Hi everyone! I need a little help. This year my husband decided he wants to fry our Thanksgiving turkey. He went out and purchased this fryer kit and an industrial size container of oil. I am terrified. He’s not very skilled at anything and I just know he’s going to burn the house down. Any advice on how I can talk him out of it would be appreciated! Thanks, Eileen.
Deep frying Thanksgiving Turkey - help please?
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Uncle Bob
Chef Extraordinaire
Sorry you want get any help from me to talk him out of it....I love fried turkey!
If it's his "first time at bat" frying a turkey then encourage him to read the many "How to" and tutorials on the internet...Don't worry...He want burn the house down...He'll be in the back yard away from the house....
Have Fun & Enjoy!
If it's his "first time at bat" frying a turkey then encourage him to read the many "How to" and tutorials on the internet...Don't worry...He want burn the house down...He'll be in the back yard away from the house....
Have Fun & Enjoy!
4meandthem
Half Baked
Just do it ouside on the lawn with cardboard underneath it.
Test the oil ht with water and the turkey before ever putting oil in so you know how much to use. there should be a fill line on the pot to keep under.
An ice chest with water and ice (for burns-don't ever throw water on a grease fire)and a fire extinguisher are smart things to keep nearby just in case.
If you really want to talk him out of it,there are Youtube videos that could do more than I could.
The turkeys are yummy and cook in about 40 minutes.
Test the oil ht with water and the turkey before ever putting oil in so you know how much to use. there should be a fill line on the pot to keep under.
An ice chest with water and ice (for burns-don't ever throw water on a grease fire)and a fire extinguisher are smart things to keep nearby just in case.
If you really want to talk him out of it,there are Youtube videos that could do more than I could.
The turkeys are yummy and cook in about 40 minutes.
Andy M.
Certified Pretend Chef
Hi Eileen. Welcome to DC.
Don't try to talk him out of it. Just make sure he does it safely. A deep fried turkey is moist and delicious and cooks very quickly.
Hubby should set up the fryer outdoors on a non-flammable surface. Fill the oil no more than 3/4 full and make sure the turkey is fully thawed and COMPLETELY dry inside and out. He should have a fire extinguisher appropriate for oil fires handy.
The turkey will cook in less than an hour. A 12-14 pounder will cook in about 45 minutes.
Don't try to talk him out of it. Just make sure he does it safely. A deep fried turkey is moist and delicious and cooks very quickly.
Hubby should set up the fryer outdoors on a non-flammable surface. Fill the oil no more than 3/4 full and make sure the turkey is fully thawed and COMPLETELY dry inside and out. He should have a fire extinguisher appropriate for oil fires handy.
The turkey will cook in less than an hour. A 12-14 pounder will cook in about 45 minutes.
1.) There are some restaurants (you'll have to do some research) that deep fry their turkey. You might find one close enough to do it for you, for a small fee.
2.) Get a really big chemical fire extinguisher.
3.) Have a local fireman come out to your house and give your husband a lecture on deep fried turkey safety.
4.) Tell him you're increasing his life insurance policy to $5,000,000!
2.) Get a really big chemical fire extinguisher.
3.) Have a local fireman come out to your house and give your husband a lecture on deep fried turkey safety.
4.) Tell him you're increasing his life insurance policy to $5,000,000!
Claire
Master Chef
To make sure you don't put too much oil in the fryer, earlier in the day or a day before, put the turkey in the pot, fill it with water. Pull the turkey out and note (with a sharpie or scratch a mark) the level of the water when the turkey is pulled out. The last thing you want is for the oil to slosh over when you put the turkey in, and this will let you know exactly how much oil you need. I'm just giving specific directions for something others have mentioned.
Take paper towels and dry, dry, dry the turkey before putting into the oil. Whenever you deep fry, water hitting the oil will make it splatter. So you want that turkey dry.
Take paper towels and dry, dry, dry the turkey before putting into the oil. Whenever you deep fry, water hitting the oil will make it splatter. So you want that turkey dry.
