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20 pound turkey (THOROUGHLY DRIED OFF WITH PAPER TOWELS - OIL AND WATER DO NOT MIX!)
Rinse turkey well and pat dry inside and out. Sprinkle with salt and cayenne pepper. Rub the seasonings into the turkey. Place a rack in the bottom of a deep kettle large enough to hold the turkey. Pour in enough vegetable oil to cover the turkey. Heat to 350°F to 375°F.
Lower the turkey into the oil very slowly.
Fry turkey for about 1 hour and 20 minutes or about 4 minutes per pound. Remove turkey from oil and drain well. Turkey is done if meat thermometer inserted in turkey breast reads 180°F.
Poster's Notes:
For obvious reasons, this is done outside in special turkey fryers. I see them for sale at Walmart's (about $70) and I just saw an ad for (I think) Linen's and Things or Bed, Bath and Beyond for a turkey fryer selling for about $50.
Posted by Marcia Emanuele
Nutritional Info Per Serving: N/A
Salt, to taste
1 tablespoon cayenne pepper
80 cups vegetable cooking oil (more or less!!)
When we lived in Louisiana (back in the late '80's) this way of cooking a turkey was just becoming popular. I have never done this myself, but I have eaten it and it is very tasty. It does not have a "fried" taste and the skin (I do eat it!!) is nice and crunchy.