Quick Answers
The recommended oil temperature for deep frying a Butterball XL turkey is 350°F. Maintaining the oil at this temperature will help ensure the turkey cooks thoroughly without burning the outside. Adeep fried turkey cooks very quickly, so it’s important to monitor the temperature closely.
Deep frying a turkey can be a delicious way to prepare the centerpiece of your holiday meal. With its crispy skin and moist, tender meat, a deep fried turkey offers an amazing texture and flavor. However, deep frying a turkey can also be dangerous if not done properly. It’s important to take safety precautions and follow instructions closely.
One of the most critical factors in deep frying a turkey successfully is using the proper oil temperature. If the temperature is too low, the turkey will be greasy and undercooked. If the oil is too hot, the outside of the turkey will burn before the inside is fully cooked.
Butterball provides specific oil temperature recommendations for frying its turkeys, including the XL size. Following these guidelines will help ensure your Butterball XL turkey turns out perfectly fried with no safety issues.
Butterball XL Turkey Frying Recommendations
Butterball offers the following suggestions for deep frying its XL turkeys:
Oil Temperature
Butterball recommends heating the oil to 350°F before carefully lowering the turkey into the pot or fryer. Maintaining the oil temperature at a constant 350°F is critical throughout the frying process.
Fryer Size
The XL turkey requires a large capacity fryer of at least 8 gallons. Do not overfill the fryer – oil should not go more than halfway up the turkey.
Thaw Properly
Only fry a completely thawed and dry turkey. Any ice crystals can cause splatter when placed in hot oil. Thaw frozen turkey in the refrigerator allowing 24 hours for every 4-5 pounds.
Cooking Time
A Butterball XL Turkey takes about 3-4 minutes per pound to fully fry. A 20 lb turkey would take 60-80 minutes. Use a thermometer to confirm internal temperature reaches 165°F in the thickest part of the breast.
Remove Giblets
Always remove the bag containing the turkey’s giblets before frying. The bag can burn or rupture during frying.
Why 350°F is Ideal
Frying the turkey at 350°F ensures:
Thorough cooking
Reaching an internal temperature of 165°F is necessary to fully cook poultry and eliminate any foodborne illness risk. The length of frying time needed to bring the turkey’s internal temperature to 165°F is based on the oil being 350°F.
Crispy skin
The hot oil will rapidly crisps and brown the turkey’s skin nicely at 350°F. Higher temperatures can over-brown or burn the skin before the inside cooks through.
Moist meat
The high heat quickly sears the outside of the turkey, sealing in juices throughout the cooking process. The turkey stays nice and moist when fried at the proper 350°F oil temperature.
Prevents oil fires
Heating the oil past the smoke point greatly increases fire risks. 350°F provides plenty of heat for frying while remaining safely below the smoke point.
Monitoring Oil Temperature
With oil temperature playing such a crucial role, it’s very important to monitor it throughout the frying process. Here are some tips:
– Use a deep fry thermometer to verify oil temp before adding turkey.
– Adjust burner heat to maintain 350°F, lowering or raising temperature as needed.
– Allow the oil to recover back to 350°F between frying batches.
– Watch for the oil temperature to drop significantly when adding the turkey, then recover.
– Keep children and pets away from the hot oil.
Safety First
While providing ideal results, it’s critical to keep safety in mind:
– Deep fry outside on a flat, stable surface away from structures.
– Never leave the fryer unattended during heating or cooking.
– Wear eye protection and oven mitts for protection.
– Turn off propane tanks not in use.
– Have a fire extinguisher on hand just in case.
– Do not overfill the fryer with oil.
– Carefully lower and raise the turkey slowly into the oil.
– Keep children and pets safely away at all times.
Following Butterball’s suggested 350°F oil temperature and other safety steps will allow you to successfully deep fry a turkey to perfection this holiday season. Enjoy your golden brown, juicy fried XL turkey!
Conclusion
Frying Butterball’s larger XL turkey requires special considerations to achieve ideal doneness and flavor. Heating the oil to 350°F provides the right balance of crispy skin, thorough cooking, and moist meat. Monitoring the temperature throughout, having the proper size fryer, and taking key safety precautions are also critical steps. With the right prep and care, your deep fried Butterball XL turkey will turn out like a delicious pro-cooked bird. Just be sure to strictly follow all of Butterball’s instructions and fry at 350°F the entire time for phenomenal results.