Last Updated on July 26, 2025 by Lindsey
We took a Masterbuilt Turkey Fryer for a spin back in 2017. Just in time for the holidays, I wanted to share this oldie but goodie again.
My childhood memories of Thanksgiving include parades, football, and the seemingly endless wait for the turkey to come out of the oven. Roasted turkey is pretty good when it’s smothered in gravy and accompanied by cranberry dressing, stuffing. But without all those extras, it’s a little lacking. Enter fried turkey.
Unlike oven-roasting, which takes about four and a half hours for a 12-pound turkey, deep-frying takes about 4 minutes per pound. That means the turkey is done in less than an hour. Better yet, instead of dry meat, you are left with a moist turkey and delicious, golden-fried skin.
Not Available? Try These Masterbuilt Fryer Alternatives
The Masterbuilt turkey fryer was a fan favorite, but if you’re finding it out of stock (or discontinued), don’t worry. There are still some great options that deliver crispy, juicy turkey with minimal mess and maximum flavor. Here are three top rated alternatives worth considering:
1. King Kooker 29 Qt. Aluminum Turkey Pot with Lid and Basket. Turkey Rack and Lifting Hook
If you’re a traditionalist who loves the drama (and flavor) of deep-frying outdoors, this 29-qt King Kooker setup is a solid bet. It comes with everything you need—an aluminum pot, lid, and turkey rack with lifting hook. It even includes a thermometer and burner stand. It heats up fast and delivers that golden skin and juicy meat everyone’s fighting over at Thanksgiving.
👉 Buy on Amazon
2. Char-Broil Big Easy TRU-Infrared Oil-Less Turkey Fryer
Don’t want to mess with gallons of hot oil? This one’s for you. The Char-Broil Big Easy uses infrared heat to “fry” your turkey without any oil at all. It still gives you crisp skin, but with way less cleanup and fewer safety risks. Bonus: you can use it year-round for chicken, pork, or even ribs.
👉 Buy on Walmart
3. Bayou Classic 44-Quart Big Bird Kit
Cooking for a crowd or tackling a jumbo bird? This oversized 44-quart stainless steel fryer from Bayou Classic is made for serious turkey fans. It fits birds up to 25 pounds and includes a heavy-duty pot, sturdy stand, thermometer, and lift hook. It’s a beast in the best way—ideal for outdoor frying, boiling, or even seafood feasts.
👉 View on Walmart
The Masterbuilt might be tough to find, but these alternatives give you all the juicy, flavorful payoff—whether you’re going oil-free with the Big Easy, sticking to propane with King Kooker, or leveling up with Bayou Classic’s extra-large setup. Just don’t forget your meat thermometer and a solid game plan for leftovers.
Or Skip the Oil and Smoke Your Turkey Instead
If deep frying feels like too much fuss (or clean up), there’s another crowd-pleasing option: smoking your turkey. The flavor? Unbeatable. Think tender, juicy meat with a rich, smoky crust that’s full of depth—not grease.
Masterbuilt may be phasing out its fryers, but it’s doubled down on what it does best: smokers. We’ve used our Masterbuilt Digital Electric Smoker for everything from whole turkeys to ribs, and it never disappoints. It’s easy to use, even for beginners, and it makes holiday cooking feel way more relaxed (plus, your backyard will smell amazing).
👉 Curious about how it compares? Check out our full review of the Masterbuilt electric smoker for tips, tricks, and photos of the delicious results.
Reviewing the Masterbuilt Turkey Fryer
I was lucky enough to try out* the Butterball Electric Turkey Fryer for a pre-Thanksgiving fried turkey rehearsal. Unfortunately, the camera ate my pics of the finished product, but I was really impressed by how simple and easy it was to use. Simply fill the fryer with about two gallons of peanut oil, preheat the oil for about a half-hour (the fryer lets you know when it’s ready), and put the turkey–in its metal basket–into the fryer. Just make sure that your turkey is completely thawed before frying unless you want to end up on the local news.
I was very impressed with how thoughtfully designed the fryer is. Manufactured by our friends at Masterbuilt, who previously let us take one of their awesome Electric Smokehouses on a test drive, the Butterball Fryer is meant to be used indoors — I set it up on the kitchen island. The lid keeps splatter contained while letting steam escape. Once the turkey is done cooking, you can lift the basket and attach it to the rim of the fryer above the oil vat so that the turkey can drain and cool without leaving an oily mess behind. Afterward, the drain valve simplified clean-up and made it easy to save the oil for another day (oil has about six hours of cooking life in it – that’s a lot of turkeys).
If you’re on the fence about trying a fried turkey, I say just go for it. It’s simple, hard to screw up, and way faster than oven roasting. Best of all, it’s decidedly better tasting!
Turkey Traditions Around the World
While deep-frying turkey might be an American Thanksgiving tradition, other cultures have their own celebratory feasts worth exploring. In Portugal, roast suckling pig steals the show. In Italy, it’s all about multi-course meals with regional meats and homemade pastas. And in France, Christmas goose or capon takes the spotlight.
We love seeing how food brings people together in every corner of the globe—and bringing those flavors home to our own table.
*Thank you to the folks at Masterbuilt for providing the fryer used in this article. While the fryer was free, my enthusiasm is 100% real! Adventurous Tastes is reader-supported. I have included affiliate links in this article and may receive a commission for any purchases made using them.
