Best Turkey Fryers for Thanksgiving (2026): 6 Indoor, Outdoor and Oil-Free Picks
Six turkey fryers compared on fuel, the biggest bird each one fits and how much oil they need, plus the safety rules that matter most.
Best indoor: Butterball XL. Best oil-free: Big Easy Oil-Less. Most versatile: Big Easy 3-in-1. Best outdoor value: Bayou Classic 30 Qt.
Fried turkey cooks in under an hour and comes out with shatter-crisp skin. The catch is several gallons of very hot oil, which is why the type of fryer you choose matters as much as the brand.
For most homes, the Masterbuilt Butterball XL: an electric fryer built for indoor use that takes a turkey up to 20 lb. For no oil at all, the Char-Broil Big Easy uses infrared heat. The Bayou Classic kit is the budget pick for outdoor oil frying.
Start with the type, then the size of turkey you usually buy.
Quick Picks: The Best Turkey Fryers
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Masterbuilt Butterball XL Indoor Electric Turkey Fryer
Fries a turkey up to 20 lb on the kitchen counter, no propane.
Check Butterball XL Price →Char-Broil The Big Easy Oil-Less Turkey Fryer
Crisp skin with no oil to buy, heat or throw away.
Check Big Easy Oil-Less Price →Char-Broil Big Easy TRU-Infrared Smoker, Roaster and Grill
One cooker that smokes, roasts and grills, with room for a 25 lb bird.
Check Big Easy 3-in-1 Price →Bayou Classic 30-Quart Turkey Fryer Kit
The classic outdoor pot, burner, rack and thermometer kit.
Check Bayou Classic 30 Qt Price →Turkey Fryer Comparison Chart
All six side by side. Tap any name to see today’s price on Amazon.
| Turkey fryer | Fuel | Biggest turkey | Oil | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Masterbuilt Butterball XL Indoor Electric Turkey Fryer | Electric | Up to 20 lb | Oil | $$ |
| Char-Broil The Big Easy Oil-Less Turkey Fryer | Propane infrared | Up to 16 lb | None | $$ |
| Char-Broil Big Easy TRU-Infrared Smoker, Roaster and Grill | Propane infrared | Up to 25 lb | None | $$ |
| Masterbuilt Butterball Oil-Free Electric Turkey Fryer and Roaster | Electric radiant | Up to 18 lb | None | $$ |
| Bayou Classic 30-Quart Turkey Fryer Kit | Propane oil | Up to 20 lb | Oil | $ |
| King Kooker 30-Quart Turkey Frying Package | Propane oil | Pot size 30 qt | Oil | $ |
Specs as stated by each brand. Price tiers are a rough guide and change often, especially around Black Friday: $ under $100 · $$ $100–200 · $$$ over $200.
The 6 Best Turkey Fryers, Reviewed
Indoor electric first, then oil-free models, then the classic outdoor propane kits.
Masterbuilt Butterball XL Indoor Electric Turkey Fryer
The Butterball XL is the reason many families fry a turkey at all: it plugs into a wall outlet and is built for indoor use, so there is no propane tank and no open flame. The thermostat holds the oil temperature, the basket and hook lower the bird slowly, and the drain valve makes emptying the oil far less messy.
- No propane or open flame
- Thermostat keeps oil steady
- Drain valve for easier cleanup
- Still needs a lot of oil
- Takes a while to heat the oil
Char-Broil The Big Easy Oil-Less Turkey Fryer
The Big Easy cooks with infrared heat instead of hot oil. You get browned, crackly skin and juicy meat without buying gallons of oil, waiting for it to heat or working out how to get rid of it afterwards. It runs on a propane tank outdoors and fits a turkey up to 16 lb in its basket.
- No oil cost, splatter or disposal
- Lower risk than a pot of hot oil
- Also roasts chicken and roasts
- 16 lb limit
- Skin is crisp but not quite oil-fried
Char-Broil Big Easy TRU-Infrared Smoker, Roaster and Grill
The bigger Big Easy adds a smoker box and a grill grate to the oil-free roasting basket, and it takes a turkey up to 25 lb. That makes it a year-round cooker: smoked turkey at Thanksgiving, roast chicken on a weeknight and burgers in summer.
