Thinking about deep-frying your Thanksgiving turkey this year? Naturally, your next thought might be “How long does it take to deep fry a turkey? Is it faster than cooking in the oven?” We’ve got the answer for you! To achieve a moist and flavorful turkey, it is important to pay attention to Temperature as well as time. See below for our recommended temperature and time instructions for deep frying your turkey. Also, be sure to make sure the turkey is fully thawed and dried off before introducing it to the oil. Ice and hot oil are a combustible combination. Check out Deep Fried Turkey Made Safe and Delicious post to learn how to deep fry a turkey safely.
Turkey Temperature Tip: Pull the turkey out of the oil at 157ºF*. Most 12-14 pound turkeys will cook in 30-45 minutes. (With turkeys larger than 14 pounds, you run the risk of overcooking the outer parts of the meat while you wait for the inner meat to reach pull temperature.)
*When removing the turkey from the oil use extreme caution. When the turkey reaches 157ºF turn off the gas completely. Very slowly and carefully lift the turkey out of the oil and place into a clean roasting pan. Use an instant-read thermometer, like a Thermapen®, to verify the temperature in multiple spots throughout the turkey. If you see any internal temperature below 157°F, return the turkey to the oil for more cooking until done.
More on Cooking Turkey and the Key Temperatures
 Made Safe & Delicious |
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Nathan Crowley says
I’ve always wanted to deep fry turkey but it looks very dangerous.
Martin says
Nathan,
It IS very dangerous! But if you follow the safety tips that we outline in out post about how to do it, you should be fine. Just be sure to set up well away from any structure and don’t overfill your pot with oil. And ALWAYS thaw your turkey!