How to Deep-Fry a Turkey
To start, you’ll want to prepare the turkey for frying by removing the neck, giblets, plastic ties, or pop-up timers. From there, use the following steps to make a deep-fried turkey.
Getting the Right Fried Turkey Temperature
Our Test Kitchen recommends frying the turkey in 350°F peanut oil or other vegetable oil for 3 minutes per pound. Take the internal temperature in the meaty part of the thigh (it should register 180°F).
Deep-Fried Turkey Safety
When cooking with hot oil—especially in the large amounts required to deep-fry turkey—it’s essential to always keep safety in mind. Avoid burns and fires this Thanksgiving by following these tips when deep-frying your turkey.
Wear a long-sleeve shirt, pants, thick gloves, and closed-toe shoes while frying. Always keep your fryer outside, and be sure that kids and pets are indoors and away from the fryer. Be sure to place your fryer in an open area away from any awnings or overhanging branches. Make sure to use the proper tools provided with your frying kit. Never fill the oil above the indicated line in your fryer to prevent overflow. Be sure your turkey is completely thawed and dry before frying. Never place a frozen turkey in your fryer. Always turn the flame off before slowly lowering the turkey into the fryer, and never leave the fryer unattended while cooking. Never fry a turkey that is too big for your fryer. As a general rule, select a turkey that weighs 12 pounds or less to fry. If you’re serving more people, consider frying two smaller turkeys.
Looking for other ways to make your Thanksgiving bird taste (and look) amazing? Get our favorite turkey recipes for frying, roasting, and wrapping turkey, plus ways to use up leftovers (if they last that long!).
