Deep frying a turkey is a popular cooking method that results in a crispy, juicy and flavorful bird. Many people choose Butterball turkeys for deep frying because of their quality and reliability. But can you actually deep fry a Butterball turkey?
The short answer is yes, you absolutely can deep fry a Butterball turkey! With proper precautions and techniques, deep frying a Butterball turkey can yield incredibly delicious results for your next holiday feast or gathering
In this comprehensive guide, we will cover everything you need to know about deep frying Butterball turkeys, including:
- Safety tips and equipment needed
- Choosing the right Butterball turkey
- Thawing and preparing the turkey
- Calculating oil amount
- Lowering the turkey into the oil
- Cooking times and temperatures
- Ensuring doneness
- Removing and draining the turkey
- Reusing oil
- Delicious deep-fried Butterball turkey recipes
So let’s get started and learn how to perfectly deep fry a juicy, golden Butterball turkey!
Is It Safe to Deep Fry a Butterball Turkey?
Deep frying involves dunking the turkey in boiling hot oil so safety should always be the top priority. Provided you take the necessary precautions deep frying a Butterball turkey is completely safe
- Use a turkey fryer designed for frying whole turkeys, and follow all manufacturer’s instructions
- Fry outdoors on a flat surface away from homes/buildings
- Don’t overfill the fryer with oil
- Keep children and pets away
- Use caution when handling the hot oil
- Monitor the oil temperature carefully
- Thaw and dry the turkey completely first
- Lower and remove the turkey slowly
- Have a fire extinguisher on hand
As long as you adhere to safety best practices, deep frying a Butterball turkey can be done safely and enjoyably.
Can You Use Any Butterball Turkey for Deep Frying?
Butterball offers a wide variety of whole turkey options, from fresh to frozen. However, you’ll get the best results by choosing a turkey specifically labeled for deep frying.
Look for the Butterball Deep Fried Turkey logo when purchasing your turkey. These birds are specially bred and processed for deep frying.
Key benefits of a deep fried Butterball turkey include:
- Uniform shape for even cooking
- Less oil absorption thanks to special processing
- Skinless options available for less mess and splatter
- Convenient cook-from-frozen options
Stick to a deep fried Butterball turkey for much easier prep and foolproof deep fried turkey success.
How Long Does it Take to Deep Fry a Butterball Turkey?
The cooking time will depend on a few factors, especially the size of your Butterball turkey. Use these general guidelines:
- 12 lb turkey: Cook for approximately 45 minutes
- 14 lb turkey: Cook for approximately 50-55 minutes
- 16 lb turkey: Cook for approximately 60-70 minutes
- 18 lb turkey: Cook for approximately 75-90 minutes
- 20 lb turkey: Cook for approximately 90-110 minutes
The best way to ensure doneness is to use a food thermometer, not just rely on time. We’ll cover temperatures and how to test for doneness later on.
For the most accurate cooking times, always defer to the instructions provided with your actual Butterball turkey and deep fryer.
Turkey Deep Fryer Equipment You’ll Need
Having the right deep frying equipment is crucial for success and safety. Here’s what you’ll need:
- 30-40 qt turkey fryer
- Propane tank
- Long stirring rods or hooks
- Meat thermometer
- Heavy duty oven mitts or gloves
- Eye protection
- Lid to extinguish flare ups
- Large drain pan or paper towels
- Butane lighter or instant starter
Be sure to thoroughly read the user manual for your specific turkey fryer. Familiarize yourself with how to safely operate it before cooking day.
Calculating How Much Oil is Needed
Having the right amount of oil is key to proper deep frying. Too little, and the turkey won’t be fully submerged. Too much, and you risk dangerous boil overs.
To determine the oil amount:
- Place thawed turkey in fryer basket
- Lower basket into empty fryer
- Add water until turkey is just fully submerged
- Remove basket and turkey
- Mark water line inside fryer
- Dry out fryer completely
- Add oil to water fill line
This ensures you have just enough oil to fully immerse and cook the turkey without overflow.
Leave 5 inches of clearance between the oil and the fryer rim. Don’t overfill!
Choosing a Frying Oil for Butterball Turkey
The best oils for deep frying turkeys have a high smoke point and neutral flavor. We recommend:
- Peanut oil: Distinctive nutty flavor
- Vegetable oil: Affordable and versatile
- Canola oil: Smooth and mild taste
- Corn oil: Good stability at high heat
Avoid olive oil as it has too low of a smoke point. Stick to peanut or vegetable oil for the best results.
Should You Thaw a Butterball Turkey Before Frying?
Absolutely! For food safety and doneness, it’s crucial to completely thaw your Butterball turkey before lowering it into the hot oil.
Thawing ensures the turkey will cook evenly throughout. If partially frozen, the outer areas could overcook while the center remains underdone and unsafe to eat.
Here are some safe ways to properly thaw a frozen Butterball:
- Refrigerator: Allow 1 day per 4 lbs of turkey
- Cold water: Submerge turkey in cold water, changing water every 30 minutes
- Microwave: Follow microwave defrost function instructions, if available
Pat the turkey dry thoroughly before frying to prevent splattering.
