Things You'll Need:
- 1 turkey (12-15lbs)
- Deep fryer
- Peanut oil (3-4 gallons)
- 5 gallon propane tank
- Timer
- Serving platter
- Flavor injector(optional)
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Step 1
As our day of Thanksgiving approaches, many folks will be preparing their bird of choice in the traditional manner of roasting. Granted, there are many great recipies for cooking a turkey. Some birds will turn out perfect while others will have unintended results which in turn will lead the family to the chinese turkey dinner buffet. In this "How To" episode, you will learn how to cook a quality turkey for your upcoming holiday seasons.
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Step 2
Set up your deep fryer on a flat, level surface. It should not require mentioning, but I'll say it anyway: DO NOT COOK INSIDE with a deep fryer.
Pour the peanut oil into the fryer until it reaches the desired level. Most, if not all fryers have marks on the inside of the pot that will help you with the measuring.
Attach the burner unit of the fryer to a full propane bottle, ensuring that you have a good seal.
Open the valve of the propane bottle. Most fryers come with a control knob for adjusting the flame. Before setting the fryer on the burner, you will want to light the burner and make sure that you have a good flame.
Carefully set the pot on top of the burner and set the lid in place. You should have a thermostat which is usually included with the fryer kit.This will need to be in place in order to get a proper reading of the oil temperature. -
Step 3
Allow the oil to heat to approximately 350 degrees. You will need to make some adjustments to the flame in order to maintain a constant temperature.
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Step 4
For those who prefer to add a bit of flavoring to the meat. Flavor injectors are a handy item to have. Most fryer kits come with one. The choice of flavoring is endless. However, it's best to not go overboard with the flavoring as you will end up completely masking the natural flavor of the turkey. If that's the case, you might as well deep fry a boot. Give the injected flavoring time to absorb into the surrounding meat. If you inject the bird and immediately drop it in the oil, most of the flavoring will be concentrated at the injection sites.
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Step 5
Secure the legs and wings of the bird using string. this will make lowering and lifting the bird from the oil much easier. After you have flavored your bird to your liking, (DO NOT add stuffing)insert the holding rack, hook end first through the neck opening. You will want the bird upside down when inserting it into the oil.
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Step 6
Using the hand held hook, very carefully lower the bird into the oil. Note: if the oil is too hot, it will bubble over onto ground. Once you have the bird completly submerged, detach the hook and close the lid. At this point, you will more than likely see a drop in temperature. If so, simply adjust the control knob accordingly to keep the oil at the desired temp. You can now set your timer. Follow the cooking times as labeled in your fryers manual. Typically 45-60 minutes will cook a 12-15lb bird. It is best to not leave the fryer unattended as accidents do and will happen.
