Deep Fried Turkey
Tempted as I am every year, my family forbids me out of good sense to put one of those propane turkey fryers on our wood balcony deck. Is there any restaurant in Chicago that serves deep-fried turkey at Thanksgiving time -- or a neighborhood joint that fries 'em in the back and sells portions to go? I have never tasted one, but they sure look good when Alton or Tyler cook them up on Food Network.
>>Brent
By Brent Brotine
on Nov 14, 2003 04:03 PM
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all my friends - and i mean all of them have a turkey fryer (you can get them at walmart) it's awesome - delicious - be bold here brent - go buy one and just make sure you know the capacity of the pot before you put oil in it and buy a high quality oil - (peanut is recomended) and cook that bad daddy for 3and one half minutes per pound - you'll be amazed at how good it is !
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Previous reports on the board suggest that Ditka's, among others, serves a deep fried turkey on Thanksgiving.
-Ed
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Ditka's also does the dreaded turducken, so you could kill four birds with one stone--so to speak.
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Brent, I've been doing deep fried turkey for the last 3 years and it's absolutely the best turkey you'll ever have in your life. I've heard mixed things about the turkey at Ditka's. I would suggest you try it yourself, but not on a wooden deck. Do you have another area you could place the fryer? No matter how careful you are, there will be lots of splatter. E-mail me if you feel like you want to give it a go.
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How about using a sheet of plywood under the fryer? After the initial and rather exciting plunge there is minimal spluttering. I've been using the National Turkey Foundation's Cajun Fried recipe for years.
Link: http://recipes.eatturkey.com/recipe.a...
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ok there brent - now you have some positive feedback - (i especially like the one about throwing down the piece of plywood) GO FOR IT !!!
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Brent,
My strong suggestion is do not fry a turkey on a wooden deck, you are simply courting disaster. I've fried a few turkeys and each and every time I vow never again. Fried turkey makes a huge mess, even though I put down cardboard and kitty litter to absorb oil splash, oil simply gets everywhere. I vow each time is the last, but it never is, fried turkey is incredibly delicious, especially hot from the fryer.
I have a friend who has fried at least 50-turkeys, one afternoon I helped him cook 7 at a BBQ we did, and his opinion is absolutely not on a wooden deck. My friend, Bruce C in South Bend, Indiana, has written a turkey tutorial, which I will be happy to send you in email. Both RevrendAndy and I use Bruce's method with excellent results.
Two T-days ago I had Ditka's fried turkey, good, but fried turkey looses something in the translation when held for service at a restaurant. Ditka's turducken was quite good, as was the overall dinner, but the fried turkey was nothing like fresh from the fryer.
Enjoy,
Gary
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In addition to any obvious danger, your condo or rental management rules may specify what kind of cooking you can do on your balcony so that if you do some other kind and come to grief, you would be held liable for expenses and possibly fined as well.
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Well, I'm probably an idiot . . . but I've deep fried my birds (from Paulina Market) the past three years---on a wooden balcony.
I bought a $75 kit, put a big piece of wood down, and stand there the entire time to monitor the operation. I've never had a problem yet, knock wood.
One suggestion: Instead of trying to do a large bird (which causes overspill and more splatter), do a small bird, and then while that is resting on the cutting board, do an additional breast. I've fed 16 people that way, and the turkey is always tremendous.
Crunzo
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Yes There is a place that sells them and it's call The Turkey King. They fry turkeys and spareribs and make all the Cajun cooking, from Gumbos to jamblayas. You can reach Vince Hubbard (Owner) at 773-213-2370 order your Christmas Turkey by Dec 16th
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The Turkey King is awesome! I have been ordering 1 every year for my family for Thanksgiving and Christmas for over 5years now. My family will never have an oven baked turkey again. They are so juicy. Best turkey I have ever tasted.
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There's also Turkey on the QT, also on the south side, that provides from what appears to be someone's home. Some relatives had it last night and said it was amazing.
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