any tips on buying a Turkey Fryer?

Anything I should look for that you thought was either something you wish you had or have and REALLY think it is good to have?

Are you actually going to FRY a turkey? I look for at least a 55K BTU burner, 30qt or larger pot and obviously the rack for the bird to go in the fryer and a thermometer. Getting a pot with a drain valve would be cool, but not necessary. I think I picked mine up for like $35 at Menards

Sorry - meant for brewing beer!

One thing I wished I had regarding a turkey fryer?

Yeah... a large sheet of cardboard under it the first time I used... Made the Exxon Valdez incident look like a Ford Pinto leaking oil in a driveway... Was surprised HazMat didn't show up at my house...

I'm interested in one too. Any tips on where to score an after thanksgiving special?

enicholson said:

I'm interested in one too. Any tips on where to score an after thanksgiving special?

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just grabbed a brand new 30qt set off Craigslist for $30. I've needed a separate burner and pot for a HLT for a while.

There were a bunch more, some brand new ones too. Craigslist is awesome.

I don't know if anyone else has seen this:

Cabela's

My local add had a 7-1/2 gallon model with the same drain valve and the top of the pot was flared out (something about overflow protection). I'd like to see how the valve/inside of the pot is set up. Especially after I just installed a bulkhead and valve in mine for ~35$.

I just got one from Target for $40. It is square-based and i can put a keg on it. My other one would not hold the keg.

I Offer a tip to all of you.
Ensure that the fryer you get does NOT have a timer on it. This is mostly prevalent on ****ty little Wal Mart versions like I have. It's a great safety feature for jo-Schlub frying a turkey whilest 3/4 Drunk, but when your damn boil shuts off every 20 minutes, you're NOT GOING TO BE AMUSED!

If I had it to do over.....I'd have gone strait to a Keggle and done the $60 burner from the brew store...but I have NO regrets on the turkey fryer.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again...If you wait till you're ready to go AG, You'll never do it. Just get a cooler, convert it to mash tun...boil in a turkey fryer. You can upgrade as you go.

I suggest getting yourself a SOLID 40qt stock pot on top of a turkey burner. You can use the rinky dink 30qt pot to heat up mash water and start AGing up the brew.

I'm using a 30 qt. bayou classic form the Homedepot. I do wish I had a bigger pot so I could take more runnings and get higher post-boil efficiency.

BigKahuna said:

I Offer a tip to all of you.
Ensure that the fryer you get does NOT have a timer on it. This is mostly prevalent on ****ty little Wal Mart versions like I have. It's a great safety feature for jo-Schlub frying a turkey whilest 3/4 Drunk, but when your damn boil shuts off every 20 minutes, you're NOT GOING TO BE AMUSED!

Click to expand...

I just noticed this on that Cabela's link:


Bummer.

Check these out Home Brewing Propane Burners

enicholson said:

I just noticed this on that Cabela's link:

Due to a new CSA regulation, all turkey fryers built after July 2007 will be equipped with a safety shut-off timer. The timer will shut off the gas supply after a preset time period unless the user manually resets it.​

Bummer.

Click to expand...

Well.....The good thing is that even the stupidest person with a phillips screw driver and a butt connector can remove the timer! Take it apart and splice the 2 copper wires together. Works great!
OR skip the turkey fryer and just hit a burner. If I had it to do again, that's what I'd do, but like I said...no regrets either.

Check Craigslist, some fried a turkey over the Holiday, didn't like it and is getting rid of their used once fryer...Personally, I bought both of mine from Home Depot, $45 each. Didn't include a pot, but I have keggles.