I may be dramatic sometimes, but I am NOT being dramatic when I say this fried turkey recipe is LIFE CHANGING. I can say that because it seriously changed mine. I had never in my life had a turkey so juicy, flavorful and delicious until we fried a turkey. No worries folks, I'm going to tell you step-by-step how to make the best fried turkey IN THE WORLD and included is easy but damn delicious rub and injection marinades.
How to Deep-Fry a Turkey
Frying turkey does come with a few cautions, but if you follow directions you will have no problems! We have fried turkey for several years in a row now, and have a few pro tips.
1. Follow directions. (wait, did I already say that?)
3. INJECT and RUB that baby!
We have tried only injecting, the next year we tried only marinating the turkey in a rub but year 3 was our magical year. That year we RUBBED and INJECTED and we can honestly say this is the only way to do it.
How to make an injection marinade
I love to make my own injection marinade for the turkey. It's quick, easy and I know what ingredients are going into the turkey! Here is what you need.
- lemon juice
- oil and water
- melted butter
- spices (thyme and sage)
- Worcestershire sauce
- Realsalt's garlic salt and Realsalts's onion salt
- Meat Injector
Make sure you turkey is completely thawed, rinsed and pat dry. Mix all ingredients together and inject with this amazing meat injector. I grabbed mine off of amazon and I've had it for about 10 years. Here is the link. It's half the price of many others, but works amazing. Make sure you use the attachment with the largest openings.
How to inject a turkey for frying
You want to make as little holes in your turkey as possible while injecting as much marinade into the turkey as possible. How you do this? By sticking the needle in and moving it in different directions through one hole. See pictures below.
Rub for fried turkey
For the rub you want to use quality ingredients! You also use a lot of salts to help keep moisture in and deeply flavor the meat. My favorite salts are Redmond RealSalt. Their salts are bursting with the best flavor. I use them all the time for basically every recipe. They really do make a difference. For the rub you will use:
- RealSalt onion salt
- RealSalt garlic salt
- RealSalt seasoning salt
- paprika
- chili powder
- and fresh ground pepper
How to rub a turkey
Because we are frying the turkey you want to it be a dry rub. Do not apply butter to the skin before the rub. Mix the seasonings together and sprinkle on the bird.
Start by gently spreading the rub on all the surfaces, You want it in every nook and cranny!
Yes even make sure you coat the cavity of the turkey
Last wrap the turkey in cling wrap and let the rub and injection marinade do it's work! Let it set for 24 hours. ok, ok, if you are running out of time you can let it marinate for less than that. For the best results let marinate for 24 hours prior to frying,
HOW TO FRY A TURKEY
OK! Today's the day you are going to deep fry the best turkey! IT's been marinated and rubbed and the turkey is ready for the oil.
You will need-
- A {marinated} Turkey (1.5 lbs x # of people you are feeding= size of turkey to buy) HOWEVER, make sure it will fit in your pot. Different fryers have different sized pots. Ours will not hold more than an 18lb turkey.
- a turkey fryer, WE LOVE this one called LOCO. it is great quality and so much safer than other friers we have purchased. This Loco deep fryer is 100% worth the investment.
- 3 gallons of Peanut oil (we price matched and walmart it the cheapest) Peanut oil is the best to fry your turkey in. It has a mild flavor and a very high smoke temp.
- Probe thermometer (we have found thermoworks chef alarm to be the most accurate and best thermometer)I also used this extra long, 12 inch, thermometer for it.
- Propane tank
How much oil do I use to fry my turkey
The most common reason there are accidents with deep frying turkeys is because there is too much oil displacement when the turkey is lowered into boiling oil. To make sure you have enough, but not too little oil in your pot this is what you can do:
- fill your pot to the fill line with water:
2. Wrap your turkey in an air tight bag, place into basket and dunk in water so it is completely submerged. Add or remove water to the appropriate fill line. Mark the water line.
3. Dry out the pan and fill pot with oil to your marked line. Preheat peanut oil to 275 Degrees.
How long do I fry a turkey?
You fry the turkey for about 3-5 minutes per pound, however, I highly recommend to not rely on the time rather to invest in a thermometer like chef alarm that can withstand high temps and can remain in the turkey the entire time you fry. (I recommend this if you are smoking or roasting turkey too). Turkey's are highly temperamental and easily dried out when they are over cooked. Dont take the chance, just get a great thermometer (just bite the bullet and buy this chef alarm already). You want the internal temp to be 165 of the turkey.
HOW DO I KEEP THE SKIN FROM TURNING TOO DARK OR BURNING?
