Marianne Martinez
Cooking a turkey in a greaseless fryer is a great way to achieve a fried texture without the use of oil. This method results in a turkey with a crispy and crunchy exterior, and a moist and juicy interior. The cooking time varies depending on the size of the turkey, but it is generally recommended to cook the turkey for approximately 10 minutes per pound. The Char-Broil Big Easy Oil-Less Turkey Fryer is a popular choice for this cooking method, with many users praising the delicious results and ease of use.
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What You'll Learn
Infrared oil-less turkey fryer
The Char-Broil Big Easy TRU-Infrared Oil-less Turkey Fryer is a popular choice for cooking a turkey. It is fuelled by a propane tank and cooks the turkey outdoors, freeing up your oven during big feasts and preventing the house from filling up with cooking odours. The Big Easy uses Char-Broil's TRU Infrared technology to eliminate hot and cold spots and deliver juicy, crisp, and flavourful results every time.
The infrared fryer cooks a turkey of up to 16 pounds without oil, faster than a traditional oven. It takes about 8 to 10 minutes per pound to cook a turkey, and slightly longer for roasts and other large cuts of meat. The oil-less functionality means there is no waiting for the oil to heat up, and you can prepare your turkey with seasoned rubs or injectable marinades. The fully-enclosed 16,000 BTU propane burners sit inside a double-wall cylindrical cooking chamber, which generates infrared heat that circles the cooker to cook the meat evenly, sealing in juices.
The Char-Broil Big Easy has a simple design, with only two knobs to control: one to turn on and one to light the burner. It also comes with a removable drip pan located underneath the heating chamber, which catches the juices, allowing cooks to make gravy. The fryer is compact, making it easy to store, and comes with a thermometer, so you can easily check when your food is done.
One reviewer found the infrared fryer frustrating to assemble, as the instructions included in the manual are small drawings with no accompanying text. They also noted that it takes two people to build the fryer correctly, and you need to be extremely precise when attaching the propane tank. However, once assembled and hooked up to the propane tank, the reviewer found it low-effort to use. Another reviewer noted that the infrared fryer is not ideal for cooking for a large family, as it can only hold a turkey of up to 16 pounds, and cooking a stuffed turkey takes too long to heat the middle to the recommended safe temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
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Oil-less fryer preparation
Oil-less turkey fryers are a great way to cook a whole turkey, with the skin coming out crispy and crunchy and the meat remaining tender and juicy.
Firstly, ensure your turkey is fully thawed on the inside. If it is still frozen, it will not cook properly. Remove the giblet bag and neck bone, and remember to save these for your gravy or dressing. Next, wash the turkey inside and out, and pat it dry with paper towels.
You can then choose to inject the turkey with your chosen flavourings, such as store-bought Creole butter, or a Cajun injection. You can also rub the turkey with olive oil and your chosen seasoning.
Place the turkey in the basket of the fryer, and insert a meat thermometer into the breast, ensuring the tip does not touch the bone. Place the basket in the cooker, and light the burner. The cooking time will depend on the size of the turkey, but it is usually around 10 minutes per pound, or 15 minutes per pound for a crispier skin. The turkey is done when the thermometer reaches 162° F. Remove the basket and let the turkey rest for 10 minutes, during which time the temperature will rise to 165° F. Then, remove the turkey from the basket and let it sit for another 30 minutes before carving.
You can also pre-season the fryer with peanut oil by wiping the surfaces that will be exposed to the turkey.
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Cooking time and temperature
The cooking time for a turkey in a greaseless fryer depends on the weight of the turkey and the type of fryer being used. It is recommended to cook the turkey for approximately 10 minutes per pound. For example, a 14-pound turkey will take about 2.3 hours to 3 hours to cook.
The Char-Broil Big Easy Oil-Less Turkey Fryer is a popular choice for cooking a turkey without oil. It is an infrared fryer that uses a propane tank as its power source. The fryer produces heat that circulates in the chamber surrounding the turkey, ensuring even cooking. The intense heat is concentrated on the legs and lessens by the time it reaches the breasts, preventing the breast meat from drying out.
When using the Char-Broil Big Easy fryer, it is important to preheat the unit for a minute before adding the turkey, breast-side up. The turkey should be cooked until the deepest part of the breast reaches a temperature of 150ºF-155ºF. The turkey will continue to cook while resting, reaching a final internal temperature of 165ºF.
It is recommended to let the turkey rest for at least 30 minutes before carving. Additionally, it is advised to cook the turkey outdoors due to the use of propane.
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Turkey size and oil absorption
The size of the turkey will determine the cooking time, with most sources recommending approximately 10 minutes per pound of turkey. For example, a 14-pound turkey would cook for approximately 140 minutes (2 hours and 20 minutes). It is important to note that the outdoor temperature and wind could affect the cooking time, so it is best to rely on a meat thermometer to determine doneness. The recommended internal temperature for turkey is between 165°F and 170°F.
To ensure even cooking, it is recommended to place the turkey in the basket with the legs facing down. This allows the more intense heat to cook the legs first, while the breast meat cooks more slowly, preventing it from drying out. Additionally, the basket should be covered with a wire mesh lid during the last 15 minutes of cooking to reflect heat back towards the turkey and ensure even browning.
While greaseless fryers do not require the large amounts of oil needed for traditional deep-frying, a small amount of oil can be used to preseason the fryer. This involves wiping down the surfaces that will be exposed to the turkey with peanut oil before turning on the fryer and allowing the oil to reach its smoke point. This helps to season the fryer and prevent sticking, but it is not necessary for the cooking process.
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Benefits of oil-less fryers
Oil-less fryers, also known as air fryers, are a healthier alternative to deep fryers. They produce similar results to deep fryers with a fraction of the fat and calories. Here are some benefits of using oil-less fryers:
Health Benefits
Air fryers remove high-fat and high-calorie oils from the cooking process. Lowering saturated fat intake has many health benefits, such as helping to manage cholesterol levels and reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease. Air-fried foods have a lower fat content than deep-fried foods and are, therefore, healthier. They also eliminate the risk of spilling, splashing, or accidentally touching hot oil, which can be dangerous.
Taste and Texture
Despite using little to no oil, oil-less fryers still deliver on taste and texture. They produce a crispy and crunchy texture that is characteristic of fried foods. The cooking process seals in all the flavor and moisture, resulting in tender and juicy meat with a deliciously crisp skin.
Energy Efficiency
Oil-less fryers are more energy-efficient than traditional ovens, as they cook food faster and use less energy. This also means that they free up oven space, which is especially useful during big feasts and dinners.
Ease of Use and Maintenance
Oil-less fryers are generally easy to use and maintain. They are often designed to be easy to take apart, with many parts being dishwasher-safe, making cleaning much simpler than traditional deep fryers, which require dealing with a lot of used oil.
Safety
Oil-less fryers eliminate the dangers associated with hot oil, such as spilling or splashing. They also reduce the formation of dangerous compounds that can develop during high-heat cooking methods, such as acrylamide, which has been linked to cancer in animal studies.
In summary, oil-less fryers offer a convenient, healthy, and safe alternative to traditional deep fryers, without compromising on taste and texture. They are a great option for those looking to reduce their fat intake and improve their overall health without sacrificing the enjoyment of fried foods.
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Frequently asked questions
Cooking time is approximately 10 minutes per pound.
The ideal temperature is 162° F. The turkey will continue to cook and reach 165° F from its internal heat.
The best way to clean the basket is to scrub it while it's still hot. Do not put it in the dishwasher.
The Char-Broil Big Easy Oil-Less Fryer can fit a 16-pound turkey.
