Clay Johnson: Picking the right kind of Fryer

Picking the right kind of Fryer

You are going to burn your house down is the nonsense I hear most of the time when I tell people I'm going to fry a turkey. One lousy commercial from AllState and all the sudden a turkey fry is going to kill us all:

WASHINGTON — The makers of deep-fat fryers have a message for ambitious chefs this Thanksgiving: Turkeys don't burn houses down, people do. As the trend toward fried — instead of roasted — turkey has grown, so has the concern over the possible dangers of deep-fat fryers. Allstate Insurance said 15 homes burned to the ground around the country last Thanksgiving as a result of the improper use of turkey fryers. The product-testing company Underwriters Laboratory Inc. refuses to certify as safe any turkey fryer model currently on the market. In 1999, the last year figures were available, the National Fire Protection Association (search) reported that 500 fires involving a deep-fat fryer took place around the nation, resulting in over $6.8 million dollars in damage.

I am fairly certain that more people will be killed by spinach this year than deep fat fryers. The hype machine is right about one thing-- one part boiling oil, one part burning flame and one part drunken idiot may equal total unmitigated disaster, but as long as you're safe things can go well. I've used both propane-based and electronic turkey fryers. While the propane-based ones tend to be more fun, I've seen consistently better results using an electric turkey fryer. I believe the heat is more regulated and you have a more solid chance of providing a consistent level of heat to the bird. This fryer seems to be the upgraded version of my model. You can go propane too. There's a bit more to look out for, however. Some of these "turkey frying kits" are really just an alumninum tub without any propane. Sometimes they give you a basket if you're lucky. When shopping for this, I went through two before going electric. The Eastman Whole Enchilada seems to be your best bet here-- you get a high quality burner, a large bowl and all the accessories you need. Propane is obviously more portable than your electric fryer, and let's be honest... there's something about an open flame that just screams "fun."