How long to fry 16 lb turkey

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Once you choose the best oil for deep fried turkey and measure the correct amount of oil for your deep fryer, deep frying a turkey is a simple process. While an oven-roasted turkey requires careful planning, hours of roasting and basting, and constant attention, you can deep fry a 15 lb. turkey in 50 minutes. Whether you’re catering a holiday party, or you want to free up your time to enjoy Thanksgiving fesitivies with family, deep fried turkey is an excellent choice. We’ve provided all the turkey fryer oil tips and tricks you need to cook the perfect deep-fried turkey below.

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Oil for Frying Turkey

How long to fry 16 lb turkey

Peanut oil is the best oil for deep frying turkey because its high flash point makes it less likely to catch on fire. Peanut oil is also relatively low in saturated fat, which helps to keep the fried turkey dish healthy.

Can You Reuse Peanut Oil? If you follow safety standards, you can reuse peanut oil. Allow the peanut oil to cool completely before removing it from the pot, then put it back into its original container(s) for storage. You should cover the oil during storage and keep it in a cool, dark area. If you won't be using it within a month, experts recommend storing peanut oil in your refrigerator or freezer.

How Many Times Can You Reuse Peanut Oil? When cared for and stored properly, you can reuse peanut oil three to five times within six months before you need to dispose of it. You must add fresh oil each time you deep fry a turkey to maintain the required oil level. Reusing the same peanut oil can impart a deeper, richer flavor to your turkeys, so the umami goodness will increase as you fry multiple turkeys for a Thanksgiving event.

Frying Turkey Oil Other Than Peanut

Because it contains one of the big 8 food allergens, consider using an alternative oil to peanut for frying your turkey. You can use any oil with a smoke point higher than 425 degrees Fahrenheit to deep fry a turkey. Discover the best oils with high smoke points for frying turkey other than peanut oil below:

  • Refined Avocado Oil for Frying Turkey - smoke point 520 degrees Fahrenheit
  • Safflower Oil for Frying Turkey - smoke point 510 degrees Fahrenheit
  • Refined Soybean Oil for Frying Turkey - smoke point 450 degrees Fahrenheit
  • Sunflower Oil for Frying Turkey - smoke point 450 degrees Fahrenheit

Cottonseed Oil Turkey Frying

With a smoke point of 420 degrees Fahrenheit, cottonseed oil is just 5 degrees under the ideal smoke point threshold. Cottonseed oil isn’t the best oil choice for frying a turkey, but it is an acceptable option if you have nothing else on hand.

Can You Use Vegetable Oil to Fry a Turkey?

Frying a turkey in vegetable oil isn't wise. Vegetable oil has a smoke point of 400 degrees Fahrenheit, so you should choose an oil with a higher smoke point to fry your turkey. Deep frying oil should be between 325 and 375 degrees Fahrenheit, so vegetable oil could easily catch on fire during the frying process.

Canola Oil for Frying Turkey

Using canola oil for frying turkey could lead to smoking or fires because its smoke point of 400 degrees Fahrenheit barely exceeds the deep frying oil temperature threshold of 375 degrees. Safer oils for frying turkey are peanut, avocado, and sunflower.


How Much Oil to Fry a Turkey?

How long to fry 16 lb turkey

The amount of oil you'll need depends on the size of your pot and the size of your turkey. The turkey fryer pot included in most turkey fryer kits should have a max fill line, so use the line to determine how much oil you need.

You'll need enough oil to cover your entire turkey, but not so much that it spills over. A general guideline is to use 3 gallons of oil for a 30 qt. pot and 3 1/3 gallons of oil for a 32 qt. pot. Check out this list of turkey weights and oil quantities to approximate how much oil you’ll need to fry your turkey:

  • 9 Pound Turkey - Use 3 to 4 gallons of oil and cook for 32 minutes.
  • 13 Pound Turkey - Use 4 to 5 gallons of oil and cook for 44 minutes.
  • 14 Pound Turkey - Use 5 gallons of oil and cook for 47 minutes.
  • 15 Pound Turkey - Use 5 gallons of oil and cook for 50 minutes.
  • 20 Pound Turkey * - Use 5 to 6 gallons of oil and cook for 3 minutes per pound.
  • 22 Pound Turkey * - Use 5 to 6 gallons of oil and cook for 3 minutes per pound.

* Note: For turkeys over 15 pounds, separate the white and dark meat before frying.

How Much Oil Does a Turkey Fryer Take?

If your turkey fryer pot doesn’t have a max fill line, you can gauge the amount of oil you need by placing the uncooked turkey in the turkey fryer pot and adding water. Once the water covers the bird, pull the turkey out and note the water line. This level shows how much oil you'll need. Keep in mind that turkey fryers differ from traditional deep fryers, and you should always follow the instructions provided with your fryer pot or kit.

How Big of a Turkey Can You Deep Fry?

You can fry a turkey as big as 22 pounds, but you may have to portion it into pieces. Stick with a turkey that's between 9 and 14 pounds so you can keep it intact. Presenting the whole bird on Thanksgiving Day makes a greater visual impact than pre-portioned cuts of meat. Also, the larger the turkey, the greater the chance that it will dry out while it fries.

How Long Does It Take to Deep Fry a Turkey?

How long to fry 16 lb turkey

In general, chefs calculate deep-fried turkey cook times at a rate of three minutes per pound plus five minutes. For example, if you're deep frying a 15 lb. turkey, cook it for 50 minutes.

Keep in mind that larger turkeys take longer to cook, which can produce a burned exterior with an undercooked interior. So, we recommend that if you're frying a large turkey, you cut it into pieces and fry them separately.

Deep Fried Turkey Oil Temperature

To deep fry a turkey, preheat the oil temperature to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

How Long Does It Take To Heat Oil for Frying?

Since deep frying a turkey requires a lot of oil, it will take 25 to 30 minutes for the oil to warm up over medium heat. Time passed is not the most accurate way to determine whether your oil is ready for frying. We suggest using a deep fry thermometer to check your oil temperature.

How Long to Rest Deep Fried Turkey

Rest your deep fried turkey for 30 minutes before carving it.


Air Fried Turkey

Not just for residential use, you can use a commercial air fryer to offer patrons healthful and scrumptious fried turkey. Air fryers are also safer to use and eliminate the fire hazards associated with traditional fryers.

What Is an Oil Less Turkey Fryer?

Oil-less turkey fryers are designed for outdoor use and are powered by liquid propane tanks. Instead of oil and a large pot, oil-less fryers use infrared heat and a cylindrical cooking chamber to produce similar results to deep frying. The process takes much less time than roasting and yields a turkey with tender meat and crispy, brown skin.

A benefit of using an oil-less turkey fryer is that you don't have to deal with hot oil, which can be messy and dangerous when mishandled. Frying turkey without oil is also a low-calorie alternative to deep frying.

How to Cook Turkey in an Oil Less Fryer

Place the turkey inside the included cooking basket and lower it into the cooking chamber. Turn the unit on to fill the chamber with high-intensity infrared heat. The turkey cooks fast, which locks its juices in and produces crispy skin.

Oil Less Turkey Fryer Cook Times

Oil-less turkey fryers cook turkeys at a rate of approximately 10 to 15 minutes per pound. This is much quicker than roasting, but it isn't as fast as a traditional fryer kit. With any type of cooking, it's important to check the internal temperature of your turkey. The bird must cook to a minimum of 165 degrees Fahrenheit in the thickest part of the breast to ensure it's safe for consumption.


Deep frying your turkey is a great way to put an innovative spin on a classic recipe. While the process may be simpler than cooking your bird in the oven, factors such as the type of oil you use, the cooking time, and the amount of oil can affect results, so use this guide to deliver premium quality fried turkey.

How long does it take to fry a 16.5 pound turkey?

Cook the turkey about 3 to 4 minutes per pound.

What temperature do you fry a 16 pound turkey?

Place turkey into a drain basket, neck-side first. Working slowly and carefully, gently lower the basket into the hot oil to completely cover the turkey. Maintain the temperature of the oil at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C), and cook turkey for 3 1/2 minutes per pound, about 35 minutes.

How much oil do I need to fry a 16 pound turkey?

4 to 5 gallons of cooking oil. an apron. long heavy-duty oven mitts (the kind you might use for grilling) an instant-read thermometer for checking the internal temperature of the turkey.

How long do you deep fry a 17 lb turkey?

Fry turkeys that are 10 to 13 pounds for 3 minutes per pound, and for turkeys from 14 to 20 pounds, cook for 3 1/2 minutes per pound. A 10-pound turkey will take about 30 minutes. A 20-pound turkey will require about 1 hour, 10 minutes. Cook until the internal temperature reaches between 180 and 190 degrees Fahrenheit.