The 12 Best Turkey Fryers to Upgrade Your Thanksgiving Dinner

"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links."

Dreading the idea of spending hours roasting a turkey, only to end up with yet another dull, dried-out bird on your Thanksgiving dinner table? Now’s the time to invest in a turkey fryer instead.

Fried turkey is just unequivocally better. It’s juicier, more tender, more flavorful, and has a nice, crispy exterior. It also cooks in a fraction of the time — only about a half-hour compared to the 3 hours you need if you roast a roughly 10-pound bird. Plus, you haven’t lived until you’ve plunged a massive bird into 350-degree oil. It’s a cooking challenge like none other.

A turkey fryer consists of six main components: a large pot for holding your turkey and oil, a hanger and lowering mechanism for the bird, a propane tank, a burner, and a stand. Some brands sell all-in-one kits that include all components and helpful accessories to cook the perfect turkey. However, it might be cheaper to mix and match various products from different manufacturers, so don’t feel the need to go all in on one brand. When you buy separately, you can get items that are higher in quality, too.

It’s time to retire dry turkey from your Thanksgiving table and opt for an exciting fried version instead. Here are the best turkey fryers money can buy, based on hours of research.

The Best Turkey Fryers

• Best Overall: Bayou Classic 32-Quart Stainless Steel Turkey Fryer Pot

• Best Indoor Fryer: Masterbuilt 10-Liter Electric Turkey Fryer, Boiler, and Steamer

• Best Burner: Bayou Classic Outdoor Patio Stove for Turkey Fryers

• Best for Big Families: Bayou Classic 44-Quart Stainless Steel Stock Pot and Basket Turkey Fryer

• Best for Healthy Eaters: Char-Broil Big Easy Oil-less Liquid Propane Turkey Fryer

What to Consider

Size

If you decide to purchase a turkey fryer, one of the first things you’ll need to think about is capacity. Obviously, you’ll need a much larger set-up if you’re trying to fry a 20-pounder versus a petite 10-pound bird.

A turkey fryer’s capacity is measured by how many quarts the pot can hold. At a minimum, we recommend a 28- or 30-quart pot (which is large enough to hold the 4 gallons of oil required to fully submerge an average-sized turkey in oil.)

Frying a turkey in a pot that's too small is dangerous and can set a fire. If you plan to shop for an indoor fryer, opt for a decent size option, like this turkey fryer from Masterbuilt. The 10-liter electric fryer is big enough for an 18-pound turkey. It also doubles as a boiler and steamer for other foods, so you won’t have to put it away once deep-fried turkey season is over.

Safety

Since you’re dealing with several gallons of boiling hot oil, you need to be extra careful using one of these devices. Avoid overfilling the fryer and make sure you have a fire extinguisher on hand (just in case!). Let your turkey thaw completely before placing it in the hot oil (otherwise it could boil over and start a fire). Use durable oven mitts, wear long sleeves, and pop on a pair of safety goggles to protect yourself from splatter.

Indoor vs. Outdoor Fryers

You should only use a propane-powered turkey fryer outdoors 20 feet away from any structure on a flat non-flammable surface. Plus, it’s important to note that you should never use a turkey fryer in your garage, on a deck, or in any enclosed space.

If you want to keep your Thanksgiving preparation inside, there are a handful of electric-powered indoor turkey fryers that you can use on your countertop, which don’t use an open flame and are essentially larger-sized deep fryers. Most feature a thermostat control so you can maintain a consistent temperature throughout the cook. They also have useful safety features, like automatic turn-off once the oil reaches a certain temperature. Although an electric indoor turkey fryer will leave you with a tasty and delicious turkey, it won’t be quite as crispy as one cooked in a propane-powered fryer.

How We Selected

To find the best turkey fryers, we scoured through dozens of options available at major online retailers to see which ones had the highest reviews.

Fryer cookware is typically made of either aluminum or stainless steel. We prioritized turkey fryers that were made of stainless steel since they tend to be more durable and easier to clean.

Deep fryers that came with helpful bonus accessories earned kudos in our book. We also looked for a mix of propane-powered turkey fryers and indoor electric fryers to provide options for different cooking preferences and safety concerns. In other words, you’ll find a great turkey fryer that meets your needs and budget on our list.

32-Quart Stainless Steel Turkey Fryer Pot

This turkey fryer kit from Bayou Classic includes the fryer pot, fryer basket, vented lid, perforated poultry rack, grab hook, thermometer, and a marinade/seasoning injector — almost everything you need to make a crispy, moist turkey for Thanksgiving.

