Lets Talk Turkey

[Shelbygirl]

Hello Everyone.

I was wondering if any of you use turkey fryers. Last year, my brother and a friend brought all the equipment over to my house (along with an injected fresh turkey), and out on the driveway, they fried our Thanksgiving turkey. It turned out great, but we never had a "Plan B" in case it rained. This year my brother wants to do it again, but I said that we would do it only if the day was dry. He thought that if it rained we could just put the fryer in the garage, near the open door. I am so risk-averse (in fact I believe in the dictionary under "risk-averse" the name Shelbygirl is listed) that I said no way, we'll just bake it the normal way if the weather is bad.

How many of you use these fryers and what have been your experiences? Has it ever rained when you were using one? What did you do? Am I being a big sissy?.

Thanks,
Shelbygirl

 

[NurseLRT]

Shelby-I don't think you are being a sissy at all. That hot grease scares me to no end.

Depending on how many people you are having over maybe you could roast a turkey breast in the oven and/or buy a precooked ham. That way if it rained you would still have food, and if you did have the deep fried turkey, you could have the breast for other dinners, sandwiches etc. I made a turkey breast in a oven bag last year for my immediate family because we never get to experience leftovers--which is probably a good thing!!

Go to the poor farmers almanac website and check to see over the years what your precipitation was for that day. Odds are it probably won't rain.

Good luck and happy turkey day!!

Lori

 

[bubbles100]

Hi Shelbygirl!

I'm with you. We have a fryer and I would never use it inside the garage - not matter how close to the door. We have used ours in a slight misty rain. Never tried it in a downpour and probably wouldn't. These can be very dangerous. The precooked ham option sounds like a smart Plan B.

Margaret

 

[starlight6]

Absolutely do NOT ignore your "hunches" when it comes to safety. That's what gets us in trouble...not wanting to look stupid or seem babyish. You wouldn't believe what the police told me about this but it boils down to, if something doesn't feel right to you, IT ISN'T!

Pre-cooked ham sounds good.:9

Ruth

 

[Kathy02]

Shlebygirl, you are absolutely right in your precautions. Last year a house burned down here in MN because they fried their turkey in their garage, it was all over the news. I think I would rather go turkyless, than houseless, ya know. So, here's a question, Why can't you take that turkey and put it in the oven if it's raining in the am rather than put it in the fryer? Just a thought, maybe I'm dumb to this whole frying thing and you can't plan it that way. I've never fried a turkey so I wouldn't know how to do it.


Kathy

 

[dlavie]

Buy a cheap tarp from the hardware store. Hook one side to the garage and rope off the other to a tree or something. Make a tent over the cooker.

Dave

 

[Shelbygirl]

Thanks for your responses everyone. I'm so glad you all agreed with me. I sorted everything out with my brother. He still thinks I'm a wimp, but is willing to do it my way (good thing since it's my house!). He's going to give me the turkey (all injected with the marinade) the night before, and if in the morning it's raining, it's in the oven that puppy goes. I guess it's okay to bake a turkey with the marinade injections. I'll use a turkey bag so if the stuff oozes out it won't go anywhere. The spare ham was a great too.

As much as I hate the whole turkey-frying process, it does produce an amazing delicious bird. Last year my uncle asked for all the "remains" so that he could make soup. What was left fit into a tiny little sandwich bag. No soup that year.

Take Care,
Shelbygirl