Originally Posted by Footbag (Post 80647)

Last year a bear showed up during dinner and knocked over my turkey fryer.

Originally Posted by Hardcz (Post 80690)

Any tips for newbs? I keep eyeing a turkey fryer.... I figure I'd brine the bird... then what... get the oil going.... do you dry it first then lower it into the basket or....?

Originally Posted by mrreindeer (Post 80708)

WHOA!



That's pretty much it. Follow the instructions that come with the fryer. Definitely DO NOT put a frozen turkey in there, thaw it. And don't fry it underneath an awning or indoors. Make sure there's plenty of open space and nothing flammable nearby. We do it in the middle of our street! And it splatters everywhere, on you, spills over onto the street, etc. so watch out! (You can measure how much oil to put in there the day before, by lowering the turkey into the pot with the pot filled with water and noting where on the pot to fill with oil on Thanksgiving.)

Costco sells an infrared oil-less fryer if you don't want to have to shell out $40 in oil every time you fry one up.

So we do this every year. Last year we began a tradition of frying one and buying one from this AWESOME place: http://www.gobblegobble.com/

Greenberg Smoked Turkey's are amazing. Truly. It was the hands-down favorite last year.

So we'll fry one & have the smoked turkey.

One question I have for the experienced turkey fryers....our fryer's instructions says not to use more than a 16-pound turkey...well, Costco didn't have anything smaller than 20 pounds and I didn't know the fryer had a limit. Should I be concerned?

Originally Posted by steve (Post 80724)

If you try to cook a bird that is much over ~16 lbs, by the time the inside is done, the outside is burnt. If I need more than ~16 lbs, I get 2.

Originally Posted by mrreindeer (Post 80708)

WHOA!



That's pretty much it. Follow the instructions that come with the fryer. Definitely DO NOT put a frozen turkey in there, thaw it. And don't fry it underneath an awning or indoors. Make sure there's plenty of open space and nothing flammable nearby. We do it in the middle of our street! And it splatters everywhere, on you, spills over onto the street, etc. so watch out! (You can measure how much oil to put in there the day before, by lowering the turkey into the pot with the pot filled with water and noting where on the pot to fill with oil on Thanksgiving.....but it'll still splatter)

Costco sells an infrared oil-less fryer if you don't want to have to shell out $40 in oil every time you fry one up.

So we do this every year. Last year we began a tradition of frying one and buying one from this AWESOME place: http://www.gobblegobble.com/

Greenberg Smoked Turkey's are amazing. Truly. It was the hands-down favorite last year.

So we'll fry one & have the smoked turkey.

One question I have for the experienced turkey fryers....our fryer's instructions says not to use more than a 16-pound turkey...well, Costco didn't have anything smaller than 20 pounds and I didn't know the fryer had a limit. Should I be concerned?

Originally Posted by mrreindeer (Post 80756)

So Steve, you're telling me I have to actually go back to Costco, brave the already horrendous crowds and return the dead bird. Cr@p! :bh:bh

My own damn fault.

Originally Posted by steve (Post 80724)

Do NOT put a frozen turkey into hot oil! Imediate flash steam = overflowing scalding, flaming oil = pain, injury, destruction, etc!

Make sure that the bird is thawed and DRY!!!

Also, don't put the fryer on anything that is flamable!


If you try to cook a bird that is much over ~16 lbs, by the time the inside is done, the outside is burnt. If I need more than ~16 lbs, I get 2.

I usually don't brine my birds, but we have our own injection that my wife and I have come up with over the years.


Turkey frying gone VERY WRONG! <=Clicky

Don't get too scared. Just use common sence and be careful!

Originally Posted by tnip23 (Post 80780)

Also, lower the bird into the oil very slowly, wearing gloves. Good advice on the big birds, I usually do a 14 pounder, cooks nice in under an hour. Another great excuse to go outside and smoke a cigar too. GL.

Originally Posted by cre8v1 (Post 80836)

If you've never tried it, do a deep fried ham sometime. It's delicious! You basically use the same instructions as the turkey. It get's nice and charred (black) on the outside. It's very good!

Originally Posted by Squid (Post 81050)

Tnip23 was right on the money with going out and smoking a good stick. Cooking a turkey in the cooker keeps me out of the wife's hair and of course, my dad, father in law, brother in laws, and sons all have a good time swapping lies and jokes with one another while we're "watching the turkey."

Originally Posted by boonedoggle (Post 81108)

I've been thinking about it. I normally do it every year, but it seems like such a chore. I'd rather just sit back, smoke, have some beers, and let my father in law smoke one for a change.