"Oilless" Turkey Fryer
 

Picked up a "Big Easy" Oilless Turkey Fryer (roaster) made by Char-Broil on sale the other day. I'm giving it a big two thumbs-up after 3 turkeys (11lb - 15lb) and a prime rib.

Naturally without oil its not a fryer, its a roaster.

Meat sits in a basket that you put in a metal bucket that sits inside of the unit. Propane burner is at the bottom with the flame going around the sides of that metal bucket. Flames never on the meat and the heat vents out the top. Any drippings go thru a whole in the bottom and collect in a pan that you can pull out and use the drippings for gravy. There is a mesh metal lid that reflects heat down on the top of the meat...

Put on dry rub... spray on some olive or peanut oil on the bird (to help crisp the skin) and that's it.

15 lb turkey took 2.25hrs +- from time I put a match to the burner.

Advantages over Frying:
- less fat
- less propane
- no $40 jug of peanut oil to buy
- no cleanup mess
- faster (when figure time to heat oil)
- can use for beef, pork or whatever kind of meat you have..,.

Advantages of Frying
- opportunity to drink more beer while the oil heats up
- more exciting...always entertaining watching people drinking around gallons of hot, flammable grease and a big propane burner
- crispy skin in every little nook and cranny of the bird (with the "oilless fryer" there is some skin on the inside of the wings/drumsticks that are not as brown as the rest b/c they were not in direct line with the outside where the heat comes from)

I can honestly say that I might never fry another turkey.. and I love fried turkey.

As they say, "A picture is worth a thousand words".:munchin

Can't get a picutre of the turkey. It got et!

As far as the fryer... just google "big easy turkey fryer" and you'll get plenty of hits / pictures.

I suck at posting pictures. I think I need professional help.

BTW, that prime rib turned out great. Just stuck a meat thermometer in it and pulled it out about 5-10deg under the temp that we wanted, then put in tinfoil to let rest.

I Just watched the video, what a great piece of equipment. Is it constructed well?
What was the weight of the rib, and how long to cook it?

Thanks ABC...now that my stomach is growling for Turkey, I'll be right over. Save me a plate. :D

First, the rib...

Not sure how big. It was from the side of beef that we had in the freezer so it didn't come with a weight on the package... Enough for 4 of us to eat My wife, two kids (who eat like adults) and myself (5-6lbs(?) guesstimate...). IIRC, it took about 1:45min. It had a decent crust o n it too...

Construction... It's not exactly heavy duty..the outside is sheet metal on the thin side but I'm not sure how heavy duty it needs to be. The inner pot seemed to be of good quality. The basket is fine... but like anything made in China, I'm sure that the quality varies... and the minute I say it's GTG you'll get one with crappy spot welds, missing parts and holes for screws that don't line up right. The only crappy thing is that the drip pan is not food-grade metal... you need to line it with foil if you want to catch the grease. and use it.


Oh, the automatic lighter crapped out after 2 uses. BUT, there is a hole for using a match/grill lighter. No big deal there.

The guy who recommended it to me told me that when he used his for the first time for a crowd of people... 6 people went out and bought one for themselves as a result. SO, after hearing that story... I bought one.

I'm sold by the EASY part. I have it under my gas grill on the back deck. I just pull it out and fire it up. No problem using it on a wood deck. The only thing is that if one has small kids BE CAREFUL. Lots of HOT surfaces. Oh, and get a good set of fireplace gloves... and be quick if you think you are going to stick your hands inside that thing once it is rolling. There is a hook that comes with it so you shouldn't have to use your hands.

Too Late. It's gone.:D