Fall has arrived and brought with it the wonderful holiday season. With Thanksgiving just around the corner, we put together a safe, quick, and easy way for you to prepare your turkey this year. According to State Farm Insurance, there are approximately 1,000 deep-fryer related fires in the United States, and grease and cooking-related claims more than double on Thanksgiving as compared to an average day in November. To remedy this issue, we prepared a delicious turkey with all of the waste produced by a traditional deep fryer, in less than half the time of a traditional oven with the Charbroil Big Easy Oil-less Turkey Fryer.
The oil-less fryer by Charbroil just might be the easiest way to cook a Turkey ever. Go oil-less this holiday season to save yourself a few headaches and have a perfectly cooked turkey on your family’s table with minimal prep time, and a cook time of less than two hours.
Prep the oil-less fryer:
A few days before you plan to cook your feast, purchase a turkey to allow plenty of time to thaw. The bird should be placed in a refrigerator set at 40 degrees Fahrenheit. If you’re in a pinch for time, place the bird in a large container, and run cold water over it.
Fill your propane tank, assemble the big easy, and connect the two. The big easy takes only a few minutes to assemble; simply connect the propane regulator and controls to the front of the unit and you’re ready to go. Make sure you have adequate propane for the job, connect the tank and you’re ready to go.
Season the chamber. Charbroil suggests covering the removable chamber with vegetable oil to season the unit before it’s first use. This will make cleaning a breeze and let you spend more time with your family and less time cleaning. Simply coat the chamber with oil, insert the chamber into the big easy and turn on the unit. While you’re prepping the bird, allow the oil to burn off, and you’ll be ready to go in no time. This step is only required during the first use of the big easy.
Prep the bird :
Season the bird. With the big easy, there is no need to inject, marinate, or brine. Find your favorite spice mix, and apply a liberal coat on your turkey. It may be necessary to rub the bird with a few tablespoons of oil to allow the rub to adhere. We used Penzey’s Fox Point Seasoning; a mixture of salt, shallots, chives, garlic, onion, and green peppercorns. Another great option is Trader Joe’s 21 Seasoning Salute. To add extra flavor, grab some fruits and/or vegetables to put in the cavity of the turkey. We used an onion, two lemons, and a tomato. Whatever you have lying around will work great.
Cook:
Put your bird in the basket. Place the turkey legs down in the basket that comes with the big easy, insert the thermometer (set on poultry) in the thickest part of the turkey, and use the hook that comes with the unit to lower the basket into the chamber. Cover with the wire lid to keep out any debris, and cook until the bird comes up to temperature. This should take approximately 90 minutes depending on the outside temperature and the size of the turkey. We used a 13.5-pound turkey, and it was done right around the two-hour mark.
Enjoy:
Remove the bird and enjoy. When the turkey comes up to temperature, use the hook to remove the basket, place it over a dish, and allow it to rest for 15 minutes. Transfer the turkey to a serving dish and enjoy!
The Charbroil Big Easy Oil-less Turkey Fryer worked so well, we made chicken kabobs and chicken wings after we enjoyed our turkey. Stay tuned for more great recipes and ideas.
Do you have any recipes you would like to try in the oil-less turkey fryer? Share your knowledge in the comment section below!