- Fits big turkeys up to 25 lb
- Smokes, roasts and grills
- No oil needed
- Larger to store
- Costs more than the basic Big Easy
Masterbuilt Butterball Oil-Free Electric Turkey Fryer and Roaster
This Masterbuilt combines two of the easiest ideas on the list: it plugs in like an electric fryer, and it cooks with radiant heat instead of oil like the Big Easy. You skip both the propane tank and the oil. It fits a turkey up to 18 lb and also roasts chicken, wings and beef or lamb roasts.
- No oil and no propane
- Simple plug-in setup
- Drip pan catches juices for gravy
- Skin is less crisp than oil-fried
- 18 lb limit
Bayou Classic 30-Quart Turkey Fryer Kit
This is the traditional fried-turkey setup: a 30-quart pot on a sturdy four-leg propane burner, with a rack, a lifting hook and a 12-inch thermometer to watch the oil. It is the lowest-cost way to fry a turkey up to 20 lb, and the pot doubles for big batches of soup or frying for a crowd.
- Lowest cost for real oil-fried turkey
- Long thermometer to watch the oil
- Pot is useful year-round
- Outdoor use only, with full safety precautions
- Needs several gallons of oil
King Kooker 30-Quart Turkey Frying Package
King Kooker has made outdoor fryers for decades, and its 30-quart package includes the pot, burner stand, thermometer and the rack and lifter you need for a whole turkey. It is a straightforward alternative to the Bayou Classic; compare the two on today’s price and pick whichever is cheaper on the day.
- Everything in one box
- Simple, proven design
- Pot works for big-batch cooking
- Outdoor use only
- Oil and propane sold separately
Which Type of Turkey Fryer Is Right for You?
Indoor electric
Plugs in, holds the oil at a set temperature and has a drain valve. Easiest and safest way to oil-fry. Turkeys up to about 20 lb. Pick: Butterball XL.
Oil-less infrared
No oil at all. Crisp skin, juicy meat, nothing to dispose of. Propane or electric. Picks: Big Easy or Butterball Oil-Free.
Outdoor propane
The traditional pot and burner. Cheapest, but needs the most care and outdoor space. Picks: Bayou Classic or King Kooker.
Not sure you want a turkey-sized fryer? A countertop fryer handles turkey breast, wings and fries; see the best deep fryers for home and this deep-fried turkey breast.
Turkey Fryer Safety: The Rules That Matter
Most turkey fryer fires happen for the same few reasons: too much oil, a wet or frozen bird, or a fryer set up in the wrong place. Fire safety groups such as the NFPA urge extreme caution with oil fryers, so follow every rule, every time.
- Thaw completely and pat dry. Ice and water make hot oil boil over. Never fry a frozen or partly frozen turkey.
- Measure the oil with water first. Put the turkey in the empty pot, cover it with water, lift it out and mark the line. That is your oil fill line. Dry the pot fully before adding oil.
- Outdoor fryers stay outdoors. On flat ground, well away from the house, never in a garage, on a wooden deck or under a roof.
- Burner off while lowering. Turn off the flame, lower the turkey slowly, then relight.
- Keep a grease-rated extinguisher nearby and never use water on an oil fire. See the best fire extinguishers for kitchen use.
- Wear long heat-resistant gloves, like the Grill Heat Aid gloves, and keep children and pets well back.
The full walk-through is in frying a turkey for Thanksgiving.
