Expanding Your Culinary Horizons: 12 Surprising Foods You Can Fry in a Turkey Fryer

As backyard cooks have discovered the versatility of turkey fryers, these powerful propane burners have become useful for far more than just deep frying birds. With their high BTU output and large pots, turkey fryers open up possibilities for preparing all kinds of dishes beyond poultry

In this guide, we’ll explore 12 unexpected foods you can fry, boil, and cook in a turkey fryer to expand your outdoor culinary skills.

Seafood Boils

Seafood boils are a natural fit for turkey fryers. With ample room for shellfish, potatoes, corn and spices, you can boil up epic crab, lobster, shrimp or crawfish feasts to feed a crowd. The burners easily maintain a rolling boil, and draining/cleanup is easier than indoors.

Deep Fried Fish

From catfish to tilapia to salmon, turkey fryers are ideal for deep frying fish. You can fry up fish fillets, steaks or whole small fish for fish fries. The moist heat of frying keeps fish deliciously flaky. Just be careful not to overfill the pot, and fry fish in small batches.

Steamed Tamales

With a steamer basket, turkey fryers can become tamale steamers The powerful burners help steam masa dough tamales through and through. Just fill the pot with a couple inches of water, place a steamer basket on top, and load it up with tamales in corn husks or banana leaves.

Boiling Crawfish

For a Louisiana-style crawfish boil, turkey fryers are just the ticket. Dump in sacks of live crawdads, potatoes, corn and spices for an epic outdoor boil. The large pots have room for layers of crawfish, and the burners quickly return the water to a rolling boil after each batch.

Frying Donuts

With a deep fry thermometer, turkey fryers allow you to hold oil at the exact temperature needed for frying light, crispy donuts. Carefully add dough balls or donut holes to the hot oil using a spider strainer or slotted spoon. Fry in small batches, allowing the oil to return to temperature between batches.

Giant Paella

Turkey fryers are ideal for paella for a crowd. With the powerful burners, you can sauté aromatics, gently cook rice, and simmer broth to build rich depth of flavor. There’s ample room for ingredients like chicken, sausage, seafood, peppers and beans. Just scrape the socarrat crust from the bottom for the chef’s treat.

Boiling Lobster or Crabs

Butter, bibs and mallets ready! Boiling lobster, Dungeness or snow crabs is easy with a turkey fryer. Fill the pot with salted water, bring to a boil, and drop in live lobsters or crabs. Once cooked, drain and enjoy with drawn butter and lemon. Cleanup of shells and cooking liquids is simpler outside.

Apple Cider

In autumn, use your turkey fryer as an apple cider simmering station. Fill the pot with fresh pressed cider, add spices like cinnamon sticks, cloves and orange slices, and gently heat to a simmer. The smell of mulled cider will draw the neighbors. Cool and serve in mugs for the perfect fall treat.

Outdoor Soup Station

Turkey fryers aren’t just for frying and boiling. They’re great for simmering large batches of soups, chilis and stews. Build depth of flavor by browning meats first. Then add vegetables, broth and spices and gently simmer. Ladle piping hot soup into bowls or have a potluck.

Giant Batch of Bacon

Fry pounds of bacon easily by suspending slices in a stainless steel wire basket. Lower into hot oil and fry until crispy. The wire basket makes it easy to remove the entire batch at once. No messy bacon spatter to clean up indoors. Just enjoy piles of perfectly crispy bacon.

Fresh Salsa

Use a turkey fryer burner to char veggies for fresh salsa. Try ingredients like onions, peppers, tomatoes, garlic, pineapple and tomatillos. Char until softened and blistered. Then combine with cilantro, lime juice and seasonings in a food processor or blender. Enjoy your homemade salsa with tortilla chips.

Outdoor Wok Station

With the right wok attachment, turkey fryers can become high-output wok burners. This allows you to stir fry at scorching hot temperatures like a professional kitchen. Try everything from veggies and noodles to seafood fried rice. Just be sure to use a flat-bottom wok designed for outdoor high-heat cooking.

As you can see, the uses of turkey fryers go far beyond frying birds. Boiling, steaming, simmering, wok cooking – you’ll be amazed what you can create with these versatile outdoor cookers. Just take proper safety precautions, and get creative with cooking different proteins, sides, appetizers and desserts. Your next cookout will be a culinary adventure!