The Best Turkey Fryers In 2023

Moist and juicy on the inside and crunchy on the outside, fried turkeys play a starring role in Thanksgiving feasts. However, they are also versatile and delicious enough to be commonly enjoyed during other celebrations such as Easter and Christmas, as well as beyond the holiday season.

While turkeys are often roasted, grilled, and braised, they can also be deep fried. And there're many potential benefits to this cooking technique. Frying a turkey is usually faster than roasting it, which can be a game changer if you're short on time. Deep frying can also produce surprisingly delicious birds since it seals in the juices while ensuring crispy skin.

From traditional propane-fueled outdoor fryers to modern electric appliances that can be used in the comfort of your kitchen, turkey fryers are as varied as our cooking preferences. As such, when making a purchase, it's important to select an appliance that's going to fit your cooking requirements and lifestyle. Not sure where to start? Take a look at our list of the best turkey fryers of 2023.

There's no denying it — home-cooked turkeys can be underwhelming. Overcooking poultry can result in dry and flavorless meat while undercooking it can lead to a rubbery texture and gastrointestinal issues. This is where a quality turkey fryer can be a lifesaver. With so many choices, however, it's important to purchase a gadget that's tailored to your specific cooking requirements.

To help you select the right turkey fryer for your needs, we have scoured the internet for the best products from both popular and lesser-known brands. We have also consulted the opinions of professional and community reviewers to ensure that you get precisely what you pay for.

During our research to bring you a roundup of the best turkey fryers in 2023, we considered a number of important factors. Firstly, we looked at each gadget's frying capacity in quarts and how much oil each fryer requires. Next, we took into account each fryer's power source and safety features, such as lids and drainage systems. Some turkey fryers also come with extras such as a thermostat and timer.

The Creole Feast propane turkey fryer comes with all the bits and pieces you need to start frying or steaming your favorite foods right away. This includes two differently-sized aluminum pots with riveted stay-cool handles and perforated baskets. The 30-quart pot is ideal for frying or steaming turkeys or other large poultry while the 10-quart pot can be used for frying smaller foods such as fish and chips. Without the basket, the pots can also be used to make soups and stews.

The fryer comes with a powerful 50,000 BTU burner and a control panel to regulate oxygen and gas output. There's also a long probe thermometer that gives you instant temperature updates. Meanwhile, the marinade injector can be used to add flavor to your bird. The fryer is also equipped with a turkey rack and lifting hook, as well as a sturdy steel burner stand.

The Creole Feast turkey fryer has done well with Amazon shoppers, receiving an average of 4.7 out of 5 stars. Perhaps one customer sums up the gadget best, saying, "We did our Thanksgiving turkey in this and it turned out great! After using electric 'indoor' fryers for the past few years, it was nice to go back to old school gas frying. I was impressed with all of the extra items that it came with."

At the time of this writing, you can purchase the Creole Feast propane turkey fryer from Amazon starting at $129.99.

There's little doubt that turkey fryers aren't cheap. Nevertheless, their convenience makes them a great investment. And since turkey fryers eliminate the need for catering or take-out services, they can also end up saving you cash in the long run.

Perfect for those without money to burn, the King Kooker outdoor fryer offers an affordable way to enjoy juicy turkeys in the comfort of your own home. Made from aluminum, the propane-powered gadget comes with a 29-quart pot with a lid, a perforated cooking basket, and a lifting rack with a hook. The setup also features a 33,000 BTU cast burner and a battery-powered timer.

The King Kooker outdoor fryer has received positive ratings on Amazon, with shoppers awarding it an average of 4.4 out of 5 stars across more than 5,000 reviews. One satisfied customer says, "I'm new to turkey frying techniques and this device was simple to install, simple to use, and overall cooked our turkey to perfection. Our guest thought we were masters at frying turkey." However, it's not as good as pricier options: Another reviewer proclaims, "you get what you pay for," adding, "For use a few times a year it meets the need but the quality is on the low side. [During] first time use, the thermometer stopped working."

At the time of this writing, you can purchase the King Kooker outdoor fryer from Amazon starting at $104.13.

Perfect for whipping up Thanksgiving feasts, the Barton high-pressure freestanding deep fryer is large enough to prepare a turkey and side dishes simultaneously. More specifically, the fryer comes with three large wire mesh baskets, making it great for family gatherings and events. Made from cast iron metal with a heat-resistant finish, the fryer is both sturdy and corrosion-resistant, which means it's likely to serve you for many years to come. It also comes with a dual burner, a 10 PSI hose, and a thermostat.

While the Barton high-pressure freestanding deep fryer has only received 4.1 out of 5 stars from Amazon customers, we feel that its unique three-basket design qualifies it for our list. One happy shopper praises the gadget, saying, "It's tall enough to easily remove the baskets without much effort but low enough to give it a good center of gravity. Sturdy construction, the pans are a little thin but can easily be replaced with thicker ones. Overall good quality." This being said, some reviewers say that the fryer doesn't perform well in windy weather and could do with a lid.

At the time of this writing, you can purchase the Barton high-pressure freestanding deep fryer from Amazon starting at $240.

Many choose electric fryers over their propane counterparts due to convenience. Unlike outdoor propane fryers, electric fryers can be plugged into an electrical outlet and used in your kitchen. The Masterbuilt butterball XL electric 3-in-1 deep fryer is no exception. Large for an electric fryer, the gadget features a 10.6-quart capacity, which makes it suitable for whipping up 20-pound turkeys. The fryer comes with a basket with a hand-lifting hook, a drain valve and clips, and a hinged lid that can be removed for easy cleaning.