Did You MAKE THIS RECIPE? HAVE QUESTIONS?
Did you fry a turkey? use this recipe? I love to hear from those who make my recipes. If you want to keep up with our newest recipes, make sure you follow is on Facebook and Instagram, and make sure to subscribe to our newsletter.
The best fried turkey
Equipment
- Turkey Fryer
Ingredients
- 1 large turkey under 18 lbs
- 3 gallons peanut oil
Turkey Rub
- 1 tbsp chili powder
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 1 tablespoon garlic salt
- 1 tablespoon onion salt
- 1 tablespoon seasoning salt
- 1 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
Turkey Injection Marinade
- ¼ cup melted butter
- ¼ cup oil canola or vegetable
- 3 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- ¼ cup water
- ½ large lemon fresh, squeezed
- 1 teaspoon ground sage
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon garlic salt
- 1 teaspoon onion salt
Instructions
- Thaw your turkey completely, rinse and pat dry. Mix your injection marinade ingredients together and fill syringe. Poke 1 hole and move the needle into different positions as you push out marinade into the turkey. Do this in different parts of the birds, making as little holes as possible with getting the marinade in as much of the bird as possible.
- Mix the rub spices together and rub all over bird, in cavity and in under skin also. Wrap turkey in cling wrap so it is completely covered and refrigerate 1 hour -24 hours. The longer the better!
- When ready to fry fill pot with water to first fill line, cover turkey in airtight bag and submerse into water to ensure the water will not over flow when placed in the hot oil. Mark water line. You want the turkey completely submerged in oil.
- Dry pot and add peanut oil to marked line. Preheat oil to 275. Remove from plastic wrap and pat dry one more time. When oil reaches temp add turkey to bucket and lower using the hanger/hook. Wear gloves to protect hands and arms from oil splattering.
- Insert thermometer probe and close lid. Allow oil to heat to 325. Cook until Internal temp of turkey reaches 165 degrees. Remove from oil and let rest for about 20-30 minutes before carving.
Notes
Nutrition
Save this recipe for later!
Karina Hunter says
This has been our go-to recipe for Thanksgiving and Christmas 2 years in a row now!!
Lisa says
Got rave reviews on this turkey yesterday (Thanksgiving). Flavorful and juicy. 5th year of fried turkeys, this was the best!
Steven says
Just made this for Thanksgiving this year and it was a big hit with the extended family! I've fried a turkey for years at Thanksgiving and this was the best ever! Thank you!
Katie says
Best turkey I’ve ever tasted and my husband usually smokes them, which is also delicious. We put more dry rub on it right before frying bc some came off on the cling wrap. It was so good, made our family reunion Thanksgiving even better than it already was, thank you!
Lexie says
So so good. Our first year deep frying turkeys and it was a huge hit. This will be our go to recipe.
Nada says
Hi! Using this recipe today for marinade and dry rub!!!
Everything I’ve read on the internet says a turkey should be deep-fried uncovered but you mention to cover it. I’m confused.
Desarae says
The covering helps so it doesn't splatter and helps the temperature to stay more stable, especially if you live in a cold climate and you are frying outside. The biggest thing is to make sure you do not have too much oil and you can leave it uncovered just fine.
Harrgran says
You should never cover a turkey or anything that is deep frying. The covering could possibly trap steam causing less crispness to the skin. But more so, a lid can collect condensation from that steam causing excessive splattering and a possible fire.
Sadie Gulle says
How long should I cook the turkey? Ours is 11 pounds.
Nada says
Mine is 12 lbs and everything I’ve read says 42 minutes but check internal temp at 30 min.
Desarae says
I love using the thermoworks chef alarm with the extra long probe and then you can leave the thermometer in the entire time! It will ensure that you are not over-cooking the turkey.
Morgan says
Do you brine and then season again before frying or is the dry brine enough seasoning?
Kadee says
We recommend injecting, rubbing, and letting sit overnight and then frying. You don't brine with this recipe.
Jarrod W says
Commented the other day but I don’t see it, sorry if this is a duplicate!
Spatchcock or leave as is?
I have the loco fryer with a hole in the lid. Should I place 1 thermometer in the breast and a separate thermometer in the hole for oil? Or just use one thermometer in the breast and nothing else for oil?
Kadee says
You just leave as is for this recipe.
Kadee says
once the oil is at temp, we just check the temp of the bird.
Andy says
Is the wire and probe in the bird while cooking and exposed to the frying oil? If so, anything to worry about ruining the wire?
