Big Easy Turkey Fryer Reviews: The One Turkey Fryer That Actually Delivers Crispy Skin

If you want juicy turkey with crispy skin without the danger, mess, or expense of gallons of hot oil, you should buy the Big Easy Turkey Fryer.

I switched after one too many stressful deep-frying attempts, and this infrared oil-less cooker has delivered perfect results for my family every holiday since.

You get that classic fried flavor and texture in about two hours, plus usable drippings for gravy, all while keeping everyone safe. It has become my go-to for Thanksgiving and beyond.

My Experience Using The Big Easy Turkey Fryer

Last November I pulled my Big Easy out of storage for our family gathering. I had a 14-pound bird ready to go.

Assembly had taken me and my brother about an hour the first time we set it up years ago, but now it lives in the garage covered and ready.

I seasoned the chamber once at the beginning like the instructions suggested, wiping it with a high-smoke-point oil and letting it burn off until it turned a nice dark color.

That step really helps with even cooking and easier cleanup later.

I thawed the turkey completely in the fridge, then let it sit out for half an hour so it started around 40 degrees.

I injected it with a simple butter and herb marinade, patted it very dry, gave it a light coat of oil, and rubbed on my favorite seasoning blend.

No sugar-heavy rubs because they can burn. Legs down into the basket it went, and I lowered the whole thing into the cooker. Propane tank hooked up, quick ignite, and I set it on high.

The unit heated fast with almost no preheat wait. I set a timer for two hours and walked away to handle sides in the oven that the Big Easy had freed up.

No basting, no constant checking, and best of all no worrying about oil fires with the kids running around outside. Around the two-hour mark I checked the internal temperature in the thickest parts of the breast and thigh.

It hit 165 degrees right at about two hours and twenty minutes total. I pulled it out, let it rest under loose foil for twenty minutes while I made gravy from the drippings in the tray.

When I carved it, the meat was incredibly juicy all the way through. The skin came out golden and crispy enough that everyone commented on it. I had lightly sprayed a tiny bit of oil on the skin about halfway through and used the mesh lid for the last fifteen minutes, and that little trick made a big difference.

The flavor was spot on, better than some of my past oven attempts that dried out the white meat. My brother-in-law, who usually insists on traditional oil-fried turkey, admitted this one tasted just as good without any of the hassle.

We had plenty of leftovers for sandwiches and soup, and cleanup was straightforward. I burned off the chamber for fifteen minutes with the lid on, let it cool, brushed out the loose bits, and emptied the lined grease tray. The whole process felt relaxed instead of chaotic.

You will probably notice the same things I did. The infrared heat gives even cooking without hot spots, the unit stays relatively quiet, and there is zero smoke or flare-ups. It handles weather changes okay, though wind or very cold days might add ten or fifteen minutes.

I have since used it for whole chickens and a small roast with equally good results. After several seasons of use, I can say it has earned its spot as a holiday essential in my backyard.

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The Pros of Choosing The Big Easy

• Safer Cooking Experience For The Whole Family You and everyone around you can relax during the holidays instead of stressing about hot oil accidents. There are no gallons of flammable liquid to manage, no risk of dangerous boil-overs, and no open flames near splashing fat. I have let my kids help watch the process from a safe distance because nothing can suddenly flare up. This peace of mind has completely changed how I approach Thanksgiving. You simply light the propane, set the bird inside, and walk away knowing the infrared technology handles everything safely. For households with children or pets, or anyone who has heard the scary stories about traditional fryers, this safety advantage alone makes the switch worthwhile.
• Healthier Results Without Added Oil Every bite of turkey comes out juicy and flavorful with zero extra fat or calories from frying oil. Traditional deep-fried birds absorb quite a bit of oil, which adds unnecessary heaviness and cholesterol. The Big Easy uses pure infrared heat, so you enjoy the taste and texture you crave while keeping the meal lighter. My family has noticed we feel better after eating compared to past oil-fried versions. You can still achieve that satisfying crispy skin with just a light brush of oil on the outside if you want, but the meat itself stays clean and wholesome. It is an easy win if you are trying to make holiday meals a bit healthier without sacrificing enjoyment.
• Delicious Drippings Perfect For Gravy One of my favorite surprises was discovering how much flavorful liquid collects in the grease tray. I line it with a disposable aluminum pan for easy cleanup and pour those drippings straight into a saucepan for rich homemade gravy. Oil fryers rarely produce usable drippings because everything gets coated in peanut oil. With the Big Easy you get clean turkey juices that taste incredible. You will find yourself making gravy every single time instead of opening a can or packet. It elevates the whole meal and gives you that from-scratch feeling with almost no extra work.
• Simple Operation Once Assembled After the initial setup, using the Big Easy feels almost effortless. You prep your bird, lower it in, light the burner, and let it cook. There is no need to baste, flip, or constantly monitor like with an oven. I usually check the temperature once or twice near the end, but otherwise I can focus on everything else happening in the kitchen. You will appreciate how hands-off it becomes after the first use. The quick heat-up and fast cool-down also mean you are not waiting around forever before or after cooking.
• Frees Up Your Kitchen Oven Completely During the biggest cooking day of the year, oven space is precious. The Big Easy handles the turkey outdoors so your oven stays available for sides, stuffing, pies, and rolls. You avoid the juggling act of trying to fit everything in one appliance. I have even cooked a couple of chickens at once using the racks in some models or simply done the turkey first and kept it warm while finishing other dishes. This separation of tasks makes the whole day run smoother and less stressful for anyone hosting.
• Fast Cool Down And Easy Storage Once dinner is over, the unit cools down in about fifteen minutes so you can move it or cover it without waiting. Traditional oil fryers stay dangerously hot for hours. You can store the Big Easy in a garage or shed with a fitted cover and it stays protected between holidays. The quick turnaround means less time spent on post-meal cleanup and more time enjoying your family.

