The 7 Best Turkey Fryers of 2024, Tested & Reviewed

Best Overall

King Kooker 29-Quart Turkey Frying Cooker Package

Orig. $108 $101 at Amazon $130 at Walmart $107 at Wayfair

This complete set includes everything you need for turkey frying and more. The sturdy propane burner assembly puts out 38,000 BTU of power, which is more than enough to fry up to a 20-pound turkey in the 29-quart pot. The kit comes with a simple rack and lifting hook to slowly lower the turkey into the oil and remove it when it's done as well as an extra-long oil thermometer.

Though you won’t need the lid while frying turkey, it will come in handy while you’re preheating the oil or cooking other foods. In a helpful feature, the gas regulator has a battery-operated timer (the two AAA batteries aren't included) that reminds you to check the turkey and cuts off the fuel in case you forget.

The major negative with the King Kooker kit is its aluminum pot. Compared to the stainless steel many brands use, aluminum doesn't hold heat as well and isn't as heavy-duty. Some reviewers report their pots getting dented or damaged easily.

Dimensions: 13.4 x 13.4 x 27.5 inches | Empty Weight: 15.6 pounds | Capacity: 29 quarts | Maximum Turkey Size: 20 pounds | Power: 39,000 BTU | Includes: 29-quart pot, lid, 38,000-BTU burner, rack, lifting hook, timer, thermometer

Best Without Burner

Bayou Classic 1118 32-Quart Turkey Fryer

$115 at Amazon $107 at Walmart $123 at Wayfair

If you already have an outdoor burner, there’s no need to spend extra money on a full kit or an all-in-one machine—just buy our favorite turkey-frying pot. The Bayou Classic includes a 32-quart stainless steel pot that's non-reactive, extremely durable, and easy to keep clean. When you’re not using it for turkey, it's great for a seafood boil or fish fry, or as an enormous stockpot for party-sized batches of soup, chili, or Sunday sauce.

But that excellent pot also comes with everything you need for success at the complicated process of deep-frying a turkey. The perforated basket sits on an indentation in the bottom of the pot to avoid uneven heating, includes a rack to hold the turkey upright, and then lifts out (using the included lifting hook) and drains at the same time. The pot has heavy-duty handles, so you can move it even when it’s full, and the vented lid avoids issues with boiling over. Plus, you get an indispensable clip-on oil thermometer and a seasoning injector syringe to ensure every bit of meat is juicy and delicious.

The basket and indented pot can be used for steaming (like, say, a huge batch of tamales), and there's also a skewer set for frying up to three chickens at once. If you're an outdoor-cooking aficionado, this is probably the choice for you.

Dimensions: 14 x 14 x 18 inches | Empty Weight: 12.2 pounds | Capacity: 32 quarts | Maximum Turkey Size: 18 pounds | Includes: 32-quart pot, lid, perforated basket, lifting hook, poultry rack, skewer set, clip-on thermometer, seasoning injector

Best Burner

Bayou Classic High-Pressure Propane Burner

$86 at Amazon $88 at Walmart View on Wayfair

In order to heat multiple gallons of oil to turkey-frying temperature, you need a burner with serious power as well plenty of stability to hold a heavy pot of fat and bird. Bayou Classic's burner delivers both, with a list-leading 59,000 BTU and low, wide-set legs that can handle a pot of up to 62 quarts—much bigger than you'll need for even the largest of turkeys.

The round cooking surface the pot sits on is an extra-large 14 inches wide, so there's plenty of room for a wide pot to rest comfortably. There's a windscreen around the burner itself that's supposed to make it easier to light on windy days, but some users report that it's not very effective. (Just make sure the flame is lit before you walk away; once it's going, it shouldn't blow out.)

You will, of course, need a separate cooking vessel to use with this burner. It can hold basically any pot (as long as it's smaller than 62 quarts), but we say it'll work especially well with its Bayou Classic sibling above, which includes all the turkey-frying equipment you need, as well.

Dimensions: 18 x 18 x 13 inches | Weight: 13 pounds | Power: 59,000 BTU

Best Large-Capacity

Bayou Classic 44-Quart "Big Bird" Kit

$329 at Amazon $319 at Walmart View on Shop.com

If your Thanksgiving guest list stretches two or three pages, this turkey-frying kit might be the right one for you. It includes a 44-quart pot that can handle a 25-pound bird, plus a 58,000-BTU burner that brought 5 gallons of oil to frying temperature in just 20 minutes when we tested it. The pot and burner are both made from heavy-duty stainless steel, with sturdy legs and a wind shield on the latter that had no trouble lighting or heating up even on a blustery cold Colorado day.

The huge container is great for boiling and steaming as well as frying, and the easy-to-sterilize material is ideal for boiling wort, the first step in home-brewing beer. It's also non-reactive to acidic ingredients, making it perfect for that giant batch of tomatoes you’ll be canning. The included 48-inch propane hose will ensure you can position your tank conveniently (and far away from the burner for safety). While the pot is dishwasher safe, it’s unlikely to fit in your home dishwasher.

