“Any kind of extra frozen crystals or ice or anything on that turkey that goes into that fryer will immediately interact with the hot oil and vaporize and turn into super-hot steam. That then can expand quite quickly and cause the oil to overflow or splatter,” Carothers said.
What happens if you fry a frozen turkey?
Safety Tip: Never fry a frozen turkey, which can cause the hot oil to boil over, potentially leading to injury and fires. Make sure your turkey is completely thawed before frying.
Why dont you deep fry a frozen turkey?
Frozen turkeys are filled with water
For deep-frying, cooking oil is heated to around 350 degrees Fahrenheit. This is much hotter than the boiling point of water, which is 212 F. So when the ice in a frozen turkey comes in contact with the hot oil, the surface ice quickly turns to steam.
Why do frozen turkeys explode when fried?
The reason frozen turkeys explode, at its core, has to do with differences in density. There is a difference in density between oil and water and differences in the density of water between its solid, liquid and gas states. When these density differences interact in just the right way, you get an explosion.
Can I fry a frozen turkey?
Never deep-fry a frozen turkey, experts warn.
Can you fry a partially frozen turkey?
It’s perfectly safe to cook a frozen or partially frozen turkey — you just need to allow some extra cooking time. Estimate 50 percent longer cooking time for a completely frozen turkey and around 25 percent longer for a partially frozen turkey.
Why do turkeys catch on fire?
Moisture causes hot oil to erupt. Don’t have too much oil in the pot. Too much oil will overflow when displaced by the turkey and ignite when it hits the burner or open flame. Cook the turkey outside, away from your home and other structures on a non-combustible surface such as gravel.
Is deep frying a turkey safe?
The Cosumnes Fire Department warns that cooking with deep fat turkey fryers can be very dangerous as they have a high risk of tipping over, overheating, spilling hot oil, and could lead to fires, burns, or other injuries. If a turkey fryer fire occurs, call 911 immediately.
Can you put frozen food in deep fryer?
This one may seem like a no brainer, but frozen foods make the perfect deep frying vessel. Most frozen products, like French fries, are blanched prior to being frozen, which lowers cook times. This means you’ll have food cooked in top speed!