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Turkey Fry Thermometer: Don’t Fry Without One

In the traditional method of baking or roasting a turkey, it is necessary to continually check the temperature of not only the bird itself, but also any stuffing inside the bird. This is a continuous process for several hours to ensure a well-done turkey.

With a turkey fryer, this task is greatly reduced as only the temperature of the frying oil needs to be maintained and controlled. Also, cooking time is measured in minutes instead of hours. To properly check the temperature of the oil, a good fry thermometer is necessary. You should never attempt to fry a turkey without the help of a good one and because this is so important it would be a good idea to have an extra available.

The oil should be brought to temperature and then held while making sure you never overheat the oil, which will be indicated by smoking the oil. Overheating spoils oil and a thermometer is cheap insurance when you consider the cost of frying oil.

Thermometers are available in styles ranging from the very basic dial type to advanced digital and even battery powered remote units that allow you to monitor the temperature of the oil from up to 150 feet away from the fryer. Of course, fancy models aren’t necessary, but they do provide convenience, especially if you’ve placed your deep fryer in a remote location to keep it safely away from guests and children while frying.

Some of the basic models have dials marked with red and green symbols to indicate the proper temperature for frying. Most have clips that allow them to be attached to the side of the pot. Some homeowners have complained about models sticking out in the center of the pot when clamped to the side, opting for models that stay close to the side of the pot.

The best models have the ability to be recalibrated and it is a good idea to check their accuracy from time to time. Since most fry thermometers are marked in 100 to 500 degree F increments, the cold calibration method will not work with them. These units are calibrated by placing them in a pot of boiling water which should read 212 degrees. Because water boils at slightly different temperatures the higher above sea level you live, you may need to do some additional calibration to be completely accurate.

This extra step is accomplished by checking with your local weather office for your local barometric pressure and then visiting a website that will quickly calibrate this to your local conditions. There are a number of websites that offer this free service and it should be easy to locate them with any search engine query.

Thermometers in their simplest form are pretty basic instruments. However, because they are such an important part of the turkey frying technique, you would do well to do a little internet searching of owner reviews to ensure you are getting the features you prefer at the best price.

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