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deep fried turkey served on a white platter

Deep Fried Turkey Recipe

This is the Best Deep Fried Turkey Recipe you'll ever need. Seriously. It's so flavorful and so succulent, that once you make a turkey like this, you'll never do it another way again. I'll give you the step by step so you can make this beautiful bird without any worries at all. 
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Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Brining Time, optional: 1 day
Total Time: 1 day 1 hour
Servings: 24 servings
Calories: 288kcal
Author: Ruth Truett

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 1 12 lb turkey, thawed and brined
  • 4 gallons peanut oil this is about the amount of oil I needed
  • 2 tablespoon all-purpose seasoning
  • 1 stick butter, melted

Instructions

Measure the Oil

  • Place the turkey in your frying pot and cover it with water until just submerged. Remove the turkey and mark the waterline. Pour out the water, dry the pot completely, and fill with oil to the marked line.

Prep the Turkey

  • Pat the turkey completely dry—inside and out. Trim any loose neck or tail skin so it doesn’t trap hot oil when lifting the turkey later.

Dry the Pot

  • Make sure the pot is fully dry before heating. Even small droplets cause splatter.

Heat the Oil

  • Add the oil to the pot and heat to 375°–380°F with the lid on.

Lower the Turkey Safely

  • Turn off the burner. Place the turkey head-side down on the fryer rack and slowly lower it into the oil. Once submerged, cover with the lid and turn the heat back on.

Fry the Turkey

  • Maintain a cooking temperature of 325°–350°F. Fry for about 3 minutes per pound.

Check Temperature

  • Carefully remove the turkey when the thickest part of the breast reaches 155°–160°F. It will continue to cook while resting. The final internal temperature should reach 165°F before serving.

Rest and Serve

  • Let the turkey rest for at least 30 minutes before carving. Drizzle with a mixture of the melted butter and all-purpose seasoning, if using.

Notes

Safety Reminder: For best results and safe frying, make sure your turkey is fully thawed, thoroughly dried, and lowered slowly into the oil with the heat temporarily turned off. Keep your fryer outdoors and never walk away from hot oil.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 288kcal | Carbohydrates: 0.003g | Protein: 51g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 162mg | Sodium: 298mg | Potassium: 534mg | Sugar: 0.2g | Vitamin A: 186IU | Calcium: 26mg | Iron: 2mg
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