What makes it stand out from other turkey fryers is its stainless steel design. Technically aluminum conducts heat just as quickly and is more affordable, but we think you’re better off opting for stainless since it is more durable, sturdy, and less prone to dents. It’s also a lot easier to clean.

With its 32-quart capacity, the pot is large enough to fry an 18-pound turkey and easily holds over 3 gallons of cooking oil. The pot is incredibly versatile and will also come in handy for crawfish boils, steaming veggies, simmering soups, preserving or canning, and home-brewing. It has comfortable handles that are welded into the pot, unlike cheaper options, which use screws that can loosen over time.

Remember how we said this turkey fryer includes almost everything you need to cook your Thanksgiving bird? It’s worth mentioning that this kit is missing one very important component — a gas-burner stove — so be sure to add that to your order if you don’t already have one at home. The good news is that it’s usually cheaper to buy the stock pot and the stove separately.

Overall, customers love this turkey fryer for its durability and stainless steel construction. Says one reviewer, “This is an outstanding product and made especially well. I have used several gas cookers before, but the grade of stainless steel is high, and it’s much easier to keep the liquid at a desired temperature than aluminum.”

Related: 13 Best Carving Boards That Are Sturdy, Durable, and Look More Expensive Than They Actually Are

10-Liter Electric Turkey Fryer, Boiler, and Steamer

Whether you live in a colder climate, don’t have a yard, or just would prefer to take care of your Thanksgiving cooking within the comfort of your own kitchen, the Masterbuilt Electric Turkey Fryer is the easiest, most convenient path to frying a delicious turkey. The appliance is quite versatile: It’s large enough to fry an 18-pound bird but also works as a steamer and boiler. You’ll probably want to leave it out on your kitchen counter for continued use long after Thanksgiving is over.

Rather than relying on a propane tank, this fryer is all-electric. It still requires oil, though. The kit includes a removable pot, chrome-wire basket, and drain clips for resting the food above the oil. We like that it has an oil-drain valve, removable lid, and dishwasher-safe parts to help ease the burden of cleanup. This turkey fryer’s magnetic breakaway cord also offers some additional peace of mind if you have kids or pets around the kitchen.

Customers who’ve bought this turkey fryer found that it’s become a staple in their kitchen. Says one customer, “I bought this two years ago. [It] still looks and works like new! Easy to use, easy to clean, we do SO much with this.”

Outdoor Patio Stove for Turkey Fryers

If you already own a pot large enough to fit a turkey, we recommend pairing your pot with this portable stove from Bayou, which gets up to 41,000 BTUs.

It stands 13 ¼ inches tall on a welded frame with four legs (other burners like the Bayou Classic SP10) have just three), so it’s very stable — even when you have a heavy pot of oil resting atop it. The 6-inch cast aluminum burner spreads the flame nice and wide. That helps heat up the oil very quickly, typically in under 30 minutes.

The 16x16-inch cooking surface provides ample room for large stockpots, and the 36-inch stainless braided hose is plenty long enough to connect to a neighboring propane tank. Lastly, the stove comes with an adjustable 5 PSI regulator to regulate the flow of fuel.

Customers appreciate how reliable and simple this burner is. Says one reviewer, “This thing is great! [It] works well every time, [it’s] easy to regulate airflow, and the stand is well made and sturdy. [A] quality-made burner, for sure.”

If you’re set on this burner but don't have a pot, you should know that Bayou Classic sells a bundle, which includes the entire set-up.

44-Quart Stainless Steel Stock Pot and Basket Turkey Fryer

If you have a lot of mouths to feed this Thanksgiving, we recommend opting for this generously-sized stockpot from Bayou Classic to deep fry your turkey. It's made from polished stainless steel and comes with a steaming-boiling basket and a vented dome lid with riveted handles. It's a great choice if you have a turkey that's larger than 20 pounds that you want to fry. And if you’re into DIY beer, you can use this stock pot for home brewing.

Customers have been impressed by how easy it is to use and clean this turkey fryer pot. Says one reviewer, “We used it to fry our turkey and I was in shock at how well it held up ([I] cannot even tell if I used it over an open flame) and how quickly [and] easily it came clean. I highly recommend this for your needs!”

It's worth a quick mention that Bayou Classic sells even larger stockpots, including a 62-quart option. For those looking for a 40-plus quart stockpot that includes a burner, Bayou Classic has a bundle available on Amazon.