Kadee says
If you are using a thermometer like the thermoworks chef alarm, they make a long probe for frying. That way the oil doesn’t touch the connection between the probe and the wire. I’m not sure what thermometer you’re using, so I don’t know if it can sustain the heat of the oil.
Jared says
Do you spatchcock before frying? Any input?
Desarae says
Yes! you can fry a spatchcock turkey. It will be a little trickier getting it in out. It would be better if you had a strainer type bucket to fry it in the oil.
N. Tanner says
Super confused. Step 4 says to preheat oil to 275º, but step 5 says to allow oil to heat to 325º after putting the bird in. In my experience the temp drops when the bird gets lowered in the oil.
So am I preheating to 275º and then once the bird is in turning the oil up to 325º?
Thank you
Desarae says
Yes, that’s right. Putting the bird in at a higher heat you risk more oil splashing up with the moisture that’s on the bird. Put it in at the lower heat and yes the temp will drop after putting the bird in, then increase until temp reaches 325.
Nicole says
Do you preheat the oil to 250 or 275? I see it 275 in the step by step but then in how to prevent burning it says 250.
Thank you,
Desarae says
275. Thanks for catching that I'll fix that!
Linds says
Hi, my husband has a severe peanut allergy so we can’t use peanut oil. Do you recommend an alternative oil? Many thanks!
Desarae says
I would suggest canola oil. It has a similar smoke point as peanut. Vegetable oil doesn't have as hit. Avocado also has a high smoke point but it can be expensive.
Nada says
So will the temp of 275 still prevent it from darkening?
Desarae says
yes, keeping It lower keeps the skin from darkening too much too fast.
Ally says
So good! It’s definitely beat other recipes we have tried in the past by a long shot! Don’t think, just do! Lol.
Emily says
This was my first time deep frying a turkey, and it was outstanding!
I brined it in Dr. Pepper for 24 hrs, used this marinade injection and rub the day of! It was so juicy and flavorful. I couldn't believe it.
My tweaks- instead of chili powder, I used smoked paprika in the same amount (I didn't have chili powder) plus the regular paprika that it called for. I accidentally added 1 tbsp of Pepper but I couldn't tell the difference.
In the injection marinade, I used the the full lemon.
We will definitely use this recipe in the future.
Andy Heintz says
Is it supposed to be 1 tablespoon of chili powder? The recipe had the 'tbsp' abbreviation for that unlike everything else so wanted to be sure. Thanks - trying this out for Thanksgiving this week!
Kadee says
Yes - 1 tablespoon
Gary Patterson says
Placing turkey in plastic bag for water displacement test may underestimate amount of oil needed since cavity will not fill with water in plastic bag but will fill with oil once bag is removed. If you cut it close on oil you may end up with a partially submerged bird. .
My fryer came with a chart that tells you how much oil to use based on turkey weight.
Or you can just use the thawed bird withthout plastic bag before you inject and rub and add water to find your line. Clean the fryer after of course.
Fantastic instructions!
Emily says
We’ve made this recipe several times and it’s amazing! Would it be okay to hold the turkey marinated for up to 48 hours ? Also, how can I prevent the turkey from getting too dark on the outside? Would I wipe off the rub to prevent it from getting too dark?
Desarae says
I have a few tips in the post, but if you have tried those and feel the bird is too dark for your liking I would do exactly what you suggested- omit the rub. You can stick to some salt and pepper or a light colored seasoning salt.
Dan Crafton says
I am about to cook this turkey. The rub was not sticking to the meat of the turkey very well so I made more rub to compensate. Now my concern is that the bird is going to be too salty. Should I be concerned?
Kadee says
Nope - I think it will be delicious!
Joe says
How long before u fry do u take it out of the fridge?
Desarae says
You want the turkey to be room temperature. I’d say a couple hours before you fry.
Charlene says
Can you convert the decimals to the fraction? I only have 1/8,1/4,1/2,3/4,1 teaspoon and tablespoon measurements.
Kadee says
Hi - I'm not sure what you mean, our recipe is in full teaspoons and fractions? There are no decimals in the recipe.
Emily says
Any recommendation on an oil other than peanut? We have an allergy.
Kadee says
Try safflower oil or corn oil if you are accommodating a peanut allergy
Splombar says
We have a peanut allergy as well. We use sunflower oil instead.
Jonathan Reyes says
I got stuck at injecting the marinade. The marinade was kind of thick and the injector ended up getting clogged. Any suggestions? Thank you!
Desarae says
Did you purchase the meat injector I recommended? It has a large attachment that I've never had any issues getting clogged.
