You don’t need to truss the entire bird when deep-frying, but you will want to tuck the wings behind the turkey and tie the legs together with twine to promote even cooking.
Do you tie the legs together when cooking a turkey?
Tie the drumsticks together
Cross the turkey legs at their “ankles”—the thinnest point, directly above the bottom joints. Then, wrap the twine around the two ankles, tying it into a knot or bow to hold them together.
Do legs go up or down when deep frying a turkey?
Slowly Lower the Turkey into the Oil
Place the turkey on the poultry rack, with the breast facing down and the legs facing up. Once the oil reaches 375°F, turn off the burner.
How do you position a turkey for deep frying?
Place turkey into a drain basket, neck-side first. Working slowly and carefully, gently lower the basket into the hot oil to completely cover the turkey. Maintain the temperature of the oil at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C), and cook turkey for 3 1/2 minutes per pound, about 35 minutes.
How do you tie turkey legs without twine?
Substitutes for Twine
- Dental floss: Tie up your bird or bundle with dental floss.
- Aluminum foil: Roll up some aluminum foil into tight ropes and secure them around your food like bands.
- Toothpicks or wooden skewers: Poke toothpicks or wooden skewers into your rolled meat to keep the seam from unraveling.
Should you flip turkey while cooking?
Cook the bird upside down, meaning the breast meat down, then flip it halfway through based on your estimation. If you are using a kettle and have all of your charcoal on one side of the grill, you will also want to rotate the turkey when you flip it so that it doesn’t overcook on one side.
Do you fry a turkey covered or uncovered?
To achieve that balance, the ideal is to let the bird spend time both covered and uncovered: We recommend covering your bird for most of the cooking time to prevent it from drying out, then removing the cover for the last 30 minutes or so to allow the skin to crisp.
Do you leave the thermometer in turkey while deep frying?
6. Place your turkey on the lifter and attach the hook. Remove the thermometer from the fryer before lowering the turkey into the pot. Re-attach it to the pot once your bird is in.
Why did my deep-fried turkey turn black?
The general consensus around the fryer was that the blackness was caused by the sugar in the rub.
How long does it take to fry a 17 lb turkey?
59.5 minutes
How Long Does it Take to Deep Fry a Turkey?
| Weight | Time to Cook |
|---|---|
| 15 Lbs. | 52.5 minutes |
| 16 Lbs. | 56 minutes |
| 17 Lbs. | 59.5 minutes |
| 18 Lbs. | 63 minutes |
Do you fry a turkey at 325 or 350?
Heat oil in pot (allow enough room in pot for turkey to be placed, too much oil will cause overflow), bring oil to at least 375 degrees F. Placement of turkey will bring temperature down and you will want to keep temperature at 325 degrees F. while cooking.
Do you put lid on when deep frying?
The manufacturer recommends you cook with the lid down. Why would you deep-fry with a lid at all? It creates condensation, which then drips back into the oil and also partially steams the food, which defeats the point of deep-frying.
Can you overcook a fried turkey?
Do not overcook the turkey. If the oil maintains the proper temperature, 3 minutes per pound plus 5 minutes should be sufficient. If the turkey is cooked too long, the meat will be quite dry.
How do you keep turkey legs together?
Cross the turkey’s “ankles” (the ends of the drumsticks) one over the other. Wrap twine around them and make a regular (overhand) knot to secure them. For an even tighter knot, make a regular knot, and before tightening it, wrap one end through the loop a second time, then tighten it. That turkey ain’t going anywhere.
What if I don’t have twine for my turkey?
Food-grade toothpicks and skewers work best for securing stuffed meats when there isn’t any kitchen twine around. Toothpicks and skewers can burn in the oven. Soaking them in water for about 20 minutes before use prevents them from scorching.
What can I use if I don’t have kitchen twine?
The best substitutes for kitchen twine include dental floss, aluminum foil, a regular string, a cooking bag, toothpicks, wood sticks, or baking paper. Keep on reading learn more about each substitute in detail.
What happens if you cook turkey upside down?
The benefits of roasting a turkey breast-side down are twofold: The dark meat cooks faster when it’s closer to the heat source, and the juices trickle down for extra-moist breast meat. Talk about a turn for the better! This works on all types of birds—organic, conventional, heirloom, you name it.
Which side of the turkey goes up?
The United States Department of Agriculture advises to cook a whole turkey breast side up during the entire cooking time. Turning over a large, hot bird can be dangerous and it’s very easy to tear the skin, making the finished product less attractive.
How do you make turkey skin crispy?
Plan to cook your turkey at 400 degrees. “People are always shocked when they hear that, but if you want crispy skin, it’s a must,” says Doxon. A smaller turkey will need a slightly higher temperature, and a larger turkey needs slightly lower temperature as to not burn the skin before the bird cooks through.
What oil is best for deep frying turkey?
Peanut oil
Oil for Frying Turkey
Peanut oil is the best oil for deep frying turkey because its high flash point makes it less likely to catch on fire. Peanut oil is also relatively low in saturated fat, which helps to keep the fried turkey dish healthy.
How hot should oil be to fry turkey?
When cooking turkey parts, oil temperature should be 325° F; may take 4 to 5 minutes per pound to reach the recommended temperatures (dark meat to an internal temperature of 175° F to 180° F, and white meat to an internal temperature of 165° F to 170° F). You’ll need 2.5-3 gallons of oil.