How to Deep Fry a Turkey

Lauren Salkeld

We're not sure why deep-frying the Thanksgiving turkey is so popular. It might be an ongoing obsession with Southern cooking, or a collective weakness for culinary gadgets. Or, perhaps the inherent excitement of cooking a whole turkey in several gallons of hot oil in your own backyard is just too much to resist. No matter the reason, we're fully on board with the deep-fried-turkey craze and here's why: Not only does deep frying produce a juicy, flavorful bird, but the whole process takes less than 2 hours and it frees up tons of oven space for all your favorite side dishes. Deep-frying a turkey does require specific tools and you will need to follow a few safety precautions. But with our fuss-free recipe, equipment checklist, and step-by-step instructions, you have everything you need. So fill the oven with sweet potatoes, green beans, and pecan pie, and head outdoors for this quick and easy, guaranteed-to-please way to cook a turkey.

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