Carlos says
I used a strainer and it worked out perfectly, lemon pulp and thyme make it a bit chunky but once it went through the strainer, there was plenty of marinade and worked perfectly.
Tara Olson says
I grind down the thyme and use a larger bore needle as I experienced this the first year I did it.
Alex Maldonado says
Used this recipe last year and it was a hit. Everyone loved it and doing it again this year. Thank you for sharing!
Fab says
Absolutely delicious 😋!!!!! Thought it would not turn out good but the marinade and rub made it outstanding!!!
Desarae says
Oh I'm so happy!! thank you for leaving such an awesome review. You are the best.
Mark says
Really great recipe! Made once for my family and again for Friendsgiving only to receive amazing reviews all around!! Even those that don’t like turkey loved this one 😁
gshook says
This is an amazing recipe, I’ve made it twice this year and both times my guests loved it, I followed the recipe exactly I wouldn’t change a thing.
Thank you 🙏
Nicolas says
Amazing Recipe, Tried cooking my first turkey and it came out really good. Everyone loved it, will keep doing it this way, Thank you!
Brandon says
Amazing recipe in terms of seasoning and injection. This was my first year frying a turkey. Followed this step by step, was safe and effective. Let the turkey rest to room temp before frying. Only caveat is that I did the recommended 3 min per pound and WAY overshot the temp mark (reached almost 200F internal). I’d just recommend checking a few times as you get close to final cooking time to avoid this. Once you make the initial drop, it’s relatively safe to pull it out and re-lower it as needed if your temp isn’t there yet. Again, even with an over cooked turkey this was delicious and I can only imagine how amazing it would have been otherwise.
Steve says
I deep fried our Turkey using this recipe for rub and marinade. It was by far the best that I have ever made. And I am 67 yes. old and have made many, many turkeys in my time. Absolutely delicious and all agreed!!
Dezrae Gonzalez says
I saw this recipe after already brining my turkey. I would still like to use this marinade and dry rub for frying it. Should I skip the injecting and just do dry rub? Help! Thank you!
Kadee says
Yes I would skip injecting the bird, you don’t want it to be too salty.
Rachel says
I have everything prepped and it’s been marinating since yesterday. Our fryer came with a thermometer that goes into the top of the lid. Is that just for the oil temp? I do t know how you could get that into the turkey just by sticking it through the hole. We weren’t able to buy a thermometer that can withstand the heat and oil. Can we take the turkey out to test temp and lower it back down into the oil?
Kadee says
The hole in the lid is for the thermometer. I’m not sure what the thermometer looks like that came with your fryer, but usually we recommend a thermometer that has a long lead that can be inserted into the turkey thru that hole.
If you aren’t able to do this you can pull it out and test it. I think many people do this if they don’t have a thermometer with a long lead. It’s not as good for the turkey to do this, but it won’t hurt it.
Good luck! Let us know how it turns out!
Selina R says
This is our 3rd year using your recipe, and its officially a family tradition! We follow the instructions and tips EXACTLY, and have never had any issues. Read the full article as there are a lot of tips that aren't explained on the recipe.
Lynda Zegers says
How do I keep the turkey after frying warm until dinner? I don’t want to carve it until ready to eat but there will be a few hours between frying and dinner,
Kadee says
1. Wrap the turkey with foil, wrap a heavy duty towel (like a beach towel around it) and place it in an insulated cooler. This will keep it warm for hours without drying it out.
2. Another option is to cover completely with foil and then place a towel on top of it. This should work for up to 2 hours.
3. If you have room in your oven, you can put the turkey inside a 200 degree Fahrenheit oven to keep it warm. This will dry it out a bit, but is a popular option.
Linda Dennis says
We love the Fried Turkey for our Thanksgiving, However, this Thanksgiving the patron is with heart issue and is on low sodium diet. Suggestions for marinate and rub for low sodium folks please!
Kadee says
There are a variety of salt free seasonings you could substitute like Dash salt free, use onion powder and garlic powder rather than garlic salt, flavor god brand seasonings, salt free poultry seasoning, and items like these will work great.
Ajc78 says
I want to try this recipe this year instead of a brine but I can not find the brand Redmond Realsalt here and it’s not available online in time for thanksgiving.
The seasoning salt is the main one I am not sure how to replace since Redmonds ingredients are different then other seasoning salts.
Do you have a recommendation on a different seasoning salt we can use or a recipe to make it?
Kadee says
You can use seasoned salt from another brand. While we prefer the Redmond brand - another brand will work just fine.