Potential Drawbacks of Big Easy Turkey Fryer To Consider

• Initial Assembly Takes Patience The first time you put the Big Easy together, the instructions rely mostly on pictures and can feel confusing. It took me and a helper over an hour, and we double-checked a few connections. Once it is built, however, it stays solid and you rarely need to touch it again. You should plan for that upfront time and maybe watch a quick video if the pictures leave you unsure.
• Heavy And Bulky To Move Around At around fifty pounds with no wheels on the basic model, shifting the cooker from storage to cooking spot requires some muscle or a helper. If you move homes frequently or have limited storage, this could become annoying. For most people who keep it in one spot like a garage or patio, it is not a daily issue, but it is something to know before buying.
• Skin Crispness Sometimes Needs A Small Boost While many users get excellent crispy skin right away, I found that a very light coat of oil on the turkey and using the mesh lid for the final fifteen minutes helped achieve that shatteringly crisp result some people expect from oil frying. Without those small steps the skin is still good but not always as crunchy. You can easily adjust based on your preference.
• Relies On Time And Thermometer Rather Than Exact Gauge Basic models do not have a built-in temperature display, so you use the general ten-minutes-per-pound guideline and verify with a good meat thermometer. This is actually standard safe practice for any turkey cooking method. You simply insert the probe before lowering the bird and check near the end. It keeps things simple but may feel less precise if you prefer digital readouts on everything.

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Pro Tips For Best Results From Big Easy Turkey Fryer

• Season The Cooking Chamber Before First Use Wipe the inside of the chamber with a high-smoke-point oil and burn it on high for about fifteen minutes until it stops smoking and turns dark. This step improves performance and makes future cleanup easier. You only need to do it once, and it creates a natural non-stick surface similar to seasoning cast iron. Skipping it can lead to more sticking and uneven results the first few times.
• Line The Grease Tray For Fast Cleanup Place a disposable aluminum pan or heavy-duty foil liner in the grease tray before every cook. The drippings stay contained, and you simply lift the liner out and throw it away. Without a liner you will spend more time scrubbing cooked-on juices. This small habit saves significant effort after every holiday meal.
• Burn Off Residue After Each Use After you remove the turkey, put the mesh lid back on and let the unit run on high for fifteen minutes. This burns off most grease and food bits inside the chamber. Once it cools, a quick brush with a grill brush loosens anything left. You then lift out the chamber if needed and empty it. Regular burn-offs keep buildup from becoming a problem over multiple seasons.
• Deep Clean The Basket With Oven Cleaner When Necessary The wire basket can get quite greasy after several uses. Spray it thoroughly with a heavy-duty oven cleaner like Easy Off, let it sit according to the product directions, then scrub gently with a non-abrasive sponge and rinse well. Avoid steel wool or harsh abrasives that can damage the finish. A good deep clean once or twice a year keeps it looking and performing like new.
• Protect The Unit With A Custom Cover A fitted cover keeps rain, dust, and debris out between uses and dramatically reduces how often you need to clean the exterior. Store the Big Easy in a dry garage or shed whenever possible. The cover also helps maintain the seasoned interior and prevents rust on any metal parts over time.
• Dry The Turkey Thoroughly And Use A Light Oil Rub Pat the bird completely dry before seasoning. Excess moisture steams the skin instead of crisping it. A very light brushing of oil on the outside helps the infrared heat create that beautiful golden crust. You do not need much. Too much oil can cause flare-ups or uneven browning.
• Always Verify With A Meat Thermometer Time guidelines of about ten minutes per pound work well as a starting point, but outdoor temperature, wind, and exact bird size can shift the total time. Insert a reliable instant-read thermometer into the thickest part of the breast and thigh without touching bone. Pull the turkey at 165 degrees and let it rest. This single habit guarantees food safety and perfect doneness every single time.

How The Big Easy Compares To Other Popular Brands?

• Standing Out From Traditional Oil Based Turkey Fryers

Traditional oil fryers heat several gallons of peanut oil for nearly an hour before you even lower the bird in. You then cook for roughly three minutes per pound, but the real work comes afterward with cooling, filtering, and disposing of all that used oil.

I remember the constant worry about the oil level, potential overflow, and the very real fire hazard that has sent more than a few people to the emergency room over the years. The Big Easy skips every single one of those steps. You simply season your turkey, drop it in, and let infrared technology do the work.

Cook time runs longer at about ten minutes per pound, yet you avoid the cost of oil each season, the heavy lifting of full pots, and any risk of hot oil near an open flame. Most importantly, the removable grease tray catches flavorful drippings you can actually turn into gravy.

Oil versions rarely give you that bonus without a big mess. For families who want the fried taste without the drama, this difference feels huge once you try it.

• Matching Up Against Electric Oil Free Models

Electric oil-free fryers from brands like Masterbuilt or older Butterball models offer the appeal of indoor cooking when weather turns bad. They plug in and can handle turkeys in a kitchen setting.

However, they often require a dedicated heavy-duty outlet and can struggle with larger birds or take longer to reach full heat. Capacity sometimes tops out lower, and you tie up counter space during the busiest cooking day of the year.

The Big Easy runs on propane outdoors, heats quickly, and reliