Best Turkey Fryer

Last Updated: May 8, 2023 @ 1:12 pm.

Best Turkey Fryer Pot + Burner: King Kooker Propane Outdoor Fry Boil Package

Let’s talk frying turkeys!

When it comes to frying a turkey for a family event, you have a couple basic choices: propane or electric.

Some turkey fryers come as a complete package (fryer pot with accessories plus burner), while others are just the pot (assuming you already have a heat source).

Finally, yes, there are air turkey fryers out there. 

To find the best bets, we did it the old fashioned way: we fried up some turkeys, using several popular brands of turkey fryers. Which produced the best results? Were easiest to use?

For the best turkey fryer package (pot plus burner), we thought the King Kooker did the best job overall. And it is more than a one-hit wonder: you can also use this outdoor pot and burner for a seafood boil, fish fry and more. 

Here’s more:

What We Liked

• Easy to use.

• Comes with everything you need: 33,000 BTU propane burner, turkey pot with lid and basket, timer, thermometer, and more.

• Works on up to 20 pound turkeys.

• Rack and lifting hook is easy to use.

• Portable.

• Affordable.

What Needs Work

• Timer shuts off the propane every 15 minutes. We realize this is a safety feature, but that means you have to babysit the unit and press the button every 15 minutes to keep the propane burning. It would be nice if there was a beep to warn you the 15 minutes is up.

• Boil basket could be bigger. 

• Packing could be better. The unit we tried was fine, but we see some reports that the pot arrived dented—perhaps the packaging for the unit could prevent dents.

• Works well on concrete, not so good on grass or dirt. We thought the base was stable, but we see some folks found it not as sturdy on grass or dirt.

Best Turkey Fryer Pot: Bayou Classic 3025 30QT Turkey Fryer Pot

If you already have a heat source and need a turkey fryer pot, this one would be our choice: Bayou Classic’s 3025 30 quart turkey pot.

We loved the overall quality here—and yes, you can also use it for home brewing, shrimp boils and more. 

A good burner to pair this with is the Bayou Classic SQ14 outdoor patio stove. This 41,000 burner impressed us with its power and stable base.

What We Liked

• Good size—holds an 18 lb. turkey. Also works well for fish fries, lobster fries, seafood boils and more.

• Includes poultry rack and lift hook. We found these easy to use.

• 12″ fry thermometer works well.

What Needs Work

• No accessories like a fry basket. The complete set we mention above has more accessories, including a fry basket.

Best Electric Turkey Fryer: Masterbuilt MB20010118 Electric 3-in-1 Deep Fryer

Yes, you have two choices when it comes to frying a turkey: propane or electric.

As you might guess, propane grills are designed to be used outside . . . which can be a problem if you happen to live in a place where the weather may not cooperate with your turkey plans.

An electric turkey fryer may be the best solution for these folks. After trying out several and asking our readers for their input, we pick the Masterbuilt electric fryer as the best bet here. We love this one—so easy to use and no worries about propane.

What We Liked

• Extra large capacity means you can fry a turkey up to 12 lbs.

• Built-in clips to hang the basket from the side work well.

• Easy to clean.

• Delicious results.

• Easy to use. 

What Needs Work

• Largest turkeys may need to be flipped. In our tests, if you try to fry a 12 lb. turkey, this fryer doesn’t hold enough oil to completely cover the turkey. That means you have to flip over the turkey at some point—and that isn’t an easy task. That said, this isn’t an issue if you use a smaller turkey.

• Heat doesn’t recover as fast as with propane turkey fryer. 

Best Turkey Air Fryer: Char-Broil Big Easy Oil-less Liquid Propane Turkey Fryer

What if you like the concept of a fried turkey, but prefer a more healthy alternative to oil? We’d suggest a turkey air fryer—yes, they don’t use oil. 

After trying several options ourselves and hearing back from our readers about which ones worked best, we pick the Char-Broil Big Easy as the best turkey air fryer. The results were golden brown and crispy . . . and the unit is easy to use.

What We Liked

• No oil. This fryer uses TRU-infrared heat to cook the turkey.

• Works on up to 16 lb. turkeys.

• Includes cooking basket and lifter.

• Meat thermometer included.

• Easy to clean.

• Easy to use.

• Works with injection marinades and rubs. That’s a big advantage over oil-based turkey fryers. 

• Fully enclosed burner is a nice safety feature.

What Needs Work

• Works on propane. Yes, that means you’ll have to use this unit outside. On the plus side, it comes with a propane hose. (No, the propane tank isn’t included).

• Assembly could be easier. Maybe it was just us, but this unit requires a bit of effort to get rolling.

Why Trust Us

We’ve been rating and reviewing products for the home and families since 1994. We do extensive research, evaluating products with an eye toward quality, ease of use and affordability. When we purchase a product for hands-on testing, we do so with our own money.

Here’s another key point: we don’t take money from the brands we review. No free samples, no sponsors, no “partnerships.” Our work is 100% reader-supported!