Deep-fried turkey

[spinbaby]

I was in Walmart this morning—not my usual, but the only place open at 6:00 am. They had a giant display of “Injectable Cajun Butter.” For a moment, I thought the rednecks had come up with a new covid cure, but then I realized that it was intended to be injected into a turkey before deep frying it. Walmart also, when I looked around, had big jugs of peanut oil, frying vats, and turkey injectors.

Why is deep-fried turkey still a thing? As near as I can tell, it’s a very expensive and dangerous way of cooking a turkey. I thought it would be a passing fad, but judging from the turkey-frying stuff at Walmart, it’s still quite popular.

[Phoenix61]

1. It's fast. You can do several in the same oil

so that helps with the cost. It’s outside so the oven is available for everything else. And last but not least, it’s really good.

[Hugh_Lebowski]

2. That injectable butter stuff can be used no matter how you cook it

Never had it myself but some people say it's tasty.

I always Barbeque my turkey in the Weber Kettle with some hardwood chunks for smoke.

Comes out fantastic if you manage the process properly.

[Ka-Dinh Oy]

3. Expensive and dangerous but it is sooo good.

Though the people who did it when I got to eat it were very careful.

I can see idiots easily doing something stupid but the crowd I was with were not stupid.

Everybody brought the other foods so those cooking the chicken only had that expense.

[Irish_Dem]

4. Because there aren't already enough calories in Thanksgiving dinner.

[Kali]

5. it is supposed to be really tasty

I would love to try it but I tend to see it like you...too expensive and doesn't mesh with my routine. sounds like a lot of fun for more of a pot luck party style TG, where that is a person's only task.

[spinbaby]

9. I've only had it once

I had deep-fried turkey once years ago at an outdoor event in West Virginia. I thought it was pretty boring and certainly not worth the trouble.

[Clash City Rocker]

6. Walmart gears toward a specific market

We lived near a Walmart in the San Francisco area about five years ago, and I saw pickup trucks with gun racks and NRA bumper stickers in the parking lot. And that’s a very liberal area.

Many Walmart shoppers (not all, and certainly not you) are the sort of people who don’t care much about safety or health.

[FoxNewsSucks]

7. it's DELICIOUS

The best turkeys I have every had were fried. When I fry mine, I return the cooled oil to the jug and probably recover all but a cup or so. It's not a "greasy fattening" thing. Over the next few months, that oil then makes the BEST fried chicken, as it has some of the turkey and seasoning infused into it. It also makes good popcorn.

I have used the outdoor gas fryers, and while they make good turkey, it is a hassle, messy and you have to be careful.

The most important thing is to COMPLETELY dry the turkey, inside and out and have it thawed completely. I thaw it in the refrigerator and get it out in the morning to be somewhat above refrigerator temp. If I inject it, I make sure it's well below the surface. Usually, I just brine it and put a rub under the skin. Again, make sure it is COMPLETELY dry. People who put a partially frozen or wet turkey in the fryer are the ones responsible for the videos of turkeys exploding or oil boiling over and catching fire.

A few years ago, Target had one of those ButterBall electric fryers on sale so I got it. It is one of the best things I ever got. It eliminates all the hassle of using the gas frying pot. Sits indoors out of the way, brings oil to correct temp, easy to load and unload the turkey, then easy to recover the oil and clean the next day. Then back in the box until next time.

Get one, follow the directions, watch Alton Brown's fried turkey video and you will never make turkey any other way.

It may have started as a redneck thing, but it's definitely the best.

[Docreed2003]

8. We don't inject our fried turkeys

We use an outer baste on the Turkey and it works great. The turkey is juicy and flavorful. Is it expensive and dangerous...sure... but we do it once a year for thanksgiving and love it. Fried Turkey is a staple at our house.

[hauckeye]

10. When I worked for a company in Atlanta

Our cafeteria would serve a holiday dinner with both fried and roasted turkey. I loved the fried, it was very moist and delicious.

[bmbmd]

11. Another underappreciated method of preparation

Is chicken fried turkey cutlets with cream gravy. This might be the best bite I've ever had.