How Long To Fry A Turkey (And Why)?

How Long To Fry A Turkey (And Why)?

Exact Answer: 45 Minutes

The time it takes to fry a turkey varies, and many factors go into this, like how big is the turkey, the type of oil or fat a person uses, etc. Whether to brine and the right temperature also plays an important part.

The average length of time it takes to fry a turkey varies depending on its weight but is around 45 minutes. The other important factor is the temperature of the oil – if it is too hot, the outside will burn while the inside remains raw; too cold, and the entire thing will be undercooked. 

How Long To Fry A Turkey

How Long To Fry A Turkey?

Cooking MethodTime
Frying a turkey45 Minutes
Baking a turkey2 1/4 to 3 1/4 hours

One can break down the cooking process for deep-fried turkeys into three stages: preheating, frying, and post-frying. The first stage includes heating the oil while adding the pieces of meat in batches so as not to crowd them in the pot. It is important to fry a turkey to cook all the way through without burning its outer layer.

The amount of time it takes for a turkey to fry will depend on how many pounds it weighs. Example: A 15-pound turkey would take 45 minutes.

According to the USDA, one should use the desired cooking time of 15-30 minutes per pound. This timeline can vary based upon a few different factors, such as weight or thickness. The safest way to ensure thorough cooking is to insert a meat thermometer into the thickest portion of the bird and avoid various potential health hazards from undercooking. 

There are many ways to fry a turkey, but the most traditional way is to pat the turkey outside, dry it, and coat it with salt. To deep-fry the turkey, one needs at least a gallon of cooking oil, so make sure the pot is big enough.

Once the pot is filled with hot cooking oil and set on medium-high heat, place the turkey bird inside it. One needs to be careful not to bust or tear its skin. As for how long it takes for a turkey bird’s crispy gold perfection, experts say anything from 45 minutes to three hours will yield delicious results. 

Why Would Frying A Turkey Take So Long?

The process can take anywhere from 45- 60 minutes to cook, and Turkey cooks at a much lower temperature than the other meats. Due to this reason, turkey takes significantly longer to cook than pork or beef.

Turkey is also prone to overcook, so it is best to err on the side of caution and give an oversized bird more time in the fryer than one thinks it might need.

Turkeys can be tricky customers since sizes are available every year, and no two vary greatly in weight. Hopefully, these simple tips will allow one to confidently turn out delicious fried turkeys with less worry about whether they will produce giblets instead of gobble equivalents.

The first method is frying, one should start heating the pot to the right temperature while preparing the bird by cutting out the breasts and thighs. Dredge the breast pieces in flour and shake off any excess before dipping them in an egg wash made from beaten eggs and milk, then rolling them in a coating of seasoned bread crumbs. 

Get a large pot or pan that can match one’s turkey size, then add cooking oil, approximately 1 quart per every 2 pounds of meat, into it before pre-heating it on high heat until it is hot enough to fry the bird without surrounding food burning. 

Overall, there are many factors to consider when deciding on the perfect frying time for turkeys, such as the weight and temperature of the oil, the method of frying, and many more.

Conclusion

Frying a turkey takes so long because it’s hard to get an entire turkey evenly cooked, and there is a need to worry about this while cooking in an oven. The oven’s dry heat penetrates deep into each morsel of turkey meat to uniformly cook it from center to edge in just hours.

When the turkey is 12 pounds, the cooking time might take anywhere from 40 to 50 minutes. One can also inject the turkey 24 minutes before frying to get a delicious Thanksgiving meal on the table. The safest way to fry a turkey is outside and 10 feet away from the house and children.

References

  1. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0960308509000182 
  2. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0032579119488202 
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Hi! I'm Nidhi.

Here at the EHL, it's all about delicious, easy recipes for casual entertaining. So come and join me at the beach, relax and enjoy the food.

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