How Much Oil To Fry A Turkey – Answered

Last Updated on July 5, 2022 by

Do you want to know how much oil to fry a turkey? You will get to find out the appropriate amount of oil to fry a turkey in this article. Keep in mind that you must check on your turkey frequently to prevent overcooking, which renders the bird bland and stiff. So, how much oil to fry a turkey?

• Use 3–4 liters of oil for a small turkey weighing roughly 9 pounds.
• Use 4-5 liters of oil for medium-sized turkeys that weigh between 12 and 14 pounds.
• Use 5 to 6 gallons of oil for turkeys up to 22 pounds in size.

As we address additional frequently asked concerns, keep reading to learn more about deep-frying a turkey and safety advice.

How Do You Calculate The Ideal Amount Of Oil?

You can get to know how much oil to fry a turkey by;

• Place the turkey in your empty fryer as if you were going to fry it to determine exactly how much oil you will need. 

• Then fill it with water, ensuring that it just extends a few inches past the turkey and thoroughly covers it. 

• Next, remove the turkey, being sure to drain the water from the cavity back into the fryer so that there is nothing else in the fryer but water.

• After the turkey has been taken out and drained, mark the location where your water is sitting. 
• You can use this mark to determine how much oil your fryer needs. Up to the mark, fill the fryer with oil.

How Much Oil Should I Use In Deep-Frying Turkey?

Peanut oil is the greatest kind of oil to use, yet it is not necessary to do so. The greatest flash point of any oil is found in peanut oil, making burning it particularly challenging. Given that the oil will heat up considerably, this is excellent for frying turkeys. Vegetable oil is a suitable substitute for peanut oil if you are unable to use it due to a medical condition or because you do not have any.

Requirements For Deep-Frying A Turkey

You’ll require a turkey fryer pot, a propane-fired burner, and the platform on the burner mounted on. Keep in mind that this deep-frying technique is intended for outdoor use. Not under the dry pine tree, not in a garage or carport, and not close to the house. This nasty turkey-fry operation has oil splattering all over it. Find a location far from flammable objects.

Cover the ground with tarps, old rugs, cardboard, or anything else that might absorb the leaking oil. There is a sizable 5-foot radius of splatter, and an 8-foot radius should be covered to prevent concrete from absorbing long-term oil.

Six Steps To Deep Fry A Turkey

Step 1: Know The Level Of The Oil

Place the turkey in the fryer pot so that it is completely submerged and the water rises about 2 inches past the bird. This will help you determine how much oil is required. The turkey should be taken out of the saucepan, dried with paper towels, and left to rest at room temperature. To determine how much oil to add to the pot, mark the water level on the inside or outside of the pot with a waterproof marker. After discarding the water, thoroughly wash and dry the pot.

Step 2: Set Up The Turkey Fryer And Heat The Oil

Always deep fry turkey outdoors due to safety concerns. Place the burner far from the house, garage, swing set, backyard patio, or any other combustible building. Also, make sure kids have always kept a safe distance away from the fryer.

Clip the deep-fry thermometer to the pot’s side and set it on the stove. To fry a 12- to 14-pound turkey in a 30-quart pot, you’ll need 4 to 5 gallons of peanut or canola oil; fill the pot to the mark you established earlier. Heat the oil until the thermometer reads 375°F by turning on the burner and adjusting the heat to a moderately high setting. You can briefly turn off the heat as the turkey is lowered into the oil by starting at a slightly higher temperature of 375°F.

Step 3: Ready Your Turkey

Make your herb or spice rub and apply it beneath the skin while the oil is heating. Slide your fingers gently and carefully through the skin and meat of the breasts, thighs, and drumsticks, beginning at the bird’s neck end. 

Spread the rub over the meat of the breasts, thighs, and drumsticks once the skin has been loosening. Spread the rub on top of the skin and within the cavity of the turkey next. Ensure the neck cavity is completely open, then make a tiny hole through the skin where the leg joins the breast to facilitate proper oil flow.

Everything You Need for at-home deep frying. Remember that stuffed turkeys cannot be deep-fried. Instead, bake the stuffing in the oven in a casserole dish.

Step 4: Lower The Turkey Slowly Into The Oil

The turkey should be placed on the poultry rack with the legs facing up and the breast down. The burner should be turned off once the oil reaches 375°F. Use the hook attached to the poultry rack to slowly lower the turkey into the oil using a stop-and-go technique. 

Make sure to wear an apron and long, heavy oven mitts. Lower the turkey into the oil 1 to 2 inches, then pull it back out. Repeat this process until the bird is completely submerged. This methodical approach prevents the oil from overheating and overflowing.

Restart the burner and raise the temperature of the oil to 350°F once the turkey is completely submerged. Adjust the heat as necessary to keep the oil at 350°F during frying.

Step 5: Fry The Turkey Until It Reaches 165°F.

Cook the turkey in the oil until an instant-read thermometer put into the thickest portion of the breasts and the fleshiest section of the thighs (test both sides, close to but not touching the bone) reads at least 165°F. A 12- to 14-pound turkey will take 40 to 50 minutes to reach 165°F when deep-fried, which normally takes 3 1/2 minutes per pound. 

Use the hook attached to the poultry rack to gently pull the turkey out of the oil to measure its internal temperature. Use the stop-and-go technique to gradually lower the turkey back into the oil if it hasn’t achieved 165°F so that it can finish cooking.

Step 6: Leave The Turkey For A While Before Cutting 

Use the hook attached to the poultry rack to slowly and carefully remove the turkey from the oil after it reaches 165°F (make sure you wear an apron and long heavy-duty oven mitts while doing so). Before carving and serving, move the turkey to a cutting board, cover with foil, and allow it to rest for 20 to 30 minutes.

How Much Oil To Fry A Turkey Of 17-Pound?

When cooking turkey parts, the oil temperature should be 325° F; it may take 4–5 minutes per pound to attain the appropriate temperatures (for dark meat, this is 175–180° F, and for white meat, this is 165–170° F). It will take 2.5 to 3 gallons of oil.

Can You Reuse The Oil Used In Frying A Turkey?

If the deep-fried turkey oil was properly preserved, you could reuse it. The National Turkey Federation states that the oil must be drained, filtered, and cooled after frying. To prevent it from going rancid, place it in a sealed container and store it in the fridge or freezer.

Is It Necessary To Completely Drench Turkey In Oil?

Choose a cooking pot large enough to fully submerge the turkey without it spilling over while working with a lot of hot oil. The turkey should have one to two inches of oil on it. Choose a secure outside area before deep-frying a turkey. The cooking oil is heated to 350 °F.

Can You Reuse Peanut Oil After Frying A Turkey?

Don’t let that discourage you because you can still fry using used oil. It is possible to heat oil for up to six hours under normal circumstances. With only one batch of oil, you can deep-fry a turkey in under an hour (three minutes per pound), allowing you to cook six different things at once.

Which Oil Should I Use To Fry A Turkey?

The ideal cooking oil for frying turkey is peanut oil. Just watch out that the oil doesn’t burn, make sure it is well cleaned with cheesecloth, and then pour it back into the original container. The finest option for deep-frying turkey is peanut oil. For frying a turkey, its high smoke point makes it the best option.

Conclusions On How Much Oil To Fry A Turkey

It’s crucial to make sure you’re doing it correctly. The most crucial step in deep-frying a turkey is to use the proper amount of oil. Safety precautions are also essential when using deep fryers, so take care to deep-fry safely. Overall, this is one of the greatest turkey cooking methods, and you can complete the entire process in under 2 hours. We hope with the above tips; you are well informed about how much oil to fry a turkey.