# What is the proper way to deep fry a whole turkey? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 18, 2001, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-proper-way-to-deep-fry-a-whole-turkey/88303 "2001-10-18T21:27:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dalovindj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/65b543/32.png) [@dalovindj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalovindj)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2001, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-proper-way-to-deep-fry-a-whole-turkey/88303/1 "2001-10-18T21:27:08Z")
I assure you such things go on. Any online sources for a deep-fryer made large enough for this sort of endeavor? DaLovin’ Dj ---
**Author:** ![Lsura](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@Lsura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lsura)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2001, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-proper-way-to-deep-fry-a-whole-turkey/88303/2 "2001-10-18T21:33:11Z")
Try [here](http://www.allrecipes.com/cb/kh/thanks/friedturkey/default.asp) or [here](http://www.turkeyfed.org/consumer/cookinfo/fryturk.html) for some info. My parents now deep-fry turkey whenever they have turkey. I find it more flavorful and juicy, without being greasy. ---
**Author:** ![gazpacho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6f9a4e/32.png) [@gazpacho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gazpacho)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2001, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-proper-way-to-deep-fry-a-whole-turkey/88303/3 "2001-10-18T21:33:55Z")
Places like Home Depot sell them. It will be called a turkey Fryer or some such. It will consist of a large metal bucket for holding the oil. Propane burner and stand for the bucket. And probably some kind of rack to hold the turkey in the oil. They should start stocking them about now. I have never actually used them but I have seen people buying them at home depot. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2001, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-proper-way-to-deep-fry-a-whole-turkey/88303/4 "2001-10-18T21:47:51Z")
Now I really have seen everything. [sub]Unless you have a device for deep-frying an entire cow over there in the states[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2001, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-proper-way-to-deep-fry-a-whole-turkey/88303/5 "2001-10-18T21:47:59Z")
A handy tip: Fill the cauldron with water first, then dip the turkey so that you know how much water it displaces, so you know the exact level to which you must fill the cauldron with oil. This useful tip will help you not splash hot, boiling, bubbling oil all over the place when you dump the turkey in. Um, not that I’ve ever done that, or anything. ---
**Author:** ![Bumbazine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bumbazine/32/362_2.png) [@Bumbazine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bumbazine)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2001, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-proper-way-to-deep-fry-a-whole-turkey/88303/6 "2001-10-18T21:56:14Z")
Two of my brothers-in-law do this, and it’s really tastey. I’ve never done it myself however. My BILs say to use peanut oil for the best flavor. Also, make sure you have some way of getting the turkey back out of the fryer. That oil is HOT! One of my BILs securely attaches a wire coat hanger to the turkey such that a loop of wire sticks up that he can snag with a long carving fork or somesuch. ---
**Author:** ![Kamandi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5daacb/32.png) [@Kamandi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamandi)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2001, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-proper-way-to-deep-fry-a-whole-turkey/88303/7 "2001-10-18T22:12:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bumbazine \* > **My BILs say to use peanut oil for the best flavor.** …and be sure to plug in the heart defibrillator… ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2001, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-proper-way-to-deep-fry-a-whole-turkey/88303/8 "2001-10-18T22:38:00Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mangetout \* > \*\*Now I really have seen everything. > > [sub]Unless you have a device for deep-frying an entire cow over there in the states[/sub] \*\* People who live in a county where haggis is consumed in various regions and “bangers and mash” in others are in the most delicate of culinary glass houses. ---
**Author:** ![geepee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ebca7d/32.png) [@geepee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/geepee)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2001, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-proper-way-to-deep-fry-a-whole-turkey/88303/9 "2001-10-18T23:27:53Z")
go to the local chip shop and ask them to fry it , they usually have massive friers , and you might want to microwave it a bit befoe hand if it was frozen , as frying cooks the outsides first , heh go look at places in Scottland they fry everything , pies , ice cream , chocolate bars (mars and snickers) chips ---
**Author:** ![Chas.E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e99b99/32.png) [@Chas.E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chas.E)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2001, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-proper-way-to-deep-fry-a-whole-turkey/88303/10 "2001-10-18T23:41:54Z")
I recall seeing a video last year demonstrating the exact technique, it was on “Cooking Secrets of the CIA” (no, not that CIA, the Culinary Institute of America). I think they sell these videos, they had great cooking tips, maybe see if they have these tapes at your local library. ---