Problem is, the pot might be too big. You'll need to fill it most of the way with costly oil whether you're frying a 25-pound turkey or just a 3-pound chicken, and it'll heat unevenly if you try to use it with small amounts of food. We were also a little disappointed with the extensive set of accessories included: The poultry rack and skewers are made of aluminum that bends easily and made the test birds less secure during frying. The included thermometer is also only 12 inches long, too short to insert at middle depth for a truly accurate rating. That said, those accessories do encompass everything you need to fry a turkey safely and successfully.

This kit's price is generally fairly high, but make sure to check multiple sellers, as its cost varies widely from retailer to retailer, and it goes on sale often.

Dimensions: 16 x 16 x 21 inches | Empty Weight: 35 pounds | Capacity: 44 quarts | Maximum Turkey Size: 25 pounds | Power: 58,000 BTU | Includes: 44-quart pot, lid, 58,000-BTU burner, perforated basket, lifting hook, poultry rack, skewer set, clip-on thermometer, seasoning injector

Best Budget

Bayou Classic 30-Quart Aluminum Turkey Fryer Pot

$86 at Amazon $84 at Walmart $104 at Houzz

If you’ve already got a propane burner or other method for heating a large volume of oil, all you need to fry your turkey is a pot that’s large enough. And if you'll only be using it a few times a year, this 30-quart pot might be a good deal. It's commercial-grade aluminum that’s lighter and less expensive than stainless steel.

The Bayou Classic Turkey Fryer Pot comes with a full set of turkey-frying tools and accessories, but it's also versatile. The pot will come in handy for boiling, steaming, or cooking large quantities of just about anything. However, since aluminum is a reactive metal, it shouldn’t be used for cooking acidic foods like tomatoes.

This kit includes a 12-inch stainless steel thermometer that reads from 50 to 750 degrees, a vented lid, a perforated poultry rack, a grab hook, and a 1-ounce trial seasoning injector.

Dimensions: 14 x 14 x 17 inches | Empty Weight: 7 pounds | Capacity: 30 quarts | Maximum Turkey Size: 18 pounds | Includes: 30-quart pot, lid, poultry rack, lifting hook, clip-on thermometer, seasoning injector

Best Indoor

Masterbuilt Electric Fryer Boiler Steamer

$129 at Amazon $189 at Walmart $130 at Home Depot

When using one of the propane-based turkey fryers above, you need to be outdoors for safety, no exceptions: High-powered burners, huge pots of bubbling oil, and even a roomy kitchen space do not mix. But this electric machine can sit right on the countertop. It uses 2.5 gallons of oil for frying, somewhat less than most outdoor models, though it can still accommodate up to a 20-pound turkey. (You can of course use it outdoors, too—assuming you have access to an outlet.) Its 1,650 watts of power is equivalent to just 5,630 BTU, but the enclosed space heats more efficiently, and the unit controls the heat and temperature all by itself.

Users rave about how easy the setup and cooking process are, with a single simple control dial and ready-to-cook light that turns on when it's hit the correct temperature. The basket has a lifting hook to pull it out of the hot oil, along with clips to hold it in place above the reservoir for safe and secure draining. Cleanup is a breeze, as well, thanks to a built-in-valve for draining off the oil, and a removable lid, pot, and basket that are all dishwasher-safe.

When you aren't using it for frying, this appliance can also be put to work for steaming or boiling: Just fill it partially or all the way with water instead of oil. Whether you want to host a classic Low Country boil, throw a dim sum dumpling feast, or just steam some veggies, the Masterbuilt can do it all.

Dimensions: 18.4 x 16.5 x 14.8 inches | Empty Weight: 20.5 pounds | Capacity: 10 liters | Maximum Turkey Size: 20 pounds | Power: 1,650 watts | Includes: Cooking basket, lifting hook, drain clips

Best Oil-Less

Char-Broil Infrared Oil-Less Turkey Fryer

Orig. $160 $100 at Amazon $150 at Walmart $160 at Ace Hardware

Does it count as fried turkey if it's not actually cooked in hot oil? We'll leave that existential question for another day, but whatever you call this machine's cooking method, it achieves similar results to "true" deep-frying, with crisp skin and juicy interior, but with less mess and more safety. The Char-Broil Big Easy is based on infrared technology; it uses propane to heat the whole exterior of the cooking pot and transfer heat through the air to all surfaces of the food inside at once.

It can hold up to a 16-pound turkey, which is a bit smaller than others on this list but still large enough for a Thanksgiving feast. And since there's no oil to dissolve seasoning, you can coat your bird with a rub for unique flavor without having to worry about spatters or boil-over. Users report excellent results, though cooking is slower than traditional deep-frying. You need eight to 10 minutes per pound, which means a 16-pound turkey might take more than two hours to cook fully.

Like other propane-powered appliances, you'll need to use this machine outdoors, but it can handle lots of foods beyond turkey: Try it with roasts, ribs, tenderloins, chickens—really any large items. There's also a package of accessories sold separately that adds custom-sized parts for kebabs and lots of other recipe options.

Dimensions: 21.1 x 21.1 x 24.5 inches | Empty Weight: 30 pounds | Capacity: 8.7 quarts | Maximum Turkey Size: 16 pounds | Power: 16,000 BTU | Includes: Cooking basket, lifting hook, thermometer