option for those with smaller kitchens, as it allows you to maximize your oven space for side dishes. An important benefit when you’re preparing a large meal. Ingredients & Equipment Needed: 1 turkey (12 lb.) Turkey Fryer 40-60 quart pot with drain basket 3 gallons peanut or vegetable oil Fuel for fryer Thermometer Optional: An injector to add marinades to your turkey. Marinade Ideas: Marinade ideas can vary, depending on the flavor profile that you’re looking to achieve: Port Wine: Port Wine, garlic juice Honey Beer: apple cider, honey, ale, garlic juice Italian: Italian herbs, red wine, olive oil Cajun: Cajun spices, medium ale, Italian salad dressing Step-by-Step: Deep Frying a Turkey Here are some simple steps to fry your turkey: Since you will be working with a large amount of flammable oil, choose a level spot outdoors to fry your turkey. In your quart stockpot, heat peanut oil to 400° F. The pot should have plenty of room left for the turkey otherwise the oil will spill over. Start with a room temperature turkey (neck and giblets removed), rinse thoroughly and then pat dry with paper towels. If you are going to inject a marinade go ahead and inject it directly into both sides of the breast, the legs and thighs of the turkey. Another option is to coat your turkey with a dry rub (a basic recipe is 1 cup of salt, ¼ cup black pepper, ¼ cup garlic powder). Put turkey into drain basket and slowly lower into the hot oil until it covers the turkey. Maintain the peanut oil at a temperature of 350° F and cook for around 45 minutes (cook time is about 3 to 3.5 minutes per pound). Carefully remove the basket from the oil. Drain turkey. Insert a thermometer into the thickest part of the thigh; the internal temperature should be at least 180° F. Enjoy your deep fried turkey with family and friends So, what would you add to this? How do you deep fry a turkey? Share your thoughts, experience and cooking tips with everyone down in the comments below.
