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For cooks with a brazen sense of adventure, the idea of submerging a whole turkey in a cauldron of bubbling oil is understandably exciting. Deep-frying a Thanksgiving turkey certainly has advantages: The technique produces a juicy, flavorful bird with guaranteed crispy, golden brown skin—and the whole process takes less than 2 hours. Plus, all of the action happens outdoors, freeing up oven space for all the holiday side dishes you plan on churning out.
But, there’s no better way to ruin Turkey Day than by setting the bird (and your house) on fire. If this is your first time frying a turkey, don’t just wing it. Our turkey frying guide includes step-by-step instructions and a few essential safety tips so your deep-fried Thanksgiving dinner will go off without a hitch.
So go ahead and fill the oven with sweet potatoes, green beans, and pecan pie; then head outdoors for this quick and easy way to cook your Thanksgiving turkey.
Deep frying a turkey is a popular cooking method that results in a crispy, juicy and flavorful bird. Many people choose Butterball turkeys for deep frying because of their quality and reliability. But can you actually deep fry a Butterball turkey?
The short answer is yes, you absolutely can deep fry a Butterball turkey! With proper precautions and techniques, deep frying a Butterball turkey can yield incredibly delicious results for your next holiday feast or gathering.
In this comprehensive guide we will cover everything you need to know about deep frying Butterball turkeys including
- Safety tips and equipment needed
- Choosing the right Butterball turkey
- Thawing and preparing the turkey
- Calculating oil amount
- Lowering the turkey into the oil
- Cooking times and temperatures
- Ensuring doneness
- Removing and draining the turkey
- Reusing oil
- Delicious deep-fried Butterball turkey recipes
So let’s get started and learn how to perfectly deep fry a juicy golden Butterball turkey!
Is It Safe to Deep Fry a Butterball Turkey?
Deep frying involves dunking the turkey in boiling hot oil so safety should always be the top priority. Provided you take the necessary precautions deep frying a Butterball turkey is completely safe.
- Use a turkey fryer designed for frying whole turkeys, and follow all manufacturer’s instructions
- Fry outdoors on a flat surface away from homes/buildings
- Don’t overfill the fryer with oil
- Keep children and pets away
- Use caution when handling the hot oil
- Monitor the oil temperature carefully
- Thaw and dry the turkey completely first
- Lower and remove the turkey slowly
- Have a fire extinguisher on hand
As long as you adhere to safety best practices, deep frying a Butterball turkey can be done safely and enjoyably.
Can You Use Any Butterball Turkey for Deep Frying?
Butterball offers a wide variety of whole turkey options, from fresh to frozen. However, you’ll get the best results by choosing a turkey specifically labeled for deep frying.
Look for the Butterball Deep Fried Turkey logo when purchasing your turkey. These birds are specially bred and processed for deep frying.
Key benefits of a deep fried Butterball turkey include:
- Uniform shape for even cooking
- Less oil absorption thanks to special processing
- Skinless options available for less mess and splatter
- Convenient cook-from-frozen options
Stick to a deep fried Butterball turkey for much easier prep and foolproof deep fried turkey success.
How Long Does it Take to Deep Fry a Butterball Turkey?
The cooking time will depend on a few factors, especially the size of your Butterball turkey. Use these general guidelines:
- 12 lb turkey: Cook for approximately 45 minutes
- 14 lb turkey: Cook for approximately 50-55 minutes
- 16 lb turkey: Cook for approximately 60-70 minutes
- 18 lb turkey: Cook for approximately 75-90 minutes
- 20 lb turkey: Cook for approximately 90-110 minutes
The best way to ensure doneness is to use a food thermometer, not just rely on time. We’ll cover temperatures and how to test for doneness later on.
For the most accurate cooking times, always defer to the instructions provided with your actual Butterball turkey and deep fryer.
Turkey Deep Fryer Equipment You’ll Need
Having the right deep frying equipment is crucial for success and safety. Here’s what you’ll need:
- 30-40 qt turkey fryer
- Propane tank
- Long stirring rods or hooks
- Meat thermometer
- Heavy duty oven mitts or gloves
- Eye protection
- Lid to extinguish flare ups
- Large drain pan or paper towels
- Butane lighter or instant starter
Be sure to thoroughly read the user manual for your specific turkey fryer. Familiarize yourself with how to safely operate it before cooking day.