Uncle Bob
Chef Extraordinaire
Claire said:
Clair is correct...I would however like to amend the above statement to say fill the pot with water to cover the bird about two inches...then remove the bird and mark the water level etc...This will prolly mean the pot was not completely full of water before removing the bird ~~~ Has anybody said you must, DRY, DRY, DRY the turkey before S-L-O-W-L-Y lowering the turkey into the oil???? If not...make sure the Turkey is DRY inside and out!
Claire
Master Chef
Uncle Bob, you are so right. I didn't specify the water level. The main thing is you do not want the oil sloshing over, because the oil will ignite and all hades will go up in flame. Ditto any water making it splash all over anyone near the pot, AND, again, oil ignites very easily. And never, never try to put out an oil fire with water! It will just spread. I've never bought one, I assume the pot comes with a lid. MAKE SURE THE LID IS NEAR THE POT AT ALL TIMES. If the oil does, in spite of all precautions, catch fire, the fastest and easiest solution is putting the lid on it as quickly as possible. Then turn off the gas.
Uncle Bob
Chef Extraordinaire
Uncle Bob
Chef Extraordinaire
You're Welcome ~~~~~ Y'all have fun, and enjoy!
roadfix
Chef Extraordinaire
How about a practice run?
CharlieD
Chef Extraordinaire
Find the post from GB, from couple of years ago, he had a detailed step by step what he did to fry turkey.
Actually if you fallow the instructions on the pot exactly you'd be fine.
Actually if you fallow the instructions on the pot exactly you'd be fine.
What would be the best way to lower the bird into the oil?
Andy M.
Certified Pretend Chef
The fryer rig usually comes with a platform th put the turkey on and a hook to lower it into the fat.
Barbara L
Traveling Welcome Wagon
I know absolutely nothing about frying turkeys, but I would advise you to:
1. Make sure he dries the turkey inside and out.
2. Make sure he doesn't use too much oil.
3. Have the fire extinguisher handy.
4. Have the phone ready to call 911.
5. As soon as he heads for the fryer with the turkey, turn on the video camera (make sure the batteries are ready!).
6. Contact "America's Funniest Home Videos."
Barbara
1. Make sure he dries the turkey inside and out.
2. Make sure he doesn't use too much oil.
3. Have the fire extinguisher handy.
4. Have the phone ready to call 911.
5. As soon as he heads for the fryer with the turkey, turn on the video camera (make sure the batteries are ready!).
6. Contact "America's Funniest Home Videos."
Barbara
I know absolutely nothing about frying turkeys, but I would advise you to:
1. Make sure he dries the turkey inside and out.
2. Make sure he doesn't use too much oil.
3. Have the fire extinguisher handy.
4. Have the phone ready to call 911.
5. As soon as he heads for the fryer with the turkey, turn on the video camera (make sure the batteries are ready!).
6. Contact "America's Funniest Home Videos."
Hammster
Senior Cook
Turkey deep fryer here too. Can't echo enough the advice to dry the bird. But also, make sure it is completely thawed out. Also, get new hot mitts. Talking about ones that come up the forearms a ways. Don't rely on your little pot holders for this. Go to the bbq store or even a place that sells welder's equipment and get some really good hot mitts. The bird will still pop a little bit and those little pops do burn and sting as they hit exposed skin.
And, also as mentioned, do it outdoors and in a wide open place with no cover. Lower very slowly into the oil. Don't rush that step. Make sure the oil is at least 350F before lowering the bird. Oil will cool down and will seem to take forever to recover, but don't turn the heat up to rush the recovery. And trust the cooking time for the bird. In fact, it might get done a bit early.
A rub of dry spices placed under the skin really enhances the flavor too.
Oh in case someone else hasn't mentioned it before...dry the bird.
And, also as mentioned, do it outdoors and in a wide open place with no cover. Lower very slowly into the oil. Don't rush that step. Make sure the oil is at least 350F before lowering the bird. Oil will cool down and will seem to take forever to recover, but don't turn the heat up to rush the recovery. And trust the cooking time for the bird. In fact, it might get done a bit early.
A rub of dry spices placed under the skin really enhances the flavor too.
Oh in case someone else hasn't mentioned it before...dry the bird.
ChefJune
Master Chef
I'd go one better. I wouldn't use a frozen bird for this, at all. I don't think you can dry them out well enough. And almost no one defrosts them thoroughly enough to be safe for frying. Buy a fresh turkey.
