[dropcap]F[/dropcap]ried turkey is a popular cuisine especially among the southern parts of the country. With a typical grill or oven, cooking a turkey can be way too time consuming. Thus, for frying a turkey the best option is using a turkey deep-fryer. If you haven’t heard of this, then you will now. Basically it is a stock pot with a lid that comes with a poultry holder, where the turkey is placed. The burner must be separately purchased. The fryer would contain oil which is heated; its temperature is measured using a thermometer. You don’t add the lid when you’re frying, otherwise the thing could burst! With careful use of a turkey fryer, you get to create the most amazing turkey recipes. However, knowing how to cook with care without burning yourself is important, and I will tell you exactly how.
Safety Concerns With Turkey Fryers
Since you’re gonna fry a turkey in an open flame, there are certain risks involved. You need to proceed with utmost caution. When you cook, don’t ever leave the cooker unattended. Before cooking you need to follow these rules if you want to cook safely:
- Propane burners should never be used indoors or near flammable materials. The burner should be far from the cooker itself.
- When you fill the cooker with oil, you should leave some space for allowing the oil to expand. Measure the amount of oil you are adding. When the cooker is empty, place the turkey inside, fill it with oil until it is 1 inch from the top of the meat. Ensure at this moment the burner is not on. Then remove the turkey and start heating the oil.
- If turkey is frozen, you must fully thaw it. Any ice particles coming in contact with hot oil could likely cause an explosion.
- Since fryers require open flame, ensure children and pets are as distant as possible from the fryer. Keep a fire extinguisher nearby in case you need it for emergency situations.
- Keep the temperature at around 350 degrees F, and always monitor the temperature. If you see smoke emanating, reduce the heat.
- When cooking, wear thick gloves and oven mitts and cover your arms and feet.
- Lower the turkey into the cooker slowly to avoid oil spillage and remove slowly as well.
By following these rules you can get the most out of your turkey fryers. If you’re tempted to buy a turkey fryer and extend your cooking skills, click here to check out an awesome turkey fryer review on Grills Forever.
How Long To Deep Fry A Turkey
Whether you want to fry a whole turkey or you want to try how to deep fry a turkey breast for example, it actually depends on the weight of the turkey. For every pound, cooking time is considered to be three to four minutes approximately. So if your turkey weighs around 13 pounds, your overall cooking time would be somewhat 39 minutes. Oils with high smoke points must be used, such as canola oil, avocado oil, mustard oil, sunflower oil etc. Once you’re done with frying, you could reuse or store the oil for further use, but don’t if the oil goes rancid. Remember that fried turkeys cannot be stuffed, but you can create rubs for them and season them with marinades to bring out amazing flavors and delicious tastes.
Deep Fried Turkey Rub Recipe
Before you dip your turkey into the hot oil, you obviously have to cover the meat with some type of rub. You could also cover the turkey with amazing marinades. To help you get started, here is a rub and marinade recipe that’ll ensure you create the best fried turkey recipes ever.
Bay Leaf Deep Fried Turkey Rub
You’ll need to gather the following ingredients:
- 2 tsp garlic powder
- 1.5 tsp black peppercorn
- 1 tbsp dried oregano
- 25 whole bay leaves medium-sized
- 3 tbsp Creole seasoning
- 1 tbsp dried thyme
Take a spice grinder and ensure that the bay leaves are ground to fine powder. Place the ground powder into a bowl and mix in thyme, peppercorns and oregano. Mix all the ingredients and then split the total amount to three equal portions. Rule is to use the first portion by rubbing it inside the turkey. The second portion should be rubbed on the turkey breasts under the skin. Use the last portion all over the outside of the meat and then store the turkey overnight. Then you could fry it, with the timing based on its weight. Of course, you could create your own unique mix of deep fried turkey rubs if you want.
Cajun Style Turkey Marinade Injection
Believe it or not, deep fried turkey recipes originated from the Cajun ethnic groups, so it’s only fair that I tell you how to make the perfect marinade in the Cajun style! The marinade can be injected deep into the meat of the turkey, which will give the meat a great deal of flavor and exquisite taste.
Gather the following ingredients:
- 0.5 cup olive oil
- 1 cup of lemon juice
- 0.5 cup crab boil liquid
- 0.5 cup butter
- 2 tbsp onion powder
- 2 tbsp Cajun seasoning
- 1 tsp Tabasco sauce
- 1 tsp cayenne pepper
- 2 tbsp garlic powder
Take a saucepan and place all these ingredients inside. Allow simmering over low to medium heat so that the butter melts completely. Then stir the entire mixture. Let the sauce liquefy completely and then stop heating. Allow the mixture to cool for 5 minutes. You should inject this marinade while it’s still warm enough. Inject into the leg, breasts and thighs directly. Make sure the marinade is dispersed properly throughout the entire turkey. Wipe away any excess marinade and then go on to deep frying! If you want you can make your own Cajun fried turkey seasoning, since Cajun flavors are hot and really savory. This actually depends on the addition of ingredients such as paprika and cayenne pepper. Experiment and get your desired taste of deep fried turkey. You can read this blog to learn more brining techniques to get the best flavors. If you’re not deep frying any time soon, then you can refrigerate the marinade covered turkey for up to 16 hours in a zip lock bag.
Whether it’s Thanksgiving or Christmas, or an outdoor barbecue party or a camping excursion, deep frying a turkey saves so much cooking time that it’s worth trying. You won’t have to spend hours behind grilling and roasting! By deep frying a turkey, you get more time and space to grill or cook other dishes. Many prefer to deep fry turkeys because simply because they taste better than the roasted and grilled version. However, due to the safety issues and precarious settings of deep frying, many people opt for grilling instead. If you take the necessary precautionary steps, you’ll not only enjoy deep frying, you’ll also get properly cooked delicious turkey meals. If you’re thinking of deep frying a turkey for a party, your side dishes could include casseroles, pies and salads. You don’t even have to fry the whole turkey. Turkey breasts are popular when it comes to deep frying, but thighs and legs are just as delicious. Last but not the least, turkey fryers are multipurpose equipment’s! You can fry chicken as well as french fries and sausages, as well as you put the adequate amount of oil and fry with the right timing. The joys of frying is endless, so the next time you go out for camping, make sure you take a turkey with you.