Calculating How Much Oil is Needed
Having the right amount of oil is key to proper deep frying. Too little, and the turkey won’t be fully submerged. Too much, and you risk dangerous boil overs.
To determine the oil amount:
- Place thawed turkey in fryer basket
- Lower basket into empty fryer
- Add water until turkey is just fully submerged
- Remove basket and turkey
- Mark water line inside fryer
- Dry out fryer completely
- Add oil to water fill line
This ensures you have just enough oil to fully immerse and cook the turkey without overflow.
Leave 5 inches of clearance between the oil and the fryer rim. Don’t overfill!
Choosing a Frying Oil for Butterball Turkey
The best oils for deep frying turkeys have a high smoke point and neutral flavor. We recommend:
- Peanut oil: Distinctive nutty flavor
- Vegetable oil: Affordable and versatile
- Canola oil: Smooth and mild taste
- Corn oil: Good stability at high heat
Avoid olive oil as it has too low of a smoke point. Stick to peanut or vegetable oil for the best results.
Should You Thaw a Butterball Turkey Before Frying?
Absolutely! For food safety and doneness, it’s crucial to completely thaw your Butterball turkey before lowering it into the hot oil.
Thawing ensures the turkey will cook evenly throughout. If partially frozen, the outer areas could overcook while the center remains underdone and unsafe to eat.
Here are some safe ways to properly thaw a frozen Butterball:
- Refrigerator: Allow 1 day per 4 lbs of turkey
- Cold water: Submerge turkey in cold water, changing water every 30 minutes
- Microwave: Follow microwave defrost function instructions, if available
Pat the turkey dry thoroughly before frying to prevent splattering.
How to Safely Lower Turkey into Hot Oil
Lowering the turkey into the 350°F hot oil is the most dangerous part of deep frying. To do it safely:
- Turn off propane burner before lowering turkey
- Use turkey hook or ropes to slowly lower turkey into oil
- Gently release turkey and let it settle in oil
- Turn burner back on once turkey is fully submerged
- Stand back to avoid splatter
Never drop or abruptly lower the turkey into hot oil. Go slow and steady. This prevents dangerous boiling over and splattering.
Should You Stuff a Turkey Before Deep Frying?
Do not deep fry a stuffed turkey! Stuffing a turkey before deep frying is extremely dangerous, as the stuffing can be undercooked while the turkey exterior overcooks.
Cooking a stuffed turkey also increases the risk of uneven oil absorption. For food safety and even doneness, cook stuffing separately from the fried turkey.
How to Tell When a Fried Turkey is Done
A meat thermometer is the only reliable way to check internal temperature and doneness. Use these guidelines:
- Insert thermometer into the thickest breast area, avoiding the bone
- Turkey thigh and wing meat should reach 175°F
- Turkey breast meat should reach 165°F
- If less than 165°F, continue cooking, checking temperature every 5-10 minutes
The turkey skin will turn golden brown when done. But always rely on the thermometer, not color, to determine proper doneness.
Removing and Draining the Fried Butterball Turkey
Once cooked to temperature, follow these steps:
- Turn off propane burner
- Using turkey hooks, slowly lift turkey from oil
- Allow oil to drain back into fryer for 30 seconds
- Place turkey on prepped drying rack or pan
- Let turkey rest 15-20 minutes before carving
The turkey will be incredibly hot and fragile after frying, so use extreme caution when removing it from the oil.
Can You Reuse Frying Oil After Cooking a Turkey?
You can reuse oil after deep frying a Butterball turkey. However, there are a few guidelines:
- Oil can only be reused a couple of times before flavors and impurities start to develop
- After cooking, filter oil through cheesecloth to remove food particles
- Store oil in an airtight container away from light and heat
- Discard any oil that smells odd or starts smoking at lower temps
In most cases, you can get 2-3 uses out of Turkey frying oil before needing to discard it. Proper storage between uses extends its life.
Best Deep Fried Butterball Turkey Recipes
Now that you know the ins and outs of deep frying Butterball turkeys, give one of these delicious recipes a try!