Glenn says
Sorry if you've answered this - want to try your method this year. Do you insert the thermometer in the thigh or breast. Breast cooks to 155 but the thigh usually to 180
Desarae says
Deepest part of the breast. :)
Brittany says
Planning on using my father in law's fryer, not sure how large it is...IF for some reason my turkey is too big, does this recipe still work for roasting the oven?
Kadee says
Yes, you can prepare the same and then bake the turkey if you aren’t able to fry.
Nate M says
Excellent!
Edward R Yelochan says
why not do the turkey in pot splash/dip test before applying the rub/marinate?
Kadee says
You 100% can do that test prior to applying the rub.
Katherine K Winstead says
I have never been fond of turkey, until I used this recipe last year! EVERYONE raved over it! I could not get enough myself! I was leary of the dark skin, but it was absolutely delicious! I will NEVER make another recipe! Thank you for sharing!!!
Bruce says
On third year of using this recipe. Awesome everytime!!!!
turk says
mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm tast so good it came back from the dead
Heather Scott says
Absolute perfection! Christmas of 2020 was my 1st time EVER making a large holiday feast for my family & fried turkey was a must have. Knowing nothing about the recipes used by others that we have enjoyed, I went on a hunt for the best sounding recipe & found this. Not only was care & consideration put into the writing of the recipe for us first timers, it sounded & looked amazing. That first time, when I was convinced I’d over cooked it & having a mini melt down in my kitchen, my husband started cutting it & it just fell apart with juices running everywhere. Burnt or not, it was an instant hit & I’ve been making it ever since. Ive even been asked to bring one when celebrating elsewhere. Now, when I’m on a mission to find a recipe for something, Oh So Delicioso is the first place I look. Thank you for putting in all the hard work (and trial & error) to not only create this great recipe, but also make it so informative any question I had was answered. It was the perfect recipe for my first holiday family dinner!
Anthony Nobisso says
Amazing!! Made a 19# turkey today with this recipe deep fried. Best turkey I ever eat by far. I kept my oil at 325 for about an hour. Came out perfect
Mary says
We are deep frying an 11 lb turkey. Should we cut back the rub & marinade a bit or use the full amount?
Thank you!
Desarae says
Turkey breasts do not vary as much in size as full size turkey. They all tend to be about 2-3 lbs apart. So I would stick to the recipe. If you want to err on the side of caution the only seasonings I would decrease might be ones containing salt. The flavor/oil etc are just adding seasoning and moisture.
Chad says
First time ever frying a turkey and it turned out great! It was everyone’s first time trying deep fried turkey and everyone loved it! 10/10 will recommend..
Lester says
This is delicious! Easily the best tasting turkey ever! I realized the morning of that my oil was no good so I ended up roasting it in the oven in an oven bag. Turned out great!
Mervin Nolt says
I tried your recipe and advice and turkey turned out great. The only thing I’d like to improve is how to prevent it from turned as dark? Any suggestions on my next one? It was very good but parts of outside were too dark. Any suggestions? Thank you!
Desarae says
Mervin the Alfredo thickens as it stands and starts to cool. You don’t need to add any thickener.
Dr.T says
Thank you for this simple and super delicious recipe. It was absolutely amazing. We LOVED it! I used an oil less turkey fryer and it was perfect. We thoroughly enjoyed it!
Emily says
Can you do this on a brined turkey ?
Kadee says
There are mixed opinions about frying a brined turkey because of extra water may cause splash. But if you dry it well it may work. We have not tested it though.
Tristan says
I have deep fried a brine turkey I usually brine mine and always deep fry... I personally remove from the brine 1 to 2 hours before and do rub with gsp (garlic salt pepper) this allows it to drip dry enough to fry...
Safety tip...
Always turn off your fryer when adding the turkey no matter how it was prepared...
Happy frying!!
Bryan says
Can you reuse the Peanut oil? how do you store It?
Desarae says
you can re use the peanut oil one more time. We strain it through nylon or cheesecloth. We use a funnel and put it back in the container it came in.
Gary Kirshner says
Unbelievable outcome!! Followed to a tee and everyone commented that it was the best turkey they have ever had. Had professional chef at the table and was amazed at the flavor and moistness. Only hard part was regulating the temperature and clean up which I'll be better prepared next year. Even the turkey haters loved it!!