How to Safely Lower Turkey into Hot Oil
Lowering the turkey into the 350°F hot oil is the most dangerous part of deep frying. To do it safely:
- Turn off propane burner before lowering turkey
- Use turkey hook or ropes to slowly lower turkey into oil
- Gently release turkey and let it settle in oil
- Turn burner back on once turkey is fully submerged
- Stand back to avoid splatter
Never drop or abruptly lower the turkey into hot oil. Go slow and steady. This prevents dangerous boiling over and splattering.
Should You Stuff a Turkey Before Deep Frying?
Do not deep fry a stuffed turkey! Stuffing a turkey before deep frying is extremely dangerous, as the stuffing can be undercooked while the turkey exterior overcooks.
Cooking a stuffed turkey also increases the risk of uneven oil absorption. For food safety and even doneness, cook stuffing separately from the fried turkey.
How to Tell When a Fried Turkey is Done
A meat thermometer is the only reliable way to check internal temperature and doneness. Use these guidelines:
- Insert thermometer into the thickest breast area, avoiding the bone
- Turkey thigh and wing meat should reach 175°F
- Turkey breast meat should reach 165°F
- If less than 165°F, continue cooking, checking temperature every 5-10 minutes
The turkey skin will turn golden brown when done. But always rely on the thermometer, not color, to determine proper doneness.
Removing and Draining the Fried Butterball Turkey
Once cooked to temperature, follow these steps:
- Turn off propane burner
- Using turkey hooks, slowly lift turkey from oil
- Allow oil to drain back into fryer for 30 seconds
- Place turkey on prepped drying rack or pan
- Let turkey rest 15-20 minutes before carving
The turkey will be incredibly hot and fragile after frying, so use extreme caution when removing it from the oil.
Can You Reuse Frying Oil After Cooking a Turkey?
You can reuse oil after deep frying a Butterball turkey. However, there are a few guidelines:
- Oil can only be reused a couple of times before flavors and impurities start to develop
- After cooking, filter oil through cheesecloth to remove food particles
- Store oil in an airtight container away from light and heat
- Discard any oil that smells odd or starts smoking at lower temps
In most cases, you can get 2-3 uses out of Turkey frying oil before needing to discard it. Proper storage between uses extends its life.
Best Deep Fried Butterball Turkey Recipes
Now that you know the ins and outs of deep frying Butterball turkeys, give one of these delicious recipes a try!
- Cajun Deep Fried Turkey: Coated in Cajun seasoning blend
- Garlic Herb Deep Fried Turkey: Infused with garlic, rosemary, thyme
- Deep Fried Maple Bourbon Turkey: Brined in maple syrup and bourbon
- Deep Fried Turducken: Stuffed chicken and duck
- Triple Dipped Fried Turkey: Buttermilk, flour, egg
Step 3: Deep-fry the turkey
Place the turkey on a deep-fry rack, breast side down. Turn the burner off, and carefully lower the turkey into the oil. Turn the burner on high and heat the oil to 350°. Adjust the heat to maintain it at 350°. Cook the turkey until a thermometer inserted in thickest part of thigh reads 170° to 175°. This should take 35 to 45 minutes total time in the fryer.
Editor’s Tip: Before adding the turkey to the deep-fryer, pat it dry inside and out, making sure no liquid or ice is lingering inside the cavity. If your deep-fry rack comes with a detachable hook, make sure it’s hooked well. You should be able to hold the turkey securely over the cutting board without it slipping or falling.
How big of a turkey do you need to make deep-fried turkey?
There is a size limit on deep-fried turkey, as a standard 30-quart pot can only handle up to a 16-pound turkey. If your turkey is larger, you’ll need to remove the legs and thighs from the bird and fry them separately.
How to Deep Fry a Turkey in a Fryer
FAQ
Can you put a butterball turkey in a deep fryer?
Butterball has paired with Masterbuilt to produce an easy to use, safe indoor fryer big enough to handle a 20 pound turkey.Nov 24, 2010
What is the difference between butterball turkey and regular turkey?
Though not exclusive to the Butterball brand, the birds the company sells are pre-brined. That means they have already been injected with a solution of water, salt, and other flavorings that render the meat juicy and seasoned throughout.
What’s the largest turkey you can deep fry?
My advice is to not go over a 15-pound turkey in fryers that claim an 18-pound maximum.
How much oil for a Butterball deep fryer?
Please refer to your manual for a complete list of warnings on all of our products. How much oil do I need to use? The fryer will require approximately 2.75 gallons (11qts) of oil max.
Can you deep fry a Turkey in a Butterball Electric turkey fryer?
Yes, you can deep fry a turkey in a Butterball Electric turkey fryer. To do this, start with a fully thawed turkey (if frozen). Remove the wrapping and then remove the neck and giblets from the turkey. Fill the turkey fryer with oil up to the maximal fill line.
What is a Butterball XL indoor turkey fryer?
Fry, steam and boil with the Butterball® XL Indoor Turkey Fryer by Masterbuilt® Enjoy the hassle-free way to enjoy the delicious taste of fried turkey – all in the comforts of your own home Fries turkeys up to 20lbs in the aluminum cooking basket with patented drain clip Return your new, unused item in-store or ship it back to us free of charge.
What temperature do you fry a Turkey in a Butterball Fryer?
In a master built Butterball electric turkey fryer, the ideal temperature to fry a turkey is 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Remember to preheat the oil for about 35-45 minutes and ensure the turkey is fully pat dried before frying.