The Physics Of Why You Must Never Deep Fry A Frozen Turkey
If you forgot to defrost your turkey, definitely don’t put it in a deep fryer.
Every year, households all across the United States face a troubling dilemma with no good solutions: what should I do with my still-frozen turkey? Despite planning ahead for the annual Thanksgiving feast that’s become an American tradition, the classic centerpiece of the meal — the turkey — typically ranges between 15 and 20 pounds (7 to 9 kg), requiring three or more days to fully defrost in the refrigerator. A forgotten turkey, or one that’s been accidentally left in the freezer until it’s too late, poses a multitude of problems for hungry mouths on Thanksgiving day itself.
There are numerous ways to try and salvage a frozen turkey: thawing it in very cold, continuously-changed water; defrosting it in the microwave (if your turkey somehow fits in there); or cooking it for an extra long time at a significantly lower-than-normal temperature in the oven. In recent years, it’s become more and more popular to deep fry a Thanksgiving turkey, but if your turkey remains frozen, it’s a recipe for disaster. Here’s the physics of why you must never deep fry a frozen turkey.