Juan Castejon says
Incredibly delicious the best turkey I have prepared, and the best super easy to make, I highly recommend this recipe
Jeff Baker says
Started this process Wednesday night, on a 15 lb. Fresh Turkey. So, by the time I dropped it, today, it had well over 36 hours in Marinade. Using a 30 quart Fryer, the 15 lb bird put the required Oil level, over the maximum. So, I removed the Legs and wings, and deep fried them separately. The end results, were AMAZING! A beautifully cooked Turkey that was moist and flavorful, from the crust, into the meat. The absolute BEST Turkey I've ever had! Thank You! And Happy Thanksgiving!
JJT says
I am with you on everything but the water and water tight bag to see how much oil. You have to accurately account for the cavity of the bird that fills with oil.
Desarae says
The additional air in the bag compensates for the oil in the cavity.
Jonelle says
My pot will hold a 20lb turkey. How long does it take to heat the oil up? Also I am only going to brine. I read so where to cut a slit under the leg do the oil will drain out. Do I need to do this .
Desarae says
The bigger the bird the less oil will be in the pot (meaning it will heat up faster) + it also depends on the outside air temperature of where you live. You can plan about 20 minutes before it reaches a good temp to insert the turkey. Be sure not to wait until the oil reaches full temp.
Also make sure your turkey is patted dry completely before inserted into oil.
You don’t need cut a slit in the leg. The skin keeps a lot of the oil out and as you rest the bird the remaining oil runs off.
Andrew Postell says
Have used this same receipe for several years now. Everyone loves this turkey!
Runda says
I’m trying your recipe for the first time. I’ve already have marinated the turkey but just wanted to ask if the chili powder makes it spicy.
Kadee says
No, it is not spicy, it just adds a nice savory flavor.
Vanessa says
Hello, i have a couple questions. When marinating how many holes do you make approximately and where?
When frying the bird, Do you keep a thermometer on the oil and another on the turkey? What’s the best part of the turkey to poke the thermometer in order to check the temperature?
Desarae says
Great questions! Poke 1-2 holes in every major cut. For instance 2 in the breast. One in the each leg. 1-2 in the thighs etc. keep injecting until the marinade is out.
For the thermometer insert the probe in the deep part of the breast, for the oil thermometer insert in the top pan of the so you know when the oil reaches the right temp and doesn’t get too hot or too cold.
Desarae says
One year we didn’t pay attention to the oil temp too close and it burnt the skin, the inside was actually still perfect 😂 but it looked reallly bad.
Jason G says
Love this recipe and used it 2 out of 4 times frying a Turkey tried others but love this one the most
Bruce says
Use this everytime and came out perfect.
scott says
I read somewhere else that said about preheating oil to 350 and not to let the oil drop below 340 because of oil seeping into the bird and I see you say preheat the oil to 275. How much of a temperature drop will there be with a 18lb bird?
Desarae says
If you cook at 350 you have a higher chance of oil splattering. Oil seeping in has never been an issue for us, the temperature is still high enough.
I feel like our drop was about a 20-25 degree drop but it didn’t last very long.
Gerry Neves says
I'll be trying your recipe, sounds delicious. I have a few questions for you. We bought a fresh turkey from trader joe's and it comes with a brime solution with the typical ingredients such wate, salt and sugar. Can we inject and rub this turkey as stated on your recipe or will it be too salty due to the pre brime? If so which turkey do you recommend us buying? I've tried searching online but I can't find a straight forward answer.
Thanks in advance.
Desarae says
If your turkey is already been marinating in a brine then I wouldn’t worry about injecting the turkey. Just do the rub! I usually get my fresh turkeys from Costco they don’t have a brine in it.
Gerry Neves says
Thanks for clearing that up for us. We'll go with the rub as you mentioned. Next year we'll get it right lol.
Gary says
I'm a little confused .... Do you keep the lid on the pot the whole time the turkey is deep frying? Thanks
Desarae says
Yes, keep the lid on the whole time to keep it from splattering on you. We’ve owned two fryers the one pictured in this post has a hole in it so the thermometer probe can stay inserted while the lid is on.
Gary Patterson says
Suggest you just follow the fryer manufacturer's instructions. All the fryers Ive used have a lid that goes on during frying, though.
Valecia reggans says
Can you marinade more than 24 hours?
Desarae says
You can, but it is not recommended. Marinating too long can break down the fibers of the meat causing the meat to be mushy. Sometimes the flavors can start to overpower the meat also.
Chan says
Hi can you also use this recipe fora smoked turkey?
Kadee says
Yes, I have done an entire turkey many times.
JGO says
This looks awesome and can’t wait to try! We’ve fried turkeys now for some time, but never left in a thermometer…which makes total sense!!! Two questions: where is the best place the insert the thermometer, and when do you insert it…after it’s in the pot or before?
