Baked Turkey vs. Fried Turkey
 

I used to eat the traditional baked turkey...until I had it fried. I'm wondering how many people will bake vs. fry and how many people who have had it fried actually prefer the traditional baked turkey.
Personally, I used to simply tolerate the traditional turkey because I always thought it was more dry and less flavorful than what I prefer.

Re: Baked Turkey vs. Fried Turkey
 

We are breaking the rules this year EATING OUT on Thanksgiving day! With the baby coming in a couple weeks, we can't really travel or do a big cooked meal (Gimmie a break! I offered to cook!)

This Sunday though, we will go to my Mom's for an early Thanksgiving meal they are doing four turkeys - about 70 people.

They generally only do the traditional oven-baked turkey.

Re: Baked Turkey vs. Fried Turkey
 

We always do a fried turkey. We've been frying them for about 13 yrs. I agree, a baked turkey just isn't as moist. We also always brine our turkey. It really makes for a super moist bird. We usually do a Cajun brine, this year, however, we are doing a brown sugar, Dijon mustard, cayenne pepper, thyme, and crushed garlic brine. We've used this recipe a few times and it's really good.

Re: Baked Turkey vs. Fried Turkey
 

We are having one fried and one baked. And for those that don't like turkey, we are having a ham.

Re: Baked Turkey vs. Fried Turkey
 

There's been a fad the last several years to smoke one bird. It's pretty flavorful but if you don't like the dryness of the white meat in a baked turkey, you'll probably go "Ho-hum" over a smoked one.

Personally, the wild fowl of North America have never really done me any harm; so I've never been one to celebrate the basting of their carcasses.

I just don't get really worked up about the extra effort behind the food, though I know it's a source of happiness for many others. I do look forward to the variety of the spread that's a result of so many people coming together. And then there's one sister's cheese ball. It's spicy with bits of jalapeños and crunchy with bits of nuts. It ain't the holidays without one or more of those giant cheese balls!

Re: Baked Turkey vs. Fried Turkey
 

A smoked turkey needs to be brined first! :) Then you won't have as much trouble with a dry bird--unless you overcook it, or forget to let it rest before slicing.

Re: Baked Turkey vs. Fried Turkey
 

Don't know the details on that one. They've got 'em smoking long before we ever show up.

Re: Baked Turkey vs. Fried Turkey
 

We will be doing a fried turkey....and will also have a smoked turkey. Spiral ham also.

Re: Baked Turkey vs. Fried Turkey
 

Oven turkey is wonderful IF it's not overcooked and IF it's basted well - Rub whole bird with butter - even under skin where you can reach. stuff with an apple or orange, onion and celery. I like turkey smoked, fried or baked - just don't overcook any of them!

Re: Baked Turkey vs. Fried Turkey
 

Oooooo.... Ya know, I got nowhere to go this year....

Re: Baked Turkey vs. Fried Turkey
 

5 years ago, I would have totally agreed with you. However, after finding the reciepe that i now use, with the cooking instructions, (followed exactly), I think I now like the oven roasted turkey.

even the breast meat is super juicy. Brining is a must. cooking with a digital thermometer to exact temps is an absolute must.

Re: Baked Turkey vs. Fried Turkey
 

I think filling the cavity is one secret to keeping it moist! One year we stuffed a whole pineapple (peeled) in there and it was wonderful!!!

Re: Baked Turkey vs. Fried Turkey
 

Never thought about pineapple - may try that next turkey!!!!

Re: Baked Turkey vs. Fried Turkey
 

yeah, I agree.. I have always put an onion or something inside and rub it with butter too.

I have had people eat my Turkey who say they don't like Turkey and just loved mine. I have never had a dry bird, but I bake it slow and it is always moist.

I have never had a fried Turkey.

Re: Baked Turkey vs. Fried Turkey
 

Maybe it is putting something in it... i will have to try a pineapple sometime.

I have used those browning bags before too... they are always moist with those too.

Re: Baked Turkey vs. Fried Turkey
 

Yes, completely fill it is the trick too. I use the browning bag and it's moist each time!

