Fryers, Turkey Fryers, and Cookers

Cooking up Game

Whether you are looking to fry up a turkey from a successfuly hunt, or from the grocery store, or if you are planning for a big batch of cioppino for a large group at home or in camp, there are several different types of fryers and cookers that can help you in this endeavor. Whether you are looking for a standard fryer, turkey fryer, or a large cooker, there a lot of choices and decisions to make, but the choice can be fairly easy with th enew models that can do it all. Types of Cookers • Fryer • Turkey Fryer • Cooker There are fryer models that are mainly used for things like frying fish, or french fries, and there are fryers that are a little more multi-purpose that have an extra large stockpot that can cook or fry up to and including a turkey or other large game birds but can be use as a cooker to boil up a huge batch of cioppino or stew for a large feast at camp. There are also indoor electric fryers that can cook a turkey or other large items, using much less oil, as well. Determine the Right Heat Source Once you determine what type of fryer or cooker, next you will need to determine where you would use it, or how you would like to use it. This will help you to decide whether to buy a model with an electric heat source that will limit you to a plug in electric source, or a more portable propane gas model that does not require electricity. Heat Sources • Electric • Propane Gas Electric Fryers The electric fryer’s are nice because they can typically be used indoors for those that aren’t allowed to, or don’t want to, cook with propane. Electric Fryer Benefits • Can typically be used indoors (depending on the model) • Use much less oil to fry the same thing • No open flame to ignite the oil • Can cook a turkey in about 45 minutes • Requires a plug in power source Propane Gas Cookers and Turkey Fryers The propane gas models are nice because they can be much larger, to cook a huge turkey in 45 minutes, instead of cooking it in the oven for six hours or more. However, the propane gas models are a little more dangerous and must be used outdoors due to the risk of fire. Propane Gas Cooker and Fryer Benefits • Can cook a turkey, anywhere outdoors - at home, at camp, or a park • Does not require a plug in power source, uses a portable propane tank • Can cook a turkey in about 45 minutes • Multi-Purpose as a fryer, or a cooker to do large boil pots Top Choice - Propang Gas Multi-Use Cooker and Fryer I bought myself a large multi-use cooker and fryer all in one propane gas system. I have a large family, and we like to have our extended family and friends over. We also like to go camping, or to the lake, and to the park with good sized groups. I have a large storage freezer in my garage, and I like to buy up as many turkeys as each of the stores in my area allow when they go on sale. I even buy them when they are not on sale because even a Turkey at full price is much cheaper than buying enough meat for a large group. You can fry up a turkey in about 45 minutes. The oil can be recycled for your next turkey fry, to save on oil, to save on cost. Our fried turkey is moist and delicious, every time. A fried turkey has more flavor than a turkey from the oven. You can pick up turkey’s around Thanksgiving for $5 to $10 each. A turkey feeds our large groups with ease. It’s simple. I can bring it camping with me and boil a huge batch of crabs that we catch from the beach, or have a fish fry, or make a campground size batch of cioppino, clam chowder, or just about anything. Clean-up is super simple. My top choice model on the market, due to the number of accessories, and the quality of the product, the look, and feel, is the Stainless Steel 3 in 1 Combo Cooker, shown as my 1st choice below. Safety - Read the Safety Manual Before First Use The number one cause of fire with a gas fryer is that some people forget to account for the oil displacement that will cause the oil to overflow when you put in a large item to fry, such as a turkey. When they realize it, the fire is already lit, the oil is already hot and bubbly, and the oil flows over the sides, and you have instant ignition of your flammable cooking oil, a whole pot full, and you can have a big fire in your hands. This is super easy to avoid. Please do the water displacement test before you add oil and light the burner. The full instructions typically come with every unit, so please follow the safety instructions for your unit, or read up on it. It basically says to put the turkey in the cookpot and fill with water to your desired and safe level to allow for bubbling and more space. Take the turkey out, dump the water out and dry the cooker, and add oil back to that desired level. This way, when you are in the het of the moment, your oil won’t bubble over when it’s time to add your turkey. Disclosure: This post is brought to you by the Mendenhall Outdoors team. We highlight products and services that you might find interesting. We frequently receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. If you click a link on this page, then go on to make a purchase, we might receive a commission – at no extra cost to you, and this does not impact the purchase price of any products that you may purchase.