Desarae says
Great Question. We like to insert it into the deep part of the breast. If you have a probe thermometer insert it at the very beginning.
Kim says
Which probe would you recommend for frying?
Kadee says
I really like the extra long probe from thermoworks. 12 inches or longer works best.
Steve Davis says
Wow
Brent Gendleman says
Ok … I’m going on for the plunge! We are preparing Friendsgiving turkey at the outer banks next week. Two guys who haven’t done this before and the fryers wife is chef level and he is an engineer… so with a consultant, engineer and cooking sme… what could go wrong?
I have faith in your impressive directions to ensure our drive home safety. Let you know how it goes ;-)
Marc M says
Anyone ever brine first and then follow this recipe for injecting and then doing the rub? I've always brined for 24-36 hrs then either done the traditional oven or peanut oil fryer. I always get huge compliments on my bird and was curious if it's necessary to do all that or if it's overkill and just follow this recipe without brining?
Thanks!
Meagan says
Did you try this? I always brine, but have never injected flavor and dry rubbed it too.
I would think the dry rub would burn in the oil for that long?
Brian says
Mmmmm fried turkey is the best! Thanks for sharing.
David Hodgens says
I've always did mine the same way as you. However this Thanksgiving a renown Chef that is a close friend suggested that instead of rubbing the out side of the Turkey that I should go under the skin breaking loose the membrane and rub the turkey including the cavity just as you instruct. This traps the seasoning under the fat and infuses the meat much better than just the skin rub does. I did as he said and it was even better that what I thought could not get better. Lol. Food for thought.
Faron Ellison says
OMG!!! Best Turkey ever.
Tricia says
Turned out delicious. I couldn't find onion salt to save my life so I used garlic and onion powder and a tbs of kosher salt instead. I kept my thermometer in the entire time. Took a little over an hour to fry to temp using my electric turkey fryer . Two days later, the meat is still tender and tasty. Going to use this recipe for Cornish hens.
Thank you!
Joe says
Best Deep Fried Turkey ever! As you suggested I will be getting a better thermometer for my Christmas turkey. I took it out of the pot 10 minutes early to check the internal temp and it was done, Glad I did. It was soo tender and full of flavor their was barley any left of a 21 pound bird for 8 people. Thank you and this is my new Best recipe
Terry says
Made this today. Awesome recipe! Flavorful, tender and juicy! Will be frying my Turkey from now on!
Grace says
I dont have dried thyme and couldnt find it anywhere... can I use fresh? If so how much?
Is the seasoning suppose to be super salty? I used Lawery's seasoning salt as it was all we could get at the moment and the rub is super salty? Will it stay salty when its fried or should I use less seasoning salt?
Desarae says
yes you can use fresh, just make sure use injector with the biggest hole so the leaves will get out without clogging.
Amanda Burnett says
Can't wait to try it! Can you marinade for more than 24 hours?
Jennifer says
Can you use an air fryer with this recipe?
Desarae says
I have not tried this method, but I think it would work on the rotisserie in your air fryer.
Reggie says
Question, if your thermometer is in the turkey while you fry to make sure the temp gets to the perfect number, how do you know how hot the oil is? Are you using two thermometers or are you only testing the turkey temp once it is close to the time when it should be done? Thanks!
I can't wait to try this out this Thanksgiving!
Desarae says
Hi Reggie! You can keep a thermometer in the oil to make sure it is consistently at the right temp and not over or under heating. Then remove the turkey periodically to check the temp of the bird.
Daniel Mccuan says
Hey Kadee first commenting long time fan. This will be my first time doing a deep fried turkey. I will be trying your recipe on Thanksgiving.
George says
I see all the ingredients for the marinade and rub but it doesn’t show the amount of the ingredients for any of them. Help
Desarae says
Hey George, Maybe try to refresh your page- they are showing up on my end and on a few different browsers.
Phil says
I have been frying turkeys myself for a few years and eating them for a long time. I definitely got a couple great tips in here that I believe will really improve my bird on Christmas. Thanks!
Berenice Arriaga says
THE BEST! Super tasty.
Owen Carver says
Wow, this is the real deal. I can't wait to smell it once it comes out of the oil!
Ginger says
You said 3 to 5 mins per pound but you said 3 hours of cook time for an 18 pound turkey ? I’m thinking 90 mins. That’s 5 mins. Per pound ? Help
Desarae says
Hi Ginger! Thanks for your comment. I’ve updated the recipe card. It used to not have so many options for putting in times (prep/cook/resting) so three hours was the total time for oil to heat up, bird to cook and rest :) definitely go by a internal temp of the bird when actually frying it. But to give you an about cook time it should be 3-5 minutes per pound.
