Although it’s a southern tradition, deep fried turkey is a relatively new concept to many Americans. Not too many years ago, roasting was arguably the best and only way to cook a Thanksgiving turkey. Proponents of deep fried turkey are adamant that deep frying produces a super juicy, moist turkey.
Delicious Deep Fried Turkey Recipes for Thanksgiving Dinner
After deep frying, a properly-cooked turkey is crisp on the outside, yet juicy on the inside. Here are two deep fried turkey recipes – one from a website devoted entirely to turkey and another from southern cooking expert Paula Deen.
Southern Deep Fried Turkey Recipe. The National Turkey Federation's Eat Turkey website offers an enticing recipe. This recipe offers a helpful tip – use oil with a high smoke point, such as canola oil.
Paula Deen Deep Fried Turkey with House Seasoning. The Food Network queen of southern cooking doesn’t disappoint when it comes to fried dishes. This simple Paula Deen recipe features a house seasoning made with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. The recipe instructions mention a neat water displacement test that can be used to determine the appropriate amount of oil to add to the fryer. Note that if this test is used, the fryer should be completely dry and the turkey wiped down before turkey frying begins (to avoid the oil popping upon contact with water). It should also be noted that regardless of how much oil this test indicates, no more than the maximum allowed for the fryer should be used.
Tips for Deep Frying a Turkey: Cooking Time plus Oil and Turkey Temperature
Here are a few tips for cooking a turkey commonly mentioned in deep fried turkey recipes:
- Cooking time. Estimated turkey cooking time is three to four minutes per pound. Paula Deen’s recipe indicates cooking turkey for three minutes per pound, then adding an extra five minutes to the total cooking time per turkey.
- Oil temperature. Cooking temperatures typically vary from 325-350 degrees Fahrenheit. The upper limit seems to be 350 degrees regardless of the recipe, but since the turkey will be cold when cooking commences, certain recipes suggest heating the oil slightly higher than the desired cooking temperature so it will balance the reduction in temperature caused by the cold turkey. Alternatively, extra time may need to be allowed to account for the initial reduction in temperature. Note: Heating oil too high may be dangerous, so the latter method may be the safest.
- Turkey temperature. According to the Eat Turkey website, the turkey is done when the thermometer indicates the turkey breast has reached 170 degrees Fahrenheit.
In the past few years, deep frying a turkey has gained popularity and surpassed roasting as the preferred turkey cooking method in many American households. Anyone interested in cooking a turkey using this popular method should carefully read all deep fryer instructions before use because serious injuries may result from incorrect turkey cooking methods.
Resources:
National Turkey Federation Eat Turkey website
Food Network website
USA Deep South website
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