**Author:** ![SolomonGrundy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d07c76/32.png) [@SolomonGrundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SolomonGrundy)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2001, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-proper-way-to-deep-fry-a-whole-turkey/88303/11 "2001-10-19T02:34:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bumbazine \* > **My BILs say to use peanut oil for the best flavor.** This was always the big snag in the plan whenever we contemplated doing this… here in CA, getting that much peanut oil is about as feasible as deep-frying a turkey in faberge eggs. I’m assuming your BILs are either from GA or thereabouts, or they’re multi-millionaires? ---
**Author:** ![Spavined\_Gelding](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/958977/32.png) [@Spavined\_Gelding](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spavined_Gelding)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2001, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-proper-way-to-deep-fry-a-whole-turkey/88303/12 "2001-10-19T02:48:18Z")
For the love of God: 1. Use a dead turkey. 2. Don’t use a frozen turkey while it is still frozen. 3. Hi, Opal 4)There is no #4 I’ve had one. It is good! ---
**Author:** ![Bumbazine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bumbazine/32/362_2.png) [@Bumbazine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bumbazine)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2001, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-proper-way-to-deep-fry-a-whole-turkey/88303/13 "2001-10-19T02:53:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by SolomonGrundy \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by Bumbazine \* > > **My BILs say to use peanut oil for the best flavor.** > > This was always the big snag in the plan whenever we contemplated doing this… here in CA, getting that much peanut oil is about as feasible as deep-frying a turkey in faberge eggs. I’m assuming your BILs are either from GA or thereabouts, or they’re multi-millionaires? \*\* Well, the one I actually _saw_ fry a turkey (in Eastern Oregon) had some big jugs of oil that he said he got from Costco. And yes, he is pretty well off. I think canola oil would work just as well, myself. But it sure did taste good! ---
**Author:** ![AndrewL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@AndrewL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AndrewL)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2001, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-proper-way-to-deep-fry-a-whole-turkey/88303/14 "2001-10-19T03:08:54Z")
My parents make this every year for Christmas. Big stainless steel frier over a propane flame in the back yard, several gallons of peanut oil, and one turkey. As far as I’m concerned, this is THE way to eat turkeys. ---
**Author:** ![hegel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/cab0a1/32.png) [@hegel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hegel)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2001, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-proper-way-to-deep-fry-a-whole-turkey/88303/15 "2001-10-19T03:48:06Z")
[http://www.ruralking.com](http://www.ruralking.com) search for “turkey fryer” we sell a lot of these. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2001, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-proper-way-to-deep-fry-a-whole-turkey/88303/16 "2001-10-19T03:55:53Z")
Eeeeew-deep fried TURKEY? I’d prefer it smoked-see if you can’t get a smoker-now THAT’s good. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2001, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-proper-way-to-deep-fry-a-whole-turkey/88303/17 "2001-10-19T03:57:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Spavined Gelding \* > \*\*For the love of God: > > 1. Use a dead turkey. > > \*\* That just makes me laugh out loud. Maybe that means I’m an incurable nut, but I’m thinking of, well, _other_ ways you might get splashed with hot oil, besides mis-estimating the displacement of a turkey body. 😃 I have another one: “With God as my witness, I thought turkeys could fly!” -WKRP Now I’ll have to watch that episode again… 😃 ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2001, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-proper-way-to-deep-fry-a-whole-turkey/88303/18 "2001-10-19T04:00:13Z")
Cabela’s carries Turkey fryers at [http://www.cabelas.com](http://www.cabelas.com) Search for key word “turkey” and scroll down. I tried to paste the URL, but when I checked it I got page unavailable. More are available in their catalog. ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2001, 7:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-proper-way-to-deep-fry-a-whole-turkey/88303/19 "2001-10-19T07:00:20Z")
This is a coincidence. Just today I read a frontier description of turkey fried in raccoon fat. Mmm-mmm, good! ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2001, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-proper-way-to-deep-fry-a-whole-turkey/88303/20 "2001-10-19T11:38:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by astro \* > \*\*People who live in a county where haggis is consumed in various regions and “bangers and mash” in others are in the most delicate of culinary glass houses. \*\* Oooh, look a culinary strawman! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-proper-way-to-deep-fry-a-whole-turkey/88303.md?page=2)