Home Kitchen Fryer is fond of the Masterbuilt fryer, praising it for using one-third less oil than standard fryers. In addition, the platform likes the fact that the appliance doesn't require an open flame and offers even heat distribution and an automatic shut-off function. This being said, the website also points out that the appliance takes longer to heat up than traditional propane fryers.

The Masterbuilt butterball XL electric 3-in-1 deep fryer has received 4.6 out of 5 stars from more than 5,000 Amazon shoppers. One reviewer says that the appliance takes the guesswork out of frying turkeys, adding, "The instructions are easy to follow and I fried my very first turkey this past Thanksgiving. It was quite delicious and done in 35 mins. [...] Best purchase I've made in a while."

At the time of this writing, you can purchase the Masterbuilt butterball XL electric 3-in-1 deep fryer from Amazon starting at $132.69.

Instead of frying with oil, air fryers cook food by circulating hot air. This, in turn, results in healthier meals and faster cooking times. Unlike most other air fryers, which come with limited space, the Ninja DT201 Foodi air fryer is large enough to accommodate 12-pound turkeys — simply remove the optional rack. In addition, the 1800-watt gadget can also be used to roast, bake, broil, reheat, and dehydrate. Last but not least, the stainless steel fryer's unique smart cook system ensures perfectly done food at a simple push of a button.

Sharon Franke from Tom's Guide calls the Ninja DT201 Foodi air fryer multi-functional and well-designed, adding that it features a simple digital control system. Franke highlights that the panel is intuitive to use and even recommends oven rack positions for different foods. On the downside, she points out that the fryer can get hot during use (be sure to use the stay-cool handle) and that it can be noisy.

Brooke Shoupe from the Juicing Journal compares the Ninja DT201 Foodi air fryer favorably to a traditional convection oven, saying that it's much faster to pre-heat and uses less electricity. And while Shoupe bemoans the fact that the appliance doesn't come with a probe thermometer, she does appreciate that it can replace multiple kitchen appliances, including a microwave, a toaster, and a dehydrator.

At the time of this writing, you can purchase the Ninja DT201 Foodi air fryer from Amazon starting at $229.99.

Cooking with less oil not only makes your food less greasy, but also reduces your fat and calorie intake. This is precisely why the Char-Broil oil-less liquid propane turkey fryer is so appealing. Driven by infrared technology and propane, the gadget doesn't require any oil, which also minimizes the risk of spills and accidents. Suitable for 16-pound turkeys, the 16,000 BTU Char-Broil fryer comes with a round cooking basket with a lifting handle and a meat thermometer. All you have to do to get started is hook the fryer up to a propane tank and activate the rotary ignition.

For Jen Karetnick from Bob Vila, the main appeal of the Char-Broil liquid propane turkey fryer is the option of preparing turkeys without using gallons of oil. She also appreciates the fact that the unit is safer to use than traditional fryers and comes with a grease tray where you can collect drippings for gravy. This being said, she also says that the fryer is rather heavy and doesn't have a temperature display. According to Kelsey Ogletree from Allrecipes, the gadget is also easy to use once assembled and very efficient with a 10-minute per pound cooking time. On the downside, Ogletree highlights that the final result lacked the juiciness and crispiness of a turkey friend using a traditional fryer.

At the time of this writing, you can purchase the Char-Broil oil-less liquid propane turkey fryer from Amazon starting at $144.99.

From frying 14-pound turkeys, seafood, onion rings, and donuts to steaming vegetables and dumplings, the Cuisinart extra-large rotisserie deep fryer has you covered. The versatile stainless steel appliance comes with a mesh basket complete with a heat-resistant handle for easy transfers, a temperature knob, and a 120-minute timer. Best of all, the gadget requires less oil than traditional fryers, which means healthier and more nutritious meals. Plus, it comes with a handy oil drainage system.

Wired, which rates the Cuisinart extra-large rotisserie deep fryer 7 out of 10, highlights that the unit only needs to be filled one-third of the way with oil. This isn't only healthier but minimizes the risk of any dangerous splashes when the turkey is lowered into the appliance. And while, according to the platform, the bird did taste great, the gadget does have its downsides — the main ones being that it's noisy and doesn't collect drippings.

At the time of this writing, you can purchase the Cuisinart extra-large rotisserie deep fryer from Amazon starting at $228.90.

At 44 quarts, the Bayou Classic Big Bird oversized turkey deep fryer is one of the largest turkey fryers on the market. Considering that store-purchased turkeys can weigh up to 30 pounds, this is definitely not a bad thing. The fryer is composed of a large stainless steel pot with a removable basket and a vented lid. The set also comes with an aluminum poultry rack with a grab hook, insulated gloves, a three-leg frame with a burner, and an injector for infusing poultry with extra flavor.

Demonstrating its superior quality, the Bayou Classic oversized turkey deep fryer has received 4.7 out of 5 stars from Amazon shoppers, with 83% of buyers rating the product 5 out of 5 stars. One customer recommends the fryer, saying, "If you do a lot of deep frying, this is the set up for you. [...] This stainless steel setup will allow years of continuous use. Spend now, save later. [...] It won't disappoint." Having said this, some shoppers complain that the gadget doesn't offer anything that would keep the pot centered on the burner, with one customer even saying that the pot can wobble.

At the time of this writing, you can purchase the Bayou Classic Big Bird oversized turkey deep fryer from Amazon starting at $328.88.