Tag Archive for: Turkey frying

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Prepping for a DELICIOUS Turkey Fry – Injection and Rub Suggestions

As we get closer to Turkey Day, you are probably starting to plan the finer details. Hopefully you’re planning to fry your turkey in Bacon Up Bacon Grease, which promises to add a delicious depth of flavor versus roasted turkeys or birds fried in other cooking oils.

If you’re wondering what else you can do to make the meat even juicier and more flavorful, we’ve got some injection recipes for you to consider, along with a few favorite spices and rubs you may want to use to jazz up the crispy skin even more.

Injection Recipes (Injectable Marinades)

Whether it’s the night before (ideal!) or even just 20 minutes before frying, you can add moisture and flavor to your turkey fry with an injection recipe. And an injectable marinade with Bacon Up will take it to the next level, of course! If you have the time to “inject-from-scratch,” we’re happy to share some of our family’s recipes for you to consider. You can find them on the Recipes & Tips section of our website, or click below to go straight to each recipe:

  • The “FAMILY FAVE” injection features Italian salad dressing and Tony Chachere’s® Original Creole Seasoning
  • The “KICKED-UP” injection features Worcestershire sauce and hot sauce
  • The “SAVORY” injection features red wine vinegar and soy sauce

Although we usually make our own injection recipes incorporating the next-level flavor of Bacon Up Bacon Grease, we will admit that there are also plenty of darn good store-bought injections out there. If you’re running a little short on time, don’t feel the slightest bit guilty – just pick up an injection kit at the store and check that off your list. A couple of our favorites are:

Rubs & Spices

And lastly, if you think that raw turkey looks a little too pasty white to be delicious, here are a few spices and/or rubs that you might enjoy sprinkled and patted onto your bird before he goes into the fryer:

Share your Success!

If you try one of our injection recipes, let us know how it goes! Or, if you find another recipe or commercial brand that you liked, we’d love to hear about that, too. Either way, just drop us a line (and send a picture, too!) so we can share it with others.

However you do it, our Bacon Up family wishes you a fun and flavor-filled day with family and friends!!

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Safety Tips for a Turkey Fry

We hope you’ll decide to fry your bird in Bacon Up this year — we know you’ll love the moist, tasty turkey that results!

But PLEASE – be safe doing it. We’ve been frying turkeys since 1987 when we welded together a burner that could hold a pot big enough for a turkey, and we’ve put together some safety tips based on things we’ve learned along the way:

Begin with the Bird

  • Smaller turkeys are safer to fry. Birds in the 8-10 pound range are best and we recommend that you do not exceed 12 pounds. If you have a big crowd and need more meat, then do two! At 3 minutes a pound, a 10-pound turkey will be done in 30 minutes and you can keep it warm in a 180° oven while you fry the second one.
  • Be sure the turkey is COMPLETELY thawed! Start early in the fridge and if you suspect there may still be pockets of ice anywhere internally, soaking in warm water may be helpful.
  • Then dry like the dickens!! Water and oil are a dangerous combination, so dry your bird thoroughly to prevent flare-ups and flames. Our family likes to take the turkey out of the refrigerator two hours before to help it dry out. And when you’re drying it off, don’t forget to dry under the flaps and in all the little pockets!
  • Be sure the internal cavity is empty! Remember to remove all the turkey innards, skip the stuffing (at least in the bird!) and do not prep your turkey with water-based marinades. Your safety depends on a clean, thawed, dry turkey.

Check list: Stock up on Supplies with Safety in Mind

  • THERMOMETER – You’ll need a thermometer and a clamp that holds it onto the top of the pot – or a fryer that comes with a built-in thermometer/temperature control gauge.
  • FIRE EXTINGUISHER – Be sure to have a grease-rated fire extinguisher on hand. It should be a medium-sized ABC dry chemical extinguisher. And remember – NO Water! NO Garden Hose! Ever!!
  • METAL LID – Have a metal lid handy that will completely cover your fryer pot. This is a quick way to smother flames and kill a fire, if you catch it while it’s small. If your fryer did not come with a lid, a flat baking sheet will also work, if it’s large enough to cover the entire pot.
  • OVEN MITTS or GLOVES – Protect yourself with oven mitts or flame-proof, protective gloves that will cover your wrist and forearm. Note: Welders’ gloves work very well!
  • GOGGLES or SAFETY GLASSES – Protect your eyes from bubbling oil that may jump the pot and reach your face.
  • SIDE TABLE – Set up a table to hold all of the above safety equipment, as well as the other frying equipment you’ll use.
  • PROPER CLOTHING – Long pants, old shoes, and an apron are also suggested.

