Bayou Classic Turkey Fryer Kit - 30 Quart Review

Overall 4.77 of 5 view all 13 reviews

kid-kansas
Vincennes, IN

A turkey is not a turkey unless it is Deep Fried!

a homeowner, married, the family chef, looking for durability

Pros

Deep fried turkey is awesome, can also steam seafood, Safe when used correctly

Cons

Careless people can cause a fire

FEB

2008

Bayou Classic Turkey Fryer Kit - 30 Quart —

Just ask any southerner what makes food taste better and they will tell you DEEP FRYING! Before you start to revolt on me because of cooking in oil there are many very good oils out there to use for those worried about their health. Peanut oil is my preferred choice and they are always working on better frying oils.

Bayou Classic Turkey Fry Kit

This comes with not one but two pots and fry baskets, one is a 30 quart and the other a 10 quart. Made of high quality aluminum to cut back on the weight and provide more even heat distribution as well. You also get some extra goodies in your kit such as an oil thermometer, turkey rack and pick up handle, a flavor injector, a lid (fits both pots) a heavy duty stand with burner and a detailed instruction book.

The burner is rated at 55,000 btu's and comes with a gas regulator and hose to connect your gas bottle to. This uses the same gas bottle as you would use on your gas grills. The 30 quart pot will take about 3 1/2 gallons of fry oil and you can deep fry up to a 14lb turkey in it. Which will take you about an hour to deep fry with the oil at 350 degrees ( 3 to 4 minutes per pound) CAUTION: Never place a wet or frozen turkey in hot oil you will cause the oil to bubble up rapidly and could cause a fire!

Now I have the proverbial horse shoe up my butt because this kit normally sells for around $90 to $100, I found it on a year end clearance sale 3 years ago for $25 and yes I bought 3 of them! 2 were for me and one was for a friend of mine....lol Why do I need 2 of them you ask...well I figured I could not only deep fry a turkey but at the same time fix a pot of chili, steam seafood or vegetables and I would also have a spare should something happen.

I bet you're probably thinking a deep fried turkey would be greasy aren't ya?? Admit it you are...well guess what your not right! They have a great crispy skin and are very juicy and tender on the inside. I use Peanut oil because I like the flavor and also has a high smoke point. Smoke point means the temperature at which an oil starts to smoke and discolor, which starts to affect the taste as well. If you or someone you will be cooking for is allergic to peanuts any high smoke point oil will work. Such as canola, olive, grape seed, soybean and others.

Be cautious of how much oil you put in the pot as all pots are different. The best way to know how much you need is to put the turkey in the pot and add enough water to cover the turkey by about 1 inch. The take the turkey out and either measure the water or make a mark on the pot at the top of the water. Make sure you dry the pot well before adding your oil. Normally you will need between 3 1/2 to 5 gallons of oil.

Once you fill your pot with oil fire up the burner and attach the thermometer to the inside of the pot and heat until it reaches 350 to 375 degrees. When you insert the turkey the temperature will drop so you will need to adjust the flame to keep it as close to 350 degrees as possible. Figure out your cooking time by the 3 minute per pound rule and stay with the turkey as it is frying. Then when times up remove the turkey slowly, carve and enjoy!

Frying Safety Tips

1. Never let the turkey into the pot fast, you could cause a spill over of oil and if it reaches the burner you better remember how to call 911

2. Do not Stuff the turkey

3. Make sure the turkey is completely Thawed and dried off before putting it in the hot oil.

4. Never walk away from the fryer while it is on

5. Place the fryer on stable and level ground.

6. Never place a fryer within 20 feet of any combustible material or building.

Bottom Line

Until you have tasted a deep fried turkey you haven't tasted a good turkey. I usually marinate mine with garlic butter marinade and everybody just loves the way it tastes. You can recycle your oil after use as long as you filter it and then put the container in a cool dark place to keep it fresh. I put mine in our spare refrigerator and it will keep for a few months.