Sorry Ferd.

Re: Baked Turkey vs. Fried Turkey
 

Sorry for what? Filling the turkey is great! I use apples and some other stuff....


brown bags arent bad either.... for me the trick was the thermometer. you have 100% control and no guess work...

but if you have been doing it for a while and know what your doing, then why would you need one?

Its all good so long as it is good! LOL!

Re: Baked Turkey vs. Fried Turkey
 

Sorry, I don't use your recipe......lol!

Re: Baked Turkey vs. Fried Turkey
 

I've had good fried turkey, and not so good. But even the not so good was better than the average roasted turkey! Roasting can be pretty good, but it's a gamble (in our experience, at least).

Re: Baked Turkey vs. Fried Turkey
 

Keith and Ferd would get along great if they ever met in person, Keith loves to cook and is a wonderful cook. We never have dried Turkey when he is does the cooking.

The most driest Turkey we had was fried, but Keith didn't fry it and probably would have did a better job than the guy who did it! Lol!

I would not mind trying the fried Turkey again, if it was done by someone who knew what they were doing.

Re: Baked Turkey vs. Fried Turkey
 

No turkey for us this year.

Steak instead!

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:thumbsupFried All the Way!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! No other Way!!!!

Re: Baked Turkey vs. Fried Turkey
 

Just a note for all the turkey friers, especially first-timers: it's very dangerous. There are safety precautions that must be followed, or you could end up learning the hard way.

I haven't done it myself, and don't know all the safety tips, but it shouldn't be hard to google them up! Alton Brown devoted a Good Eats episode to it.

Re: Baked Turkey vs. Fried Turkey
 

at christmas a lot of years we do a bone in Rib Roast.

basically Ribeye that weighs 12 pounds! yummy!

Re: Baked Turkey vs. Fried Turkey
 

hey, I just try to help those that need it!

those that have their own thing that works, I just am mad I dont get to try it! LOL!

Re: Baked Turkey vs. Fried Turkey
 

Did you just cull your herd or something? Steak, steak, steak...

:ursofunny

Re: Baked Turkey vs. Fried Turkey
 

I swear by those bags. Our turkey is always moist and nicely browned. With very little effort on our parts :)

We can't do the fried ones because everything I've read says it has to be fried in peanut oil. No peanut anything at this house because of Keith's allergy. We prefer to keep him alive, thank you very much. I'm sure it's great made that way tho.

Re: Baked Turkey vs. Fried Turkey
 

This site says canola or corn oil can be used, but I'm not the expert. Have a great Holiday Margie.

Re: Baked Turkey vs. Fried Turkey
 

Two of our kids are bringing a fried turkey from Popeye's this time. Will give a full report.

Re: Baked Turkey vs. Fried Turkey
 

Margie, we too have one with severe peanut allergies.

Pel., You are correct. You do not have to use peanut oil. Most suggest peanut oil because it doesn't burn easily and it has a high flash point. Also, because the amount of oil it takes to fry a turkey is expensive, people like peanut oil because it can be reused. But any good vegetable oil will work. Just DONT HEAT ANY OIL OVER 350 degrees.

Re: Baked Turkey vs. Fried Turkey
 

Hey! thanks for letting me know about the different oils that can be used. If we buy a deep fryer, I'll know I can still use other oils now, so we can try the turkey that way. YEAH!! I had it once deep fried (my cousin did it in her fryer). I really liked it, but had to keep Keith away from it. We'd have to start with a brand new fryer because we'd need to know positively that NO peanut oil had been left even in a crack after it was cleaned. But it just might be worth it. :) Thanks again!

Re: Baked Turkey vs. Fried Turkey
 

We're buying our entire Thanksgiving meal at Boston Market this year -precooked. It will be baked.
(My first choice was was Famous Daves, but people are funny about HAVING to have a turkey...)

Re: Baked Turkey vs. Fried Turkey
 

I was tempted to go that route, but I have a friend here who runs one of the best mom-and-pop barbecue operations here in Houston. I'm going to have him fry me a turkey and smoke me one as well. The sides we will do in house.