Jon says
I've read somewhere that it's best to leave the bird uncovered for the 24 hours to let the skin dry out a bit. You guys have it wrapped. Just want the skin crispy! Please let me know what the difference is. Thanks!
Desarae says
Our skin has always been really crispy. After letting the seasoning sit on the turkey for 24 hours with the wrapping we still pat it dry one more time before putting it into the oil.
Ed says
Do you let the turkey get to room temperature before putting it in the deep fryer or put it cold from the refrigerator?
Desarae says
Room temp! If its cold, it will just increase the cooking time. Make sure it is thawed all the way through and pat dry. no moisture.
Paul says
I ALWAYS deep fry my turkey. This year I'm going to try your recipe, but please tell me your nutrition facts are off. I don't think there's any way you could have that much sodium, fat, and cholesterol oer serving.
Desarae says
no, Theres something wrong with the calculator and sodium- i'm having issues with it with other recipes so i just deleted and am contacting the company! Thanks for pointing it out.
Beth says
Haven’t made it yet but Looking at this recipe for thanksgiving day. I noticed there is chili powder in the rub. Does this result in a little spice in the flavor of the bird?
Desarae says
It doesn't really had much heat, just flavor. If you eat the skin, which we don't, it might add some heat. Are you looking for spicy heat?
Erica says
Do you use Lemon Pepper instead of fresh ground pepper? I noticed it on your picture but not in the recipe.
Desarae says
We use pepper, I think this year I just used that shaker becuase its what we had and it is 99% pepper, it doesn't have much lemon flavor.
CaSara says
Hi there, we're looking forward to trying this recipe out this year. With the injectable marinade, what kind of oil do we use? Peanut oil? Thanks for your time!!
Desarae says
we used canola or vegetable oil, but you can use your favorite.
Shannon F Brandt says
What type of oil in the injection
Desarae says
we used vegetable or canola- but you can use olive or avocado too.
Janet Braxton says
above you mention:
HOW TO MAKE AN INJECTION MARINADE
I love to make my own injection marinade for the turkey. It’s quick, easy and I know what ingredients are going into the turkey! Here is what you need.
lemon juice
oil and water
melted butter
spices (thyme and sage)
Worcestershire sauce
Realsalt’s garlic salt and Realsalts’s onion salt
but I don't see the amount of Worcestershire sauce listed in the recipe.
Kadee says
Whoops! I've corrected the card - 3 tbsp.
Bonnie says
How much of each of the ingredients in The injection marinade?
Kadee says
The ingredients are in the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
Ruby says
Spectacular! Best fried turkey recipe ever. Marinade, divine, rub, glorious. Instructions, perfect! Outcome: super yummy, juicy, flavorful, aromatic and tender. Skin, crispy and crunchy. Thank you for this wonderful recipe!
Morgan says
How much Worcestershire sauce in the injection?
Kadee says
Whoops! I've corrected the card - 3 tbsp.
Lai says
If you don’t have the dripping from the turkey how can you make the gravy?
Kadee says
Often turkeys come with a gravy packet - I use that, or I make a homemade gravy using turkey broth or stock. Check out our tips here: https://ohsodelicioso.com/how-to-make-turkey-gravy/
June r says
I put the giblets and turkey neck and some celery tops in a saucepan and bring it to a boil then simmer. Strain the contents into a bowl then return the liquid to the saucepan. Strip the meat from the neck and finely chop it with the heart. Do not use the liver or gizzard. Add the finely chopped meat back to the liquid in the saucepan. Add more water and 1/4 turkey gravy powder (from a jar) and bring to boil. Simmer stirring occasionally. Delicious turkey flavor with a lot less fat.
Andrea says
How much Worcestershire sauce is in the marinade?
Kadee says
Whoops! I've corrected the card - 3 tbsp.
Cindy says
Definitely always frying a turkey every thanksgiving now thanks to this recipe. I love how easy and fresh the ingredients are. e
Jackie says
Holy Cow! this is amazing. I have to say I will be injecting and rubbing the turkey from here on out! Thank you!
Desarae says
It makes a difference huh!! Totally a game changer for us too.
Carol Davis says
Can you fry turkey the day before and carve and reheat the next day? Will it dry out?
Desarae says
It would probably dry it out more than you probably prefer. It's best if it is served immediately after frying.