Turkey Day OT / Fried or Oven?

[HoustonRaven]

In the spirit of OT polls such as best drink, crab house, etc ...

Are you having your turkey fried or cooked in the oven?

Put me in the fried category. We discovered fried turkey 6 years ago and have not looked back since.

I hope everyone is having a safe and happy Thanksgiving!

[ravenfever_com]

Fried at the Tailgates and OVEN at HOME !! Traditional Wins at the Household table!

[Mista T]

Neither: Tofurkey for the heath nuts in my family.

(Wild Salmon for me)

[UKRavenStockers]

Neither: Tofurkey for the heath nuts in my family.

(Wild Salmon for me)

I think you've got a good trade in their T. Let's be honest, we/you have turkey at thanksgiving/christmas for tradition's sake, but let's be honest, we don't eat it the rest of the year because it's a pretty bland meat truth be told. Give the choice of wild salmon or turkey I think you're onto a winner their T. :D


For the record we oven cook our turkey crown (just the breast, don't need a whole turkey, the crown suffices and leaves no left overs for cold turkey sandwiches for a week), I'd never even heard of frying a turkey until I started posting on the scout board however many years ago that was now.

[jonboy79]

I prefer Fried Turkey, but thanksgiving is still a family affair, so I defer too the more traditional portion of my family...

[Drkraven]

Turkey is not bad if you use a good dry rub or even barbe-q it. Barbe-q drumsticks on the grill are awesome. I fry nothing so my mom is doing traditional.

[Galen Sevinne]

A fried turkey definitely wins in the taste category but on Thanksgiving we oven cook. There is something nice about smelling the turkey cooking in the oven, kitchen all day. That being said, I still feel like putting my finger down my throat right now to relieve the pain in my stomach. There is no need to go back for seconds but I always do.:ralph:

[pyite32]

[QUOTE=UKRavenStockers;111642]Let's be honest, we/you have turkey at thanksgiving/christmas for tradition's sake, but let's be honest, we don't eat it the rest of the year because it's a pretty bland meat truth be told. QUOTE]

I disagree. I love Turkey and I would say the reason we don't have it more often is because it is a pain in the ass to cook and takes forever. I don't have hours to cook my dinner on a normal day.

[sailorsam]

I love turkey year round (slow oven-roasted seasoned drumstick). I vote fried.

[FellsPointRaven]

Or you could go with the old Madden favorite - Turducken.

A Turducken is a dish consisting of a partially de-boned turkey stuffed with a de-boned duck, which itself is stuffed with a small de-boned chicken. The thoracic cavity of the chicken and the rest of the gaps are filled with, at the very least, a highly seasoned breadcrumb mixture or sausage meat, although some versions have a different stuffing for each bird.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c3/Turducken_easter06.jpg/300px-Turducken_easter06.jpg

Can't say I've ever had one, but if I did, I'd deep fry that bad boy.

I'm also of the opinion that turkey is pretty bland. I normally go for a leg, as the dark meat is a bit more flavorful. Stuffed my face yesterday! :banana:

[flraven]

I'm with pyite, I love turkey. And just the white breast meat though. Some salt and pepper is all it needs for me.

I went to someone else's place for the meal and they did it in the oven. I have had fried though and it is excellent! That's how my brother does it, injecting some creole butter stuff under the skin and all around before cooking it.

[Beerracuda]

Went to my sister's house up in Lancaster, PA (stayed at a nearby motel, and wouldn't you know the first 3 people I saw at the motel all had Squealer's gear on!! UGH!!). Anyway, she made 2 turkey breasts (I really don't like drumsticks anyway), and they were oven baked. I've never tried deep fried, but I'm sure I'd love it.

