We Circle Round the Turkey Fryer
Tuesday, November 16th, 2010If you’re looking for a way to get more people involved in preparing the Thanksgiving feast consider frying a turkey.
First the questions and answer session:
Fry a turkey? Yup, it’s quick and delicious.
How long does it take? It takes about 3 minutes per pound so you’re looking at 40 to 45 minutes. (This is always followed by a… Really?)
Does it taste good? It tastes delicious because you can inject the turkey with all different types of marinades to get everything from a buttery flavor to a down right 3-alarm fire Cajun turkey.
Now here’s the part where you really blow their minds. You start telling them what’s involved in frying a turkey.
You will be frying in about 3 gallons of peanut oil heated up to 350 degrees on top of a turkey fryer burner that is hooked up to a propane tank. The total BTU’s (measurement of heat) on a turkey fryer comes to 150,000. That’s really hot. It sounds like a jet engine when you really have it cranked up.
Oooh
So now that you have their attention comes the time to actually fry the bird. And what will happen is all the guys will circle round the turkey fryer that is set up in a safe location away from the house.
They will be glued to watching the burner light up and the temperature on the thermometer reaching 350 degrees that signals the ceremonial lowering of the turkey into the hot peanut oil.
Once the turkey is submerged the temperature of the oil quickly drops and you begin the process of raising and lowering the flame on the burner trying to keep the temperature at 325 degrees. Everyone will be glued for the next 40 to 45 minutes watching the bubbling oil and making sure the temperature stays constant.
During this time they will think to themselves is the turkey burning? Will this taste good?
Once the appropriate amount of time has elapsed the turkey will be carefully raised out of the oil. There will be more oohs and aahs and the excitement will grow because they will soon taste the delicious fried turkey. What you have accomplished is providing your guests an experience and made them an active part in the preparation of the Thanksgiving meal, which they will appreciate because they now have a story they can share with their friends.
Here is my recipe for Fried Turkey.