Oil, Timing and Doneness
| Step | What to do |
|---|---|
| Oil | A high-smoke-point oil such as peanut, canola or a frying blend. Mind nut allergies with peanut oil. |
| Temperature | Most recipes heat the oil to about 350°F and let it recover after the turkey goes in. |
| Timing | A common guide is about 3 to 4 minutes per pound in oil; oil-less fryers take longer. Follow your fryer’s manual. |
| Doneness | 165°F in the thickest part of the breast and the innermost thigh (USDA). |
| Rest | Drain on a rack, then rest 20 to 30 minutes before carving. |
How to Choose a Turkey Fryer
Six things to check before you buy.
Oil or no oil
Oil frying gives the classic result; infrared oil-less fryers are safer and cleaner but slightly less crisp.
Match your turkey
Most fryers top out between 16 and 20 lb; the larger Big Easy fits 25 lb. Smaller birds fry more evenly.
Electric or propane
Electric models hold temperature on their own; propane needs you to watch and adjust the flame.
Valve or pour
A drain valve, like on the Butterball XL, makes emptying several gallons of oil much easier.
Rack, hook, thermometer
Make sure the box includes a turkey rack, a lifting hook and an oil thermometer.
Year-round use
A fryer you can also use for wings, fries or roasts earns its cupboard space.
Would rather roast? A roaster oven frees your main oven with no oil at all. Into smoking? See the top pellet grills.
Turkey Fryer FAQs
What is the best turkey fryer?▼
The Masterbuilt Butterball XL for most homes: it is electric, built for indoor use and fries a turkey up to 20 lb. For no oil, the Char-Broil Big Easy is the top pick.
Are indoor turkey fryers safe?▼
Electric fryers designed for indoor use are much safer than propane pots because they control the oil temperature. Still use them on a stable counter, away from cabinets, with a fully thawed, dry turkey.
How big a turkey can you deep fry?▼
Most fryers handle up to about 20 lb. The Big Easy 3-in-1 fits 25 lb. Smaller birds, 12 to 14 lb, cook more evenly and are easier to lower safely.
How much oil do you need to fry a turkey?▼
It depends on the pot and the bird, often several gallons. Measure with water first: the water line with the turkey in the pot is your oil fill line.
How long does it take to fry a turkey?▼
A common guide is about 3 to 4 minutes per pound at around 350°F, so a 12 lb turkey takes roughly 40 to 50 minutes. Go by temperature: 165°F in the breast and thigh.
What is the best oil for frying a turkey?▼
A high-smoke-point oil such as peanut, canola or a frying blend. Peanut oil is traditional, but choose another if any guests have a nut allergy.
Can you fry a frozen turkey?▼
No, never. Ice turns to steam instantly and can make the oil boil over and catch fire. Thaw it fully in the fridge and pat it dry inside and out.
Do oil-less turkey fryers really work?▼
Yes. Infrared models like the Big Easy roast with intense radiant heat, giving browned, crisp skin and juicy meat with no oil, though the skin is slightly less crunchy.
Can you reuse turkey frying oil?▼
Often, yes. Let it cool, strain it, store it covered in a cool dark place and use it within a few weeks. Throw it out if it smells off or looks dark and thick.
Where should you set up an outdoor turkey fryer?▼
On flat, bare ground well away from the house, never in a garage, on a wooden deck or under a roof, with a grease-rated fire extinguisher nearby.
Can you fry a turkey breast instead of a whole turkey?▼
Yes, and it is easier. A breast fries faster and fits countertop fryers; try this deep-fried turkey breast recipe.
Is a turkey fryer worth buying?▼
If you host every year, yes. Choose one you will use beyond Thanksgiving, like the Big Easy 3-in-1 or an electric fryer that also handles wings and fries.
The Bottom Line
- Best indoor: Masterbuilt Butterball XL, up to 20 lb.
- Best oil-free: Char-Broil Big Easy, up to 16 lb.
- Most versatile: Big Easy Smoker, Roaster and Grill, up to 25 lb.
- Easiest oil-free: Butterball Oil-Free, plug-in and no propane.
- Best outdoor value: Bayou Classic 30-Quart or King Kooker.
Whatever you buy, thaw the turkey fully and measure the oil with water first. Those two steps prevent most fryer fires.
