Deep-fried turkey is a delicacy traditionaly served during Christmas and Thanksgiving in the southern United States. Deep-frying is a method of cooking a turkey using a specially made turkey fryer. The fryer is filled with oil and the turkey is submerged for approximately one hour, depending upon the weight of the bird after being injected with liquid seasoning.
Disclaimer
As noted by Mahalo's guide to deep frying turkey, preparing deep-fried turkey can be a dangerous endeavor. Due to the high number of house and garage fires reported each year from deep frying turkeys, James M. Shannon, the President of the National Fire Protection Association, released a press release in November of 2004 proclaiming: "Turkey fryers are far too risky for consumers."NFPA Press Room: NFPA and ABA discourage use of turkey fryers, citing burns, fires (November 9, 2004)
Safety Precautions
- Only deep fry turkey outdoors and at a safe distance from anything flammable
- Carefuly measure oil; too much oil can result in overflow and fire when the turkey is added
- Fully thaw the turkey; ice in turkey can react with the oil and lead to overflow and fire
- Have a fire extinguisher handy
References
Fast Facts
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Oils used
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Cooking time
4 minutes per pound
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Common serving method
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Caution
Do not use olive oil, it will catch on fire
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Caution
Always fry turkey outside,and have a fire extinguisher handy