I also disagree about turkey being bland. As someone else said, a little salt and pepper, and plenty of gravy, and it's great! Of course, hot turkey sandwiches w/gravy the next day are just as good. Of course, the best part of the turkey is the most unhealthy, so it's the part I like best - and that would be the skin. Nothing like peeling off a nice piece of skin before the cut pieces ever make it to the table! I know it's unhealthy, but what the hell do I care: I smoke and drink, so one of them will catch up to me eventually. LOL

[UKRavenStockers]

Went to my sister's house up in Lancaster, PA (stayed at a nearby motel, and wouldn't you know the first 3 people I saw at the motel all had Squealer's gear on!! UGH!!). Anyway, she made 2 turkey breasts (I really don't like drumsticks anyway), and they were oven baked. I've never tried deep fried, but I'm sure I'd love it.

I also disagree about turkey being bland. As someone else said, a little salt and pepper, and plenty of gravy, and it's great! Of course, hot turkey sandwiches w/gravy the next day are just as good. Of course, the best part of the turkey is the most unhealthy, so it's the part I like best - and that would be the skin. Nothing like peeling off a nice piece of skin before the cut pieces ever make it to the table! I know it's unhealthy, but what the hell do I care: I smoke and drink, so one of them will catch up to me eventually. LOL

That's my point though, the combination of it all is fine, I love christmas dinner, but to me a good meat can stand up on its own without slathering it in sauce and condiments, and turkey can't for my money.

[HoustonRaven]

That's my point though, the combination of it all is fine, I love christmas dinner, but to me a good meat can stand up on its own without slathering it in sauce and condiments, and turkey can't for my money.

Frying a turkey keeps the flavor in -- we have never gone back to oven baked turkey.

Because it's cooked in oil, the flavors and juices stay in the bird and do not get evaporated by the constant oven heat.

I am telling you, it's hands down the best way to cook any bird. You will change your tune on it being flavorful or I will buy your next bird! ;)

[PurpleRulz]

I have never had a deep fried turkey, but I heard it is great. For my lifestyle though, I would stick with roasted turkey. Healthier.

[HoustonRaven]

I have never had a deep fried turkey, but I heard it is great. For my lifestyle though, I would stick with roasted turkey. Healthier.

It's fried in peanut oil. Not all that bad for you. ;)

[PurpleRulz]

It's fried in peanut oil. Not all that bad for you. ;)

Interesting

[purplepoe]

Next year I'm going with this!!!!!

http://bacontoday.com/turbaconducken-turducken-wrapped-in-bacon/

Simply awesome.

PP

[HoustonRaven]

Next year I'm going with this!!!!!

http://bacontoday.com/turbaconducken-turducken-wrapped-in-bacon/

Simply awesome.

PP

Oh. My. Gawd.

:ww:

[FellsPointRaven]

I think I just had a minor coronary looking at that picture.

I'm more impressed that there is a website called 'bacon today' (obviously better than bacon yesterday) and that PP is a subscriber!

[Beerracuda]

I'm more impressed that there is a website called 'bacon today' (obviously better than bacon yesterday) and that PP is a subscriber!

:rolling: LMAO Fells! I didn't even notice the name of the site until you said it. I just clicked the link.

Oh man, as much of an unhealthy eater as I am, even I would be hesitant to try that monstrosity!

[Beerracuda]

Hey, has anyone tried an Old Bay rub on turkey before?

Just wondering if that was something worth trying.

[HoustonRaven]

Hey, has anyone tried an Old Bay rub on turkey before?

Just wondering if that was something worth trying.

I injected a sauce that was a garlic / old bay base into my turkey before I fried it. Got the idea from my Mom.

It was VERY good!

[PARavensJeff]

I fried 3 turkey's Thanksgiving Day. 2 for here & 1 to take to the in laws. When I first started doing this several years ago, we did 1 oven & 1 fried for dinner @ our house but everyone would eat the fried & than be unhappy they had to eat the oven 1. It only takes 3 minutes per pound, so you can do a 20# in an hour. I usually do 1 on Christmas to go w/ the ham. I had all kinds of neighbors coming up & telling me how great I made the neighborhood smell. I get requests from family members to bring fried turkey's to gatherings. I don't mind but maybe I can turn it into a business for neighbors & friends!! Once you have fried you won't go back to oven.