Outdoor fried turkey. There are a few different types of outdoor turkey fryers. Some are electric, some are propane. Some that are traditional turkey fryers and others that are no oil or no oil turkey fryers.

I wanted to touch on the last two as they are made by very reputable companies that primarily make outdoor cooking equipment. They are safe, easy and cook very well. The thing is, they’re not really deep fryers. They technically roast the bird using radiant heat or infrared heat.

Some of the advantages here are less mess, easier to clean, less fire hazard, other cooking options.

Obviously, you have a virtually splatter-free cooking unit, since you have no oil to spit out, pop, or boil over. This makes cleanup much easier as you don’t have to wait for the frying oil to cool down. You have no oil to filter and store. You still need to wait for the unit to cool down before cleaning and storing it, but this will take much less time than a unit filled with hot oil. Some of the parts in these units are dishwasher safe, so they save time, too. Certain parts must be cleaned by hand, however, they should never be submerged in water.

These units are safer since there is no hot oil to come into contact with open flames, which could present a potential fire hazard. However, safety precautions still need to be taken. No pets or children, of any age, are allowed to run around the unit. Remember that you still have a power cord or propane tank connected to a hot container that is filled with hot food. The sides of the unit will be hot. Make sure you have the appropriate protective gloves and your handling equipment on hand. Even though there is less chance of a fire, you still need to keep a constant eye on any outdoor cooking equipment.

Not using oil is a healthier option compared to fried foods. Less calories and no oil, but still having a crispy yet juicy turkey is definitely a plus point.

Another plus point about these units, compared to a conventional turkey fryer, is that you can use seasonings. You can still use injectable seasonings, but the dressings would normally boil immediately in hot frying oil. Marinades will now be a tasty, crunchy part of the exterior of your poultry or other meats and vegetables that can be roasted on these units. Some of these units actually have the option of adding soaked wood chips to add a smoky flavor.

Now for the negative sides. Like I said, these units don’t technically fry. You can’t make fries or traditional donuts in an infrared cooker. You can smoke food, but you can’t fry and fry. A traditional turkey fryer, it can also be boiled, steamed, and stewed. This is not an option here as there is a hole in the bottom of the unit for a drip tray.

These units are portable enough, especially propane units, but if you’re hiking or camping with an electric unit, a generator is a must. You can grill and smoke all kinds of meats and vegetables in one of these oil-free fryers, which is good for different menu options at the stadium or at camp. But having a traditional fryer that has a pot in which you can stew chili, steam corn and lobster, or fry chicken wings is much more versatile cooking equipment for people who use outdoor cooking equipment all the time. .

These radiant heating units are great. They are cleaner and safer than traditional turkey fryers. Infrared heat seals in moisture for crisp, juicy, less fattening, flavorful foods. If you’ve been looking for a turkey fryer for the holidays, but have been hesitant to buy one for safety reasons, then this may be an option for you.