Deep-Fried Turkey
- 1 12 -pound turkey (thawed if frozen)
- 2 to 3 gallons vegetable oil
- 1/2 cup Cajun or Creole seasoning
- 1 tablespoon granulated onion
- Remove the neck, giblets and any excess fat from the turkey; discard.
- Remove and discard the plastic pop-up thermometer.
- Rinse the turkey under cold water and pat dry with paper towels.
- Refrigerate overnight, uncovered, to let the turkey dry.
- (It must be completely dry before frying, or the oil will splatter.)
- Fill a turkey fryer with the vegetable oil according to the manufacturer's instructions and heat to 400 degrees F.
- Meanwhile, mix the Cajun seasoning and granulated onion in a small bowl.
- Rub the spice mixture inside the turkey cavity and all over the skin.
- Make sure the hole at the neck is open at least 2 inches so the oil can flow through the bird.
- Place the turkey in the drain basket, neck-end first, and slowly lower the basket into the hot oil until the turkey is completely submerged.
- Once the oil temperature climbs back up to 350 degrees F, start timing: Fry the turkey until a thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh registers 180 degrees F, about 3 1/2 minutes per pound.
- (A 12-pound bird will take about 50 minutes from the time you lower it into the oil.)
- Carefully remove the basket from the oil and transfer to a paper towel-lined baking sheet to drain.
- Let the turkey rest at least 30 minutes.
- Make sure that all of the oil has drained out of the cavity, then transfer to a platter.
- Photograph by Kana Okada
turkey, vegetable oil, cajun, onion
Taken from www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/cat-cora/deep-fried-turkey-recipe.html (may not work)