Setting the Scene for Safety

  • It’s obvious, I know, but you’d be surprised how many people don’t follow this one – Outdoor fryers MUST BE USED OUTDOORS! And this does NOT mean the garage, under a covered porch, or next to the house!
  • Find a level, fire-proof surface away from the house/garage, trees, bushes, overhangs, fences, etc. And, no, the deck is not safe! A patio, driveway, or flat/level part of the yard away from the house, etc. will work.
  • Think it through and choose a safe spot wisely, because once you fire-up your fryer, do not move it! Let it cool completely before moving or cleaning up – a minimum of a couple hours, typically.
  • As you set everything up and prepare to fry, be sure the propane tank is at least 2 feet away from the burner.

Ready, Set, Fry – Safely!!

  • Check the weather and DO NOT deep-fry in rain, sleet, snow or hail. Remember that warning about oil and water?
  • VERY IMPORTANT – Keep children and pets INDOORS. Away from the fryer. Period. Make sure the football game and cornhole tossing is on the other side of the yard so no errant objects hit the pot!
  • Do not overfill the fryer with Bacon Up. Check the manufacturer’s suggested fill level OR gauge with water by placing your thawed turkey in the pot and covering it with water. Remove the turkey and then note or mark where the water line is. This is how much bacon grease you should add to account for how much the level will rise due to displacement when the turkey is in the pot.
  • Before submerging the (completely DRY) turkey, TURN THE BURNER OFF. And, of course, you remembered to put on your gloves or oven mitts and goggles. Of course!
  • Don’t leave the fryer unattended. Hang out, and monitor the temperature of the oil throughout. You’ll want to target about 370° to start and then maintain the temperature in the 350°-360° range. If it exceeds 400° or you see smoke, turn the burner off right away to allow the temperature to decrease. If you see a flame, cover with the lid or use the fire extinguisher, depending on the size/severity of the flare-up.
  • Once the turkey has reached the desired internal temperature of 165°F – which will generally take 3 minutes per pound – then TURN THE BURNER OFF before lifting the finished turkey out of the fryer. Oil dripping onto a lit burner can ignite, and we certainly don’t want that!
  • Even after you’re done frying, someone needs to continue monitoring the pot. Never leave hot grease unattended in a back yard! The grease remains dangerously hot for a LONG time after the burner is off and a hot pot of oil should never be unattended. Never!!

So there you have it… Enjoy. Be safe. BACON UP!

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For a bolder bird

Fry a Better Bird: Tips for a Flavorful Holiday Turkey

Turkey frying has long been part of our family tradition. In fact, we’ve been deep frying a bird every Thanksgiving since 1986. That’s long before the trend swept backyards around the nation. We even had to build our own turkey fryer for the occasion. (Bacon Up Corporate Note: we do not endorse this “creative” behavior; please only use professionally manufactured equipment approved for turkey frying.)

By 2016, we were ready to experiment with our original recipe. That’s when we married our holiday frying ritual with our love of bacon. The turkey fried in bacon grease was an instant hit. After that Thanksgiving, there was no way we were going back to boring cooking oils.

  1. Location, Location, Location

    When frying a turkey, it’s important to do it in a safe location. Never fry inside, on your deck, in a garage or under any structure with an overhang. Choose a flat, even surface in an open area away from the house. Also, make sure your frying setup is well out of the way of running children, pets and adults.

  2. Measure Twice, Fry Once

    It’s important to make sure you fill your pot with just the right amount of grease. Too much and it will overflow when you add your bird, too little and you won’t be able to cover the entire turkey.

    To avoid either of these mistakes, place the turkey in your pot and fill with enough water to cover every inch. Remove your bird and mark the water level with a marker or piece of tape. Pour the water out, dry the turkey and the pot, then fill the pot to the marked level with Bacon Up.

  3. Prepare Your Bird for the Fry

    Make sure your turkey is completely thawed and that the giblets and any water/slush have been removed from the cavity. Add your seasonings, a dry rub and/or injection work well for deep-fried turkey. Before lowering into the hot bacon grease, make sure the turkey is dry both inside and out.

  4. Temperature is Key

    Before putting your turkey in the pot, heat grease to approximately 375°F. Don’t overheat it. The temperature will drop when you place the turkey in the pot. Once you’ve got your bird safely nestled in the hot Bacon Up, maintain a temperature of 350°F throughout the cooking process. Too high and you’ll burn your bird. Too low and it won’t cook properly.

  5. Calculating Your Cook Time

    You’ll want to cook your turkey approximately three minutes per pound. For instance, if you have a 12-pound bird, leave it in the pot for 36 minutes. The internal temperature of a fully cooked turkey should clock in at 180°F.

  6. Easy Does It

    When lifting the turkey out of the pot (and when lowering it in for that matter), slow and steady wins the race. Allow the bacon grease to drain of the bird as you remove it from the pot. Before cutting into your delectable feast, let it rest for about 20 minutes.

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Tag Archive for: Turkey frying