Big Easy Oil-less Liquid Propane Turkey Fryer

As much as we love the taste of fried … well, anything, frying food in oil can be a bit of a hassle and even dangerous if you’re not careful. The Char-Broil Big Easy doesn’t rely on large vats of oil like traditional turkey fryers, though. Instead, it uses infrared heat, so it’s safer, healthier, and less messy. You can think of it as an oversized air fryer for your backyard.

Like other fryers, this one connects to a propane tank, so don’t try to use it indoors. However, you don’t have to worry about buying a stock pot or gallons of cooking oil. Even better, you won't have to deal with splatters and spills, either. Another upside to no oil? The ability to add a dry rub to your proteins! You’ll have some seriously flavorful Thanksgiving turkey when you cook with this baby.

Just place your 16-pound (or smaller) turkey within the cooking basket, lower it into the vat, and put on the lid: It’s as simple as that. The Big Easy takes about 3 hours to cook a 14-pound turkey. It comes with a cooker, cooking basket, basket-lifting tool, meat thermometer, cool-to-the-touch handles, rotary ignition, removable drip tray, and cooking guide. The basket is dishwasher-safe and collapses for easy storage. The entire kit could make a special gift for your Thanksgiving host.

Customers say that this appliance helped them whip up the best turkey they’ve ever made. Says one customer, “My turkey this year was the best in my 55 years of cooking. Moist, crispy skin, savory, and best of all so clean and easy. And did I say delicious?”

More: Our Full Review of the Char-Broil Big Easy

Turkey and Fish Fryer Boiler Steamer Set

If you’re in a rush and want an affordable and easy-to-set-up bundle that includes everything you need to fry a turkey, we recommend this kit from Creole Feast. Although its aluminum pot makes it less durable than our favorite turkey fryer, the Bayou Classic 32-Quart Stainless Steel Turkey Fryer, it’s still a solid option and will get the job done. Plus, you can use it for other cooking needs, like making French fries, steaming seafood, or boiling veggies.

The kit includes a powerful cast iron burner that puts out 50,000 BTUs of power. We like that it has an adjustable air control panel to control the heat and that its stand has a welded construction, so you can be confident it won’t tip over.

Besides the burner, basket, and 30-quart pot, this turkey fryer kit also includes a seasoning injector, a thermometer, a hook, a turkey rack, and heat-resistant gloves — not bad, considering the affordable price tag.

Customers who’ve tried several different turkey fryers report that this one surpasses the competition. Says one reviewer, “I’ve worked with quite a few cookers in the past. This unit is far better than those I’ve had. Also, it comes with a lot of extras. It’s sturdy, built well, and well worth the cost.”

30-Quart Aluminum Stock Pot for Frying Turkeys

Trust us: Emptying a bulky and heavy stock pot filled with oil is not an easy task — especially if you only have one set of hands. This 30-quart aluminum stock pot from King Kooker is one of the few that features a spigot at its bottom for draining the oil after you finish frying your turkey. Just make sure you’ve waited long enough for the oil to cool before trying to empty it!

Since the stock pot is made from aluminum, it’s light and quick to heat the oil. This kit also includes a lid, lifting hook, and rack. At just over 5 pounds, the pot isn’t too much of a burden to lift to a burner (sold separately) and return to a cabinet or other storage area when you’re done using it.

Customers say the fact that this pot has a spigot is a game-changer for deep-frying turkeys on Thanksgiving. Says one reviewer, “I’ve been deep frying turkeys for a long time. This pot with the spigot is the best ever!”

30-Quart Aluminum Turkey Fryer

The Bayou Classic 30-Quart Aluminum Turkey Fryer is nearly identical to our best overall pick, the Bayou Classic 1118 — the difference is that the stock pot is made of aluminum instead of stainless steel. Not only that, it’s smaller by 2 quarts.

Although this kit isn’t as durable as the Bayou Classic 1118, it’s still an excellent turkey fryer, especially for folks looking for a budget-friendly option. It includes a vented lid, poultry rack, lift hook, thermometer, and seasoning injector — and it’ll save you at least $40. That should be enough to cover the oil and seasonings you’ll need to deep fry your turkey this Thanksgiving (or upgrade your gravy boat!).

Looking to feed a lot of people on Thanksgiving? Here’s something you’ll love: Bayou Classic sells an even larger 42-quart aluminum turkey fryer that is designed to fry large turkeys of up to 25 pounds. However, we think this 30-quart model should suffice for most families — it’s big enough for an 18-pound turkey.