- Cajun Deep Fried Turkey: Coated in Cajun seasoning blend
- Garlic Herb Deep Fried Turkey: Infused with garlic, rosemary, thyme
- Deep Fried Maple Bourbon Turkey: Brined in maple syrup and bourbon
- Deep Fried Turducken: Stuffed chicken and duck
- Triple Dipped Fried Turkey: Buttermilk, flour, egg
With this comprehensive guide, you
How to deep-fry a turkey:
Though the ingredient list for our deep-fried turkey recipe is relatively simple (all you need is a whole turkey and a lot of oil, plus any seasonings you want to add), the process requires very specific equipment. It might be an investment up front, but once you own the whole setup, you can deep-fry your turkey year after year. (You can also repurpose the equipment for a seafood boil come summertime.)Before you get started,
- Always fry your turkey outdoors in an open space away from the house, garage, swing set, backyard patio, or any other combustible structure. Do not attempt to deep-fry a turkey in inclement weather (if rain or snow gets into your fry pot, it could spell trouble).
- Arrange the burner on a flat surface and keep children and pets a safe distance from the fryer at all times.
- Wear heavy-duty gloves and a sturdy apron when deep-frying to protect yourself from the hot oil.
- Allow the oil to cool completely (at least a few hours; overnight is better) before moving or disposing of it.
The supplies:
You don’t need an industrial deep fryer to cook your bird, but you will need a specialized turkey-frying kit. Look for these at most hardware and home-improvement stores, or online retailers (we like this one from Amazon). Most turkey-frying kits use propane gas, though some electric models fitted with fryer baskets claim to be safe to use indoors (avoid these; frying a whole turkey indoors runs a greater risk of a grease fire). Make sure your outdoor frying kit includes the following items:
- 30-qt. or larger aluminum pot
- Propane burner with a hose that connects to a propane gas tank and a gauge for regulating the flame
- Poultry rack with a hook for lowering and raising the turkey
- 12″ deep-fry thermometer that clips to the side of the pot to monitor the oil temperature
Gas One Turkey Fryer Propane Burner Complete Kit
- A full propane tank
- A waterproof marker
- A heavy-duty apron
- Long, heavy-duty oven mitts (the kind you might use for grilling)
- An instant-read meat thermometer for checking the internal temperature of the turkey
- A fire extinguisher, in case of emergencies
The turkey: If you’re starting with a frozen turkey, allow it ample time to thaw before beginning the frying process (get our complete guide to thawing a turkey here). If you have a fresh turkey, simply pat it dry with paper towels. Either way, avoid using a wet brine or marinade; excess moisture can lead to splattering when you submerge the bird in the hot frying oil, resulting in dangerous flare-ups.
For most turkey preparations, including frying, we recommend dry-brining for optimal flavor and seasoning. A dry brine can permeate the meat, leading to a juicy, flavorful bird. More importantly, it dries out the skin, encouraging it to crisp and leading to a more controlled frying process. Note that some turkeys—such as Butterball and kosher turkeys—are pre-brined (often in water) and do require additional seasoning. Keep in mind that deep-fried turkeys should not be stuffed; instead, bake your stuffing in a casserole dish in the oven.
No matter which route you take, remember to remove the giblets from the turkey’s cavity and dry it inside and out. (Excluding the liver, which can be bitter, reserve the neck and any other discarded turkey parts to make turkey stock.)
The oil: You can use any type of oil that has a high smoke point. Canola oil, vegetable oil, grapeseed oil, and peanut oil all work well. How much oil do you need to fry a turkey? For a 12–14-lb. turkey, you’ll need approximately 4–5 gal. of oil. But pots vary in volume, so the method below will help you determine the precise amount you’ll need to fill your particular pot. Remember that the oil level will rise once you lower the turkey; this method factors in the clearance required between the oil’s surface and the top of the pot. Never fill the pot to the brim, which could cause the hot oil to overflow and set the whole thing ablaze.
How to Deep Fry a Turkey in a Fryer
FAQ
Can you put a butterball turkey in a deep fryer?
Butterball has paired with Masterbuilt to produce an easy to use, safe indoor fryer big enough to handle a 20 pound turkey.Nov 24, 2010
What’s the largest turkey you can deep fry?
In the case of the indoor fryer, an 18-pound turkey can get stuck and jam the rotisserie mechanism. My advice is to not go over a 15-pound turkey in fryers that claim an 18-pound maximum.
How much oil for a Butterball deep fryer?
Please refer to your manual for a complete list of warnings on all of our products. How much oil do I need to use? The fryer will require approximately 2.75 gallons (11qts) of oil max.
Can I deep fry a whole frozen turkey?
Never deep fry a frozen turkey, as the combination of water, oil, and heat can lead to explosions and fires. Always thaw it properly before cooking.