Do you guys remember my anxiety over Vern deep frying a turkey last Thanksgiving? And how I had visions of explosions and charred skin? Well, it turns out that not only did he do a ton of research beforehand and was he super careful, but the turkey was really, really tasty! I was so surprised at how much I liked it. I still love and will continue to cook my traditional bird, but deep frying a small breast is in the plans again this year.
If you're thinking about giving the deep frying thing a go this year, here's an easy step-by-step:
• Be sure your turkey is COMPLETELY thawed.
• Remove any excess fat.
• Make sure to remove and discard the neck and giblets from the turkey.
• Do not stuff you turkey when deep-frying. You must cook the stuffing separately.
• Make sure to set up your fryer on a flat surface, away from any structures, including: your house (or neighbors' homes), garages, wooden decks, etc. Avoid placing on a concrete surface (such as patio or driveway) because some grease or oil will inevitably pop & splash, and it will stain.
• To determine how much oil is needed for frying, place the thawed turkey in the fryer basket and place it in the fryer. Add water until the top of the turkey is barely covered. Remove the turkey, allowing the water to drain from the turkey back into the fryer. Measure and mark the water line, and use that line as a guide when adding oil to the propane fryer.
• Pat the turkey dry with paper towels.
• Add oil to the fryer (based on the water line).
• Preheat oil in the fryer to 375° F.
• While the oil is heating, prepare your turkey with any seasonings, marinades, or injected flavor that you desire. Vern highly recommends injecting your turkey with some sort of marinade for a bit more flavor. There are lots to choose from in the stores and they’re marketed and sold just for this.
• When the oil is hot, turn the burner off and slowly lower the turkey into the hot oil. Slowly lowering the basket helps prevent the oil from bubbling over. Once the turkey is submerged, you can turn the burner back on.
• Cook the turkey for about 3 to 4 minutes per pound.
• The turkey is done when the dark meat is at an internal temperature of 175° F to 180° F and all white meat is at an internal temperature of 165° F to 170° F.
• When the turkey is done, slowly lift it from the pot and place it in a pan or on paper towels to drain. Let the turkey stand for 15-20 minutes before removing it from the rack or basket. And NO picking at it!
That's it! You can do this...but just in case, make sure your insurance is paid up.
If you're thinking about giving the deep frying thing a go this year, here's an easy step-by-step:
• Be sure your turkey is COMPLETELY thawed.
• Remove any excess fat.
• Make sure to remove and discard the neck and giblets from the turkey.
• Do not stuff you turkey when deep-frying. You must cook the stuffing separately.
• Make sure to set up your fryer on a flat surface, away from any structures, including: your house (or neighbors' homes), garages, wooden decks, etc. Avoid placing on a concrete surface (such as patio or driveway) because some grease or oil will inevitably pop & splash, and it will stain.
• To determine how much oil is needed for frying, place the thawed turkey in the fryer basket and place it in the fryer. Add water until the top of the turkey is barely covered. Remove the turkey, allowing the water to drain from the turkey back into the fryer. Measure and mark the water line, and use that line as a guide when adding oil to the propane fryer.
• Pat the turkey dry with paper towels.
• Add oil to the fryer (based on the water line).
• Preheat oil in the fryer to 375° F.
• While the oil is heating, prepare your turkey with any seasonings, marinades, or injected flavor that you desire. Vern highly recommends injecting your turkey with some sort of marinade for a bit more flavor. There are lots to choose from in the stores and they’re marketed and sold just for this.
• When the oil is hot, turn the burner off and slowly lower the turkey into the hot oil. Slowly lowering the basket helps prevent the oil from bubbling over. Once the turkey is submerged, you can turn the burner back on.
• Cook the turkey for about 3 to 4 minutes per pound.
• The turkey is done when the dark meat is at an internal temperature of 175° F to 180° F and all white meat is at an internal temperature of 165° F to 170° F.
• When the turkey is done, slowly lift it from the pot and place it in a pan or on paper towels to drain. Let the turkey stand for 15-20 minutes before removing it from the rack or basket. And NO picking at it!
That's it! You can do this...but just in case, make sure your insurance is paid up.