According to other customers, this turkey fryer pot lasts for years. Says one reviewer, “Two years and several turkey and fish fries later, this thing is still working great. The pot is very durable.”

More: The Best Thanksgiving Gifts for Your Favorite Holiday Host

Banjo Portable Gas Stove for Turkey Fryer

This heavy-duty burner can burn up to 200,000 BTU, making it much more powerful than the Bayou Classic stove we previously mentioned — which has an output of 41,000 BTUs.

What does that mean for you? Your oil heats up in almost no time and your turkey gets fried really quickly. Keep in mind that there’s a risk of overcooking your bird if you heat the oil up too much, so keep an eye on the temperature (and invest in a thermometer if you don’t have one yet!).

The Concord burner features a sturdy three-legged stand that supports a 200-quart pot that’s up to 24 inches in diameter. The legs are even detachable, so it’s a little easier to store in tight spaces. This option is made from heavy-duty cast iron, features a weatherproof coating, and includes a 20 PSI regulator hose.

Says one reviewer, “I found that the burner was awesome and generated an incredible amount of very controllable heat [for] a very large pot of water to cook crawfish, shrimp, sausage, corn, [and] potatoes for a fun feast.”

Propane Outdoor Turkey Fry Boil Package

This turkey fryer from King Kooker will prove to be useful beyond cooking the bird on Thanksgiving. Let’s start with a look at its turkey frying capabilities, though. The kit’s 29-quart pot can fry a turkey that’s as large as 20 pounds, and it includes all the accessories you need to get the job done, including a thermometer, lifting rack, and hook. Its 33,000-BTU cast iron burner heats up quickly and comes equipped with a wind guard to ensure you’ll have a flame if it happens to be breezy on Turkey day.

One advantage this turkey fryer has over others is that it includes a fry pan and basket. After you lift your turkey out of the oil, you can quickly switch over to the fry pan to whip up a side dish or two while the burner’s still hot. In fact, the two-pot system is one of the things customers love most about this fryer. Says one reviewer, “Love, love, love the smaller pot to make fries in. We used the larger pot for a shrimp boil and it was perfect.”

Turkey Fryer 30-Quart Cooker Set

If you’re looking for an alternative to the King Kooker Propane Outdoor Fry Boil Package with Two Pots, this one from GasOne makes a great substitute. Like its main competitor, it comes with two cooking vessels (a 30-quart pot to fry a turkey and a 10-quart stock pot for soup or a side dish). It also features a 5 PSI adjustable regulator and heat-resistant hose, along with helpful cooking accessories, including a thermometer, marinade injector, and turkey rack. The burner puts out 50,000 BTUs, so it’ll heat your oil quickly. Use it for crawfish boiling, a fish fry, and (of course) deep-fried turkey.

One other thing you’ll love about this turkey fryer is its stability. The burner frame stands 16 inches tall and features four sturdy legs, so it’s unlikely to wobble while you’re frying.

Customers say that it’s convenient to use and affordable. Says one reviewer, “It is lightweight, very much able to be packed up and used in different locations and for storing purposes as well. This whole set is more than worth the value for the quality and all of the pieces that you get!”

Enterprises Big Bird Turkey Fryer Kit

Got a hefty budget for a high-end turkey fryer? Consider investing in the Bayou Classic Enterprises Big Bird Kit. You can fry a turkey that’s as large as 25 pounds in its 44-quart pot, which is made of 20-gauge stainless steel for extra durability. Set up is a breeze — the legs attach to the burner frame with just a single bolt. The 48-inch stainless braided hose also gives you lots of room between the burner and the propane tank.

What’s more, Bayou Classic throws in a ton of high-quality accessories to round out this turkey fryer. In the box, you’ll find a seasoning injector, a 12-inch thermometer, a basket, heavy-duty oven mitts, a vented stainless steel lid, and other helpful tools. All the bonuses, plus the solid construction, help justify the high price of this turkey fryer. It could make a great gift for a BBQ boss who wants another way to cook in the great outdoors.

Says one reviewer, “This is leaps and bounds above my old aluminum turkey fryer! The transparent size and weight are impressive. It’s solidly built and very stable.”

You Might Also Like

• The Paris Hilton Housewares Collection Brings ‘That’s Hot’ Energy to Your Kitchen

• 16 Best Noise-Canceling Headphones Perfect for Rocking Out in Quiet Bliss

• Beyoncé Uses This $26 Amazon Product for Her Glossy Blonde Hair