Cooking a turkey in an oilless fryer is a great alternative to traditional oven roasting. Oilless turkey fryers use extremely hot air to quickly cook the turkey, resulting in a tender, juicy bird with crispy skin in a fraction of the time it takes to roast one in the oven.
What is an Oilless Turkey Fryer?
An oilless turkey fryer is a countertop appliance that uses extremely hot air to cook turkey and other foods. It consists of an open-topped metal container that fits a turkey inside and a heating element that heats the air to temperatures up to 450°F.
Unlike deep frying with gallons of hot oil, an oilless fryer cooks using rapid hot air circulation. The high heat quickly sears the outside of the turkey, locking in juices. This allows the turkey to cook very fast while remaining extremely moist and flavorful.
Oilless turkey fryers provide many benefits over traditional oven roasting:
- Cooks the turkey in a fraction of the time, usually around 4-8 minutes per pound.
- Requires no oil, reducing calories and avoiding hot oil dangers.
- Features a self-contained, countertop unit for convenience.
- Produces turkey with crispy skin without deep frying.
- Results in a tender, juicy turkey.
How Long Does it Take to Fry a Turkey in an Oilless Fryer?
Cooking times can vary based on the size and brand of oilless turkey fryer used, as well as the size and temperature of the turkey. However, most oilless turkey fryers recommend cooking turkey for around 4-8 minutes per pound.
For a 15 pound turkey, this equals a cooking time of 60 to 120 minutes. Following are general oilless turkey fryer cooking guidelines:
- 8-12 lb turkey: Cooks in approximately 60-95 minutes
- 12-15 lb turkey: Cooks in approximately 75-120 minutes
- 15-18 lb turkey: Cooks in approximately 90-135 minutes
So for a typical 15 pound turkey, expect your cook time to be around 75-120 minutes. Monitor the turkey’s temperature and appearance closely near the end of the recommended time range and remove it when it reaches 165°F in the thickest part of the breast and thigh. This ensures it is fully cooked through.
Factors That Affect Cook Time
While the typical oilless fryer will cook a 15 lb turkey in about 1-2 hours, there are some factors that can slightly increase or decrease cook time:
- Turkey size and shape – A larger, heavier turkey will take longer to cook than a smaller, compact one of the same weight. An uneven or irregular shaped turkey may also require additional cook time.
- Turkey temperature – Letting the turkey sit at room temperature for 30-60 minutes before cooking will reduce cook time versus cooking directly from the refrigerator.
- Amount of oilless fryer fill – Having extra space between the turkey and fryer walls increases cook time as it’s harder for air to fully circulate.
- Altitude – Higher altitudes will increase required cook time.
- Turkey stuffing – A stuffed turkey takes longer to cook since the stuffing must be heated through.
Oilless Fryer Cooking Steps
Follow these steps when cooking a 15 lb turkey in an oilless fryer:
- Take the turkey out of packaging and remove the giblets from the cavities.
- Pat the turkey dry, inside and out, with paper towels.
- Season or rub the outside of the turkey with desired herbs, spices, oil, etc.
- Optional: Stuff the turkey cavity loosely with aromatics like onions, apples, fresh herbs.
- Truss the turkey legs together with kitchen string to hold its shape.
- Allow turkey to sit at room temperature 30-60 minutes before cooking.
- Preheat oilless fryer to 400°F.
- Place turkey breast side up into fryer basket, being careful not to overfill.
- Cook turkey for recommended cook time of 75-120 minutes.
- Check temperature in breast and thigh, cooking until 165°F.
- Let turkey rest 10-15 minutes before carving.
Tips for Perfect Oilless Fried Turkey
Follow these tips for the best results when cooking turkey in an oilless fryer:
- Completely thaw frozen turkey before cooking.
- Do not overstuff the fryer, allow ample air circulation.
- Use a meat thermometer for accurate temp reading.
- Let turkey rest before slicing for easiest carving.
- Closely watch cook times for best texture.
- Rub skin with oil or butter to get crispy skin.
- Injecting turkey with broth adds extra moisture.
- Cook stuffed turkey 25% longer than unstuffed.
Benefits of Oilless Turkey Fryers
Oilless turkey fryers provide many advantages over traditional oven roasting:
- Cooks turkey in about 1/3 of the time as an oven.
- Heats the turkey quickly for moist, tender meat.
- Crispy, browned and flavorful turkey skin.
- Doesn’t heat up kitchen like oven roasting.
- Easy cleanup without dealing with hot oil.
- Allows cooking large turkeys not possible in some ovens.
- Consistent results and hard to overcook.
- More counter space efficient than roasting pans.
Choosing the Best Oilless Turkey Fryer
When shopping for an oilless turkey fryer, look for:
- Large enough capacity for your turkey size.
- Double-walled sides for safety.
- Programmable cooking settings.
- Cooking timer and auto shut-off.
- Baskets for easy transfer.
- Stay cool handles and lid knob.
- Indicator lights for heat and power.
- UL safety certified.
Top rated turkey fryer brands include Char-Broil, Masterbuilt, and Bayou Classic. Compare size, power, features and price to find the right oilless fryer for your needs.
Conclusion
Cooking a turkey in an oilless fryer produces amazingly tender and juicy meat with crispy skin in a fraction of the time needed for oven roasting. For a typical 15 pound turkey, plan on a cook time of 75-120 minutes. Monitor temperature and adjust cook time as needed based on size, shape and other factors. Following proper oilless fryer techniques results in a delicious holiday centerpiece turkey with all the flavor and none of the hassle or danger of deep frying.