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Deep Fried Turkey
Easy If Prepared Properly
Holiday Feature
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DENTON —
Deep fried turkey is becoming a holiday tradition in many
families. But improperly prepared, it can have a less than
desirable taste and can create a safety hazard to your home
and guests.
"Safety is
something you always need to think about when deep frying
anything," said Dr. Clay King, professor of nutrition
and food sciences at Texas Woman's University. "Commercial
kitchens have hoods and built-in fire extinguishing equipment
if things get out-of-hand. Most residential kitchens don't."
While water boils
at 212 degrees, frying oils don't even look hot at 300 degrees.
With that in mind, Dr. King advises anyone who deep fries
this holiday season to keep children, guests and pets out
of the cooking area — be it indoors or out.
"Hot water
burns, but hot oil not only burns, it sticks to your skin.
No one wants a holiday gathering to turn into a holiday tragedy,"
Dr. King said.
Most deep fryers
designed for turkeys are intended for outdoor use. Follow
the manufacturer's instructions on the recommended distance
from the fryer to overhangs and buildings. Use the fryer on
a flat surface, but not on a wooden deck. Using a fryer on
a concrete surface is fine, providing you don't mind oil stains.
"And always
keep a fire extinguisher close. Oils do have a flash point
and if they reach that temperature they can burst into flames,"
Dr. King said.
It is possible
to deep-fry a turkey on a kitchen stove but it is usually
inadvisable because of the logistics of lowering a large bird
into a tall pot of hot oil.
Once the safety
issues have been addressed, the next consideration should
be the oil used for the frying.
"Most people
think cooking with Canola is healthy. Often Canola oil is
hydrogenated to make it more stable and extend its shelf life,"
Dr. King said. Due to this type of processing, there are now
trans fatty acids in the oil, which according to recent research,
means the oil is not heart healthy.
Dr. King recommends
using cotton seed oil or peanut oil to deep fry a turkey.
"Cotton seed oil and peanut oil are non-hydrogenated
and much better for you. In fact, Crisco used to be made of
cotton seed oil until about the 1940s," Dr. King said.
The pot for deep
frying also is important, and most pots for deep frying a
turkey should be at least 40 quarts — about five gallons
of oil will be needed — and have a basket for lowering
and lifting the bird. A 10-pound or smaller turkey deep-fries
better than larger birds.
Many deep fried
turkey recipes recommend a frying temperature of 350 degrees.
The metal a pot is made from will determine how quickly the
oil will heat and how much it will cool when the bird is lowered
in.
Although a heavy
metal pot, like cast iron, takes longer to heat, once it is
hot it maintains its temperature even when the bird is lowered
into the oil. Stainless steel and aluminum pots heat faster
and cool faster, which means the oil will cool more when the
turkey is placed in them. That cooling factor means a longer
cooking time, which can mean a less desirable taste, Dr. King
said.
Consult the owner's
manual about cooking times, but generally, cook the turkey
three minutes per pound.
And while a turkey
is frying, never leave it unattended. "Safety first,"
Dr. King said.
"Deep frying
a turkey isn't as unhealthy as it might sound," Dr. King
added.
"Deep fried
turkey is moist and delicious and not at all greasy. The inside
of the bird steams, and that keeps the nutrients and flavors
in. When you boil or bake, many of those nutrients and flavors
escape."
Marinades and other
seasonings injected into the turkey and a dry rub on the outside
can provide additional flavor.
###
For Further
Information Contact:
Roy Kron
Director of News and Information
Tel: (940) 898-3456
e-mail: rkron@twu.edu
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