MCS, Sort Of

[synodog]

After Thanksgiving last year, I was tired of cleaning up the oil from the turkey frier and the pot that fries the turkey. The oil had run its course too, so I threw it away. Also, the storage of the oil has always been a challenge. The original container developed a hole and a leak so I bought new containers and those finally gave up the ghost last year.

I've been seeing these new oil-less frying cookers and hypothesized that they might make the turkey just as good without the cleanup nightmare that is turkey deep frying.

So I bought a Char Broil Big Easy Oil Less turkey fryer. We tried it out last night on two whole chickens and they definitely didn't turn out like true deep fried chicken. Duh, but it was tasty and moist so I think I'm in business for this year's Thanksgiving. I'm sure my BIL will be disappointed since he prefers deep fried turkey to smoked and usually asks if I'll fry him an extra turkey he brings over, which I'm happy to do since everything is setup.

Both my mother in law and sister in law said if he really wants a fried turkey he can do it. I'm happy to let him use the gear too. So that's settled. I'll still do smoked turkey breast and I think another smoked whole turkey depending on who all is coming.

So, MCS, sort of.

[klflowers]

Not sort of. Full blown

[LA Pork Butt]

I have considered one of those cookers, but I don’t cook a lot of turkey, so the thought of another cooker to store has kept from getting one. For now it is smoked turkey on the BGE. I am not a fan of turkey, but Cajun fried is my favorite.

[DavidNorcross]

Nice!

[realdocBBQ]

Awesome! I watched a couple of vids last year on one of these... supposedly came out pretty good, though not QUITE as good as deep fried.

Honestly can't remember the last time I had deep fried turkey - had to be twenty years. I might try that again sometime.

This yeah I think I'm going to brine and then inject... or just brine and then dry for several days. I dunno...

[HawkerXP]

It's got Charel Brown's initials on it. What could go wrong?


sorry.

I am interested in hearing your results.

[synodog]

no lucy around here that I can see. haha

also, I'm anxious about how they'll turn out, but it will be good still if the chicken was any indication.

[ItsAllGoneToTheDogs]

I had the Big Easy version of that, absolutely a bird cooking machine. Honestly as close as you can get to a deep fried turkey. You can sprits the bird with duck fat about 30 minutes or so before it's done to bump up the crispy a further nocth. The only thing I didn't like was skin sticking to the basket sometimes made dumping a larger bird out. I was able to mod it and use a piece of rebar and a PBS turkey hanger to great effect.

[synodog]

I'm a bit concerned about that for the larger birds, but I'm thinking I might try using one of the stands from the traditional deep fry equipment to forego the opportunity to stick to basket. We'll see.

[yakima]

I gave up deep frying turkey several years ago. Always good results, but too much hassle, and too much potential for fire and burns. Would lay a hunk of plywood on the grass to cook on. Clean up was a pain. Fry turkey, eat turkey. Later, same day or tomorrow, reheat oil so you can handle it. My pot does not have a bottom spigot, so have to wrangle big pot of warm oil to pour thru filter and funnel into jug. The quick cooking time is more than offset by clean up time. And snow can happen here at Thanksgiving. Covered deck with BGE far easier.

[synodog]

This for sure. No snow to worry about here, but the hassle of clean up has run its course for me.

I say every year that I’m going to cleanup as soon as the oil cools and I almost always wait until the next morning. Cleaning up that pot is another story. Especially with no drain spigot.

Obviously there’s clean up with this thing and the smokers but I don’t think it’s as labor intensive. At least in my mind. 😂

[Purc]

+1 that's why I no longer fry a turkey.

[smokenoob]

On a similar note, I air fry a lot of fish but it doesn’t come close to the taste of deep fry. It’s good but Ya can’t fake fry! (at least I can’t 😂😎)