Deep Frying Wild Turkey

[Ju30-30]

Is it even worth it to try and cook one this way? If so, does anyone have any tips or recipes? Thanks in advance.

[bolodunn]

Is it even worth it to try and cook one this way? If so, does anyone have any tips or recipes? Thanks in advance.


:tdo12: you would be crazy not to!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

once you try it that will be the only way you want turkey! its 3x faster(3.5 min per pound). & it is way juicier. i don't care for the injector marinades, but a good rub is great. as cheap as the fryers are now you can't go wrong.

good luck & at least try it, if you don't like it you'll be the first i've met.

[bolodunn]

ps. i wouldn't advise skinning your bird for this type!

[patcheroo]

We don't cook Turkeys any other way now! Just make sure that you don't overfill your pot with oil or you will have a mess.........Patch

[trailwart]

this is the only way to cook a turkey in my opinion. the kits are very inexpensive and the injector marinades are also cheap. the birds come out juicy, never dry. you can do at least 3 birds in the time it takes to bake one. also use your turkey pot and oil for doing chicken, cornish hens, fish and the list goes on and on. it is not solely a turkey fryer. get a basket or a long stainles spoon with holes to dip the small stuff out like fish and chicken wings. :bonk:

[Ju30-30]

I have had deep fried turkey and I love it. But aren't wild turkeys harder to cook? Or can I just deep fry it like any regular old turkey I got from the super market?

[YPSIFLY]

I have never cooked a wild turkey, but I doubt they would be harder to cook via deep frying. I'm guessing they would have a lower fat content than storebought birds, and I don't see where that would cause a problem.

As mentioned above it is a faster way to cook them, but the real beauty is that once immersed in the oil they are seared instantly thus locking in the juices and retaining more flavor.

Speaking of turkey, I had one that was grilled over apple and cherry wood on Easter. Oh man, that's eatin'! :corkysm55 :corkysm55

[drafthorsecowgirl2001]

The only deep fried Turkey I have ever had was a wild one. It was wonderful. It was skinned also and all though the very outside was over done may 1/16" the rest was wonderful and nice and juicy.

[YPSIFLY]

Yeah, I would leave the skin on as it and what fat is under it will insulate most of the meat from the intense heat of the oil.

[NATTY BUMPO]

Its the only way to go with wild turkeys. You need to pluck the bird (ie leave the skin on) and have a thermometor(sp) in the oil. I think the oil needs to be ~350F (?) before you start. Most turkey fry sets come with complete directions and they are cheap now. Lots of marianades to try now also. Yuummm!
The traditional roasting methods, turkey bags, etc, etc doesnt hold a candle to wild turkey done this way.

[Sib]

Just wanted to mention that there have been a lot of fires by folks misusing the fryers and not using sound judgement. Think safety when you use these fryers, as the potential for a problem exists. I use my fryer all the time and haven't had a problem, but I've read of more than one fire from their use. Here's some safety tips.

1) Use the fryer away from any kids playing, or pets running around.

2) Use the fryer away from any structure, on a level area, away from the house and garage is what I prefer.

3) This is critical-how most fire occur. Always be aware of displacement, don't fill up the fryer with peanut oil and drop the bird in. Instead, put the turkey in the pot as you were to fry it, and add water until the entire bird is covered with water. Now remove the turkey and note the water line and mark the outside of the pot. This will be the amount of oil you will need. Empty the water and dry the pot, fill the oil to the line you marked and you're on you're way.

No more dried out birds! :bouncy:

[ESOX]

3) This is critical-how most fire occur. Always be aware of displacement, don't fill up the fryer with peanut oil and drop the bird in. Instead, put the turkey in the pot as you were to fry it, and add water until the entire bird is covered with water. Now remove the turkey and note the water line and mark the outside of the pot. This will be the amount of oil you will need. Empty the water and dry the pot, fill the oil to the line you marked and you're on you're way.

If you use this method, dry that bird off thoroughly inside and out before putting it in the oil or you will have hot oil spattering all over.:tdo12:

[Sib]

Yes, you'll want to dry the bird off to prevent splatter, good point, ESOX. If its store bought bird, I generally keep the plastic liner on the bird to measure how much oil will be needed and remove the plastic and gibblets prior to putting in the oil.

[redwinger00]

In my instruction book that came with the fryer it says to cook the bird 3 minutes for every pound of bird, then add five more minutes. When I fry a wild turkey I cook it for 2 minutes and 45 seconds/pound. Probably because of thd fat content of a wild turkey they seem a little better (Less dry in the leg and wing areas) when I cook at a reduced time. :D

[YPSIFLY]

Keep in mind that oil expands a little as it is heated. I run my deep fryers at 350 and the oil rises about an inch or so once it is at temp.

Last week I went to deep fry some artichoke hearts and wondered why the oil was so low. Then when I dropped the basket and heard no sizzle, I realized I forgot to turn it on. :banghead3

[SALMONATOR]

Try this. Salt the bird up real good and throw it in the smoker for a few hours and THEN the deep fryer. OMG that's some good bird. I've never done a wild bird like this, but I'd leave the skin as mentioned before and probably cut it to 2-2 1/2 min./Lb.

Also, like YPSIE said, the oil will expand. I usually use the water trick and fill the deep fryer with about 3/4 of that much with penut oil and bring it up to heat (325-375). You may need to add a little oil after you drop the bird, but it shouldn't boil over.

Al

[minnow]

if your bird is skiined just strip the meat off the bone and put your favorite breading on it and fry it that way its also very good.