Frying a Turkey - Kettle Too Large - Need Ideas!

[PGEduardo]

I fried a turkey last year and it came out ok (was too conservative and overcooked it). I plan to do it again this year. Here's the issue:

-Using my smallest kettle (8 gallon)
-Using 30qt fry basket I purchased a la carte
-3 gallons of peanut oil (Costco sized bottle)

Last year the oil was barely covering the top of the turkey that I smashed down into the basket. The kettle is too large diameter and I need some ideas for things I can place safely inside 350F oil to displace volume. I don't want to buy a dedicated kettle.

I was thinking of putting in a bunch of silverware/utensils, but that's probably minimal. What other household items can you think of?

 

[chawn]

How big is your bird? I fried a 13 lb turkey in my 42 qt pot w/ basket using 3 1/2 gallons of oil. It was cooked perfectly at 3 minutes per pound.

 

[PGEduardo]

Mine is right around 13lbs. I could just fry a bunch of other stuff on the side I suppose...

 

[chawn]

Good luck! My turkey was delicious, but it's an expensive way to cook a turkey. The oil costed more than the hen!

 

[Dixon9717]

When I used to fry turkeys a gave up on the basket and put the turkey straight in the oil. Used a good strong set of tongs to pull it out. Worked great. Now I use convection cooking for turkey's. Tastes as good and much healthier and cheaper.

 

[Beernik]

My fryer doesn't have a basket, it has a grappling hook thing.

I cooked a really good bird with just a smidge of its butt hanging out above the surface of the oil.

My advise is to set a timer for 3 minutes per pound. Cook it to an internal (breast) temperature of 150F. Then tent it in tin foil for 30 minutes. It should reach 161F in that time.

 

[Flboy]

Next time around, use cotton seed oil. High smoke point, completely neutral flavor, and- a very stable oil, will not go rancid the way peanut oil does. I have some I kept in my garage, Florida, for three years, used! Just used some of it last week, still good! Ya, the wife yells at me about it. Go to a Bass Pro, or Gander type store to get it.

 

[glenn514]

Good luck! My turkey was delicious, but it's an expensive way to cook a turkey. The oil costed more than the hen!

The oil can be used more than once. I let the oil cool until the next day, and pour it back into the container using a large funnel with a screen at the bottom. I store it in the basement, and it's good to go for another bird.

glenn514

 

[PGEduardo]

It will last a year? I gave mine up to local biodiesel scavengers last year...

 

[Beernik]

It can last a while. I don't know about a year. It would depend on storage conditions and how much you reuse it. I guess as long as it doesn't go rancid, it's fine.

I would usually keep my oil in my detached garage and reuse it through the spring.

 

[glenn514]

The oil our bird is currently immersed in outside has been used several times. I store it in my basement...relatively cool. It is well over a year old...and just as good as it was on Day One. I do filter it when I pour it back into the container, but that's all I do to it. I top it off with fresh oil. I'll probably do another couple of birds with it, and then give it to a biodiesel company.

glenn514