There’s no denying the appeal of a perfectly roasted turkey, but the crispy skin and juicy meat of a deep-fried turkey are hard to beat. The size of a medium turkey makes it difficult to fry with conventional cookware or a standard deep fryer - and it's dangerous to build a makeshift frying setup. That’s why a dedicated turkey fryer - whether it’s an outdoor or indoor model - comes in handy and keeps everyone as safe as possible.
In the DeliverIt Institute’s Kitchen Appliance and Innovation Lab, we test everything you need to make a delicious Thanksgiving dinner, from meat thermometers to cast iron skillets to pie plates and more. To find the best turkey fryers, we evaluated those that received high ratings from users and are reasonably easy to use. We considered the temperature ranges they achieve, their versatility, size, ease of cleaning and their safety features. We included a mix of indoor and outdoor fryers at different price points.
Our top picks:
Read on to find out how we chose these turkey fryers, what to consider when buying a fryer, and tips for staying safe when frying your bird.
1. XL Electric Fryer
This affordable indoor turkey fryer has a sleek design and a reasonably small footprint, as it can still accommodate a 20-pound turkey! The hinged lid is removable for easy cleaning, and it has a drain valve for easy disposal of used oil. It heats to 375ºF and includes a lifting hook to help raise and lower the cooking basket, which can also be used as a steamer and boiler.
Buy: XL Electric Fryer
2. TRU-Infrared Big Easy Oil-Free Turkey Fryer
Unlike fryers that use large vats of oil to cook turkey, this Char-Broil model uses infrared cooking technology to crisp up your bird. That means you don’t have to worry about splattering or potential burns from the oil. It can handle up to a 16-pound turkey and can also be used for other large cuts of meat like chicken or beef roasts. It includes a cooking basket and an elevator to help you maneuver your turkey.
Buy: TRU-Infrared Big Easy Oil-Free Turkey Fryer
3. Single Burner Banjo Stove
This heavy-duty burner is made of cast iron and lasts a very long time. It can burn up to 200,000 BTUs, which means it will heat oil quickly, even in large quantities. It’s suitable for large pans, and while it doesn’t include any, the company sells 30- and 40-quart fitted cookware that can accommodate large turkeys. The legs detach for easy storage.
Buy: Single Burner Banjo Stove
What to consider when buying a turkey fryer.
✔️ Safety is the most important consideration when buying a turkey fryer. These features are essential to ensure your safety: A vented lid ensures that no steam is trapped inside during cooking, a poultry rack with a heavy-duty lifting hook is essential to safely move the turkey in and out of the hot oil and avoid dangerous splattering, an oil thermometer to keep track of the temperature as most oils can ignite above 400˚F, and protective cooking equipment such as goggles and oven gloves.
✔️ Indoor or outdoor fryers: Indoor fryers are more convenient because they don’t require a propane tank and can simply be plugged into an outlet. Weather does not affect indoor turkey fryers and is safer because of the lack of added propane that can be a fire hazard next to boiling oil. Outdoor fryers reduce the need to clean up spills and offer natural ventilation. They may also be available in a wider range of sizes.
✔️ Propane, electric or oil-free fryers: The right fryer for you will depend on your needs and indoor/outdoor space. Here’s what to keep in mind:
Propane turkey fryers work the same way as your outdoor gas grill. They are usually heavy duty and have a hose that connects to a propane tank (not included) so you can light the propane burner. The propane burner then heats a large pan filled with oil. Once the oil has reached the right temperature, we can use it for frying. It is important to note that we can only use these propane turkey fryers outdoors - not on porches, garages or balconies where they can pose a serious risk of injury or major property damage.
Electric turkey fryers look like deep fryers and, depending on the model and brand, can be used indoors. Electric turkey fryers are the safest: They often have a built-in thermostat that manages the temperature without you having to do so, and they may have an automatic shut-off feature to prevent the oil from getting too hot.
Oil-free turkey fryers are connected to a propane tank, but do not require oil and take a little longer to cook. Similar to an air fryer, they circulate hot air to cook a crispy, juicy turkey. Although you’ll need to brush the turkey with a little oil to help brown the skin, we consider this option the healthiest of the three because it uses the least amount of oil. Some people prefer a real fried turkey because of its crispy exterior and juicy interior, but an oil-free fryer comes close without the hassle of cleaning. Like propane turkey fryers, oil-free turkey fryers can only be used outdoors.
✔️ Size: When frying, it’s important that we fully immersed in the turkey in the oil, so consider the size of the turkey you usually buy to feed your crowd. For example, if you usually buy a 20-pound turkey, an outdoor cooker is probably your best choice; indoor turkey fryers are smaller and can usually handle 15 pounds or fewer.
✔️ BTU: BTU is an acronym for the British thermal unit, and we define it as the amount of heat needed to raise the temperature of one pound of water by 1°F. The higher the BTU, the more powerful the fryer, which usually equates to faster oil heating and turkey cooking times. Higher BTUs also usually mean better oil temperature control.
✔️ Convenience: Frying a turkey is a big job, so you want to make the process as easy as possible with convenient accessories and features like a built-in timer and auto shut-off function. Our pros also recommend looking for a turkey fryer with an oil drain: Once the cooked turkey is out of the fryer and the oil has completely cooled, you can use the drain to empty the tank instead of tipping the big pot, which can be dangerous and very messy.
How we chose the best turkey fryers
The professionals at Good Housekeeping Institute’s Kitchen Appliance and Innovation Lab focused on turkey fryers with high user ratings. We considered ease-of-use factors such as the nuance of the temperature setting, versatility of use with other foods, and overall capacity. We evaluated the safety of use of each unit with features such as oversized and well-labeled knobs, lids, and caps. Our favorites include features that make them easier to clean.
Why trust DeliverIt?
As director of the Kitchen Appliance and Innovation Lab, Angel Catherine oversaw the testing of fryers and air fryers for DeliverIt. She is a trained cook, holding a grand diploma in classical culinary arts from the former French Culinary Institute and a certificate in culinary nutrition from the former Natural Gourmet Institute, now both known as the Institute of Culinary Education.
Adi Ardiyan was an intern in the kitchen equipment lab. He worked with Catherine to research and write this article.
