Best Turkey Fryers

Unlike deep fryers, turkey fryers have ample room for a whole bird and it is no surprise that turkey fryers are becoming a popular way to cook a turkey. If you like your birds crispy on the outside and soft and juicy on the inside, then a turkey fryer is exactly what you’re looking for. There are many types of fryers out there, in all shapes and sizes, and choosing one can be stressful. This turkey fryer buying guide will give you all the information you need to help you quickly choose the right turkey fryer for you.

There are plenty of turkey fryers options, and you are guaranteed to find one that fits your kitchen, your backyard, or your countertop. There are two main types of turkey fryers: gas and electric, and a variety of size and cooking options for each. Here is a short description for you to easily compare and choose the right turkey fryer for you:

Electric Turkey Fryers: These fryers run on electricity and will either sit on your countertop or on your kitchen floor. Varying in size and features, they are perfect for the home chef who wants to keep an eye on their cooking while also preparing other food.

Gas Turkey Fryers: These are mostly freestanding turkey fryers, designed to be used outside like your gas grill. Offering much quicker cooking times than slow roasting your bird in the oven, these fryers will crisp your bird efficiently for the perfect holiday dinner.

Stovetop Turkey Fryers: Like gas fryers, stovetop fryers are large pots with internal frying baskets that you use over an open flame. Like electric fryers, though, stovetop fryers are designed to be used inside. Their rugged design and simple build means their pots are great for a variety of kitchen cooking in addition to deep frying.

Countertop Turkey Fryers: Varying in size, countertop turkey fryers normally come with a basket. The bigger turkey countertops are big enough for you to cook your turkey to perfection while freeing up your oven for those delicious pumpkin pies.

Outdoor Freestanding Turkey Fryers: Most freestanding turkey fryers are gas fryers and are a great addition to your outdoor barbecuing area. Because they stand outside the home, they keep oil smells out and will turn cooking into a social event.

Floor Turkey Fryers: These freestanding turkey fryers are made to stand inside the home. They are sometimes large enough to fry your turkey and your fries simultaneously, and pack a powerful punch at 2500 watts. This is a great alternative if it is too cold to be entertaining outdoors.

Basket Turkey Fryers: These large pot fryers come with a fitted basket where turkeys are placed into the basket and then lowered to cook. Like a deep fryer you would find in your local diner, basket turkey fryers submerge food, leaving your bird crispy on all sides.

Rotating Turkey Fryers: Rotating turkey fryers also include a frying basket but, instead of being submerged in the oil, the turkey is rotated through and is pulled out from the oil from time to time. Because they give you the same delicious crispness while using much less oil, they are cheaper to run, quicker to heat up, and offer a healthier frying.

Based on all the consumers' reviews we've scanned, these are the top things they mentioned about their new stuff:

Temperature: Turkey fryer owners review their fryers well if they keep consistent temperatures from beginning to end of the turkey cooking process. When cooking for extended periods, it is important to be able to rely on your fryer to provide consistent temperatures. If this is a concern for you, consider a reputable brand fryer with temperature control features to ensure peace of mind.

Cleaning: The easier and simpler a fryer is to clean, the better the reviews are. Oil can be tricky to clean, but fryers that have dishwasher safe parts and an oil compartment that can be for cleaning are well rated appliances.

Cooking: Fryers that use less oil are rated high by consumers. This is because these fryers require less heating time and cook quicker, which saves owners time and money in the long run. Rotating fryers in general use less oil, and if this is a concern for you, consider this choice of fryer.

Accessories: Fryers with thermostats, basket varieties, and basket handles for easy removing get better reviews. Finding a fryer that includes these accessories will give you more frying options for your money. If they are not included, choosing a top brand with a lot of available accessories will save you a lot of hassle and disappointment.

• When deciding on a fryer size, you will need a fryer around the 40-to-50-quart range to ensure your turkey will fit and therefore cook evenly.
• Turkey fryers with adjustable thermostats, indicator lights and a timer will make sure the oil is always at the right temperature and your fried foods are cooked to perfection.
• Temperature control is definitely a feature to consider. Being able to set exact temperatures, as opposed to just high/medium/low settings, will allow for more precise cooking temperatures, which prevents food from being over- or undercooked.
• Consider whether you want a fryer that can be used indoors or outside. Most rotating and basket fryers are used indoors with an electric power source, while stock pot basket fryers are usually attached to a gas tank and used outdoors.
• Consider size and storage needs or limitations. Stock pots are generally more versatile, as you can use the pot for other cooking needs as well. Outdoor fryers will free up valuable counter space, especially in smaller kitchens, and some basket fryers will provide two baskets for cooking multiple foods at one time instead of needing two appliances.
• Deep tanked turkey fryers will help prevent oil splatter injuries and a fryer with lid windows increases cooking safety as it will allow you to monitor your cooking without you having to remove the lid.
• Choose an electric fryer with a breakaway power cord. This fryer feature prevents accidents by disengaging the cord from the fryer (connected by a magnet) should someone accidentally trip over it.
• Some added features to consider when buying an electric fryer are cool touch handles to protect yourself from burns, a locking lid that keeps splashes to a minimum, and a non-slip base which means your fryer will not be easily moved if it is nudged accidently.
• For added safety, choose an electric turkey fryer that includes an automatic shut off. This will ensure the appliance shuts off before it overheats.
• To be able to lower your basket into hot oil while the lid is closed, look for an electric turkey fryer offering external basket control.
• A turkey fryer with dishwasher safe parts will be a lot easier to keep clean. Another easy-cleaning feature to consider is an oil compartment that offers easy drainage by detaching from the fryer for simple disposal.
• Some electric turkey fryers will come with reusable, disposable, or built-in filters. It is recommended to check prices and availability of replaceable filters before choosing to save running costs, as these will need to be replaced from time to time. Filters filter the oil of debris and crumbs and will make keeping oil clean much easier, but will have to be replaced from time to time. Permanent anti-grease filters made of metal do not need to be replaced at all, saving you on running costs.
• Gas fryers will need to be monitored more closely than electric fryers, which may modulate temperature on their own. Since gas fryers use flame for heat, and especially since they’re subject to wind when used outside, it’s more imperative that the chef keep a close eye on oil temperature to ensure appropriate cooking of your turkey.
• When buying a gas fryer, consider one with an included base and propane connection. These bases are specially designed to offer optimal flame shape and intensity to guarantee an even temperature and cooking environment.

Bayou Classic: Baouy Classic manufactures all sorts of cookware products, from camp stoves to 9 gallon deep fryers and pre-seasoned cast iron dutch ovens. Their 4-gallon deep fryer is one of the most efficient on the market today and is a top choice for Thanksgiving turkey frying and all sorts of other delicious foods, while their stainless steel fryers are perfect for everyday home or camping use.

Oster: Char-Broil is a brand of W.C. Bradley Co., headquartered in Columbus, GA. They began as a cotton factoring business, but have since expanded to make a large number of home and leisure products. Their innovative oil and electric fryers can fry, roast, and smoke without using any oil at all.

Waring Pro: Waring was founded in 1937 and is known for introducing the first blender in the US. Today they manufacture both commercial and consumer lines of products. Their dedicated turkey fryer takes just over an hour to fully and evenly cook your turkey into a juicy and delicious meal.

Brinkmann: The Brinkmann Company, in Dallas, TX, is leading name in outdoor products from lighting to camping equipment to outdoor smokers. In addition to being durable and inexpensive, Brinkmann’s turkey fryer comes standard with an over-temperature sensor to keep you safe and shut off gas flow should the unit ever get too hot.