Turkey Fryers have become a smash hit! Within the past few years, folks all across the country have begun to experiment with old traditions – some of which would have your grandparents spinning in their graves. No longer are turkeys the only holiday feast. Lamb, goose, duck and ham have all made their appearance as the Thanksgiving centerpiece. But no matter your taste buds, there is a truly remarkable and unbelievable succulent tradition waiting to be had in your kitchen this year: fried turkey. Deep frying turkeys has long been a southern tradition. It’s not until recently that the rest of the country has caught onto this phenomenon.

Now I know what you’re thinking – frying an entire turkey via a turkey fryer is not possible in a residential kitchen. And beyond that, it probably doesn’t taste good anyway! This is where you’re wrong. There are several key advantages to having your turkey fried this year, the main being time consumption. Every year you may get stuck with the unfortunate task – and added pressure – of putting together the plate that brings the whole day together. Not to add any more fuel to the fire but without a solid turkey, the entire meal might as well be abolished (but that’s just me). With that said, you probably have to finish baking a pie, whipping up some mean mashed potatoes and wrangling up the kids to set the table, which you probably correct before the guests arrive anyway. If there’s one thing you could use more of, it’s probably not screaming kids but more time! That’s where a turkey fryer comes in handy. Simply pat the bird dry, throw on your favorite seasonings and stick that baby in the fryer for cooking. 45 minutes later, you’re free to feast. Sure beats a 4-6 hour turkey baking marathon I’m sure you’re used to, huh?

To follow this point, most people like the idea of saving time. But the taste; you certainly want to impress your family, and more importantly your mom who thinks you still don’t know how to cook. Well the reviews are in! Ask anyone that’s ever experienced a turkey deep-fried style and they’ll tell you it’s delicious. The meat is moist and incredibly flavorful, while the outside gleams of crispy goodness. Again, the south has long known this but the rest of the world is starting to come around. Countless kitchens are stocking up on turkey fryers for the holidays and several others vow to “never roast a turkey again!”

So there you have it. The two biggest reasons to scrap the baking dish for a turkey fryer. Sure, your first time around may be a little stressful as you adjust to the perfect size and measurement of oil. But once you master this tradition, a fried turkey will surely become a long standing tradition your children won’t ever give up. And at the end of the day, that’s what the holidays are all about: friends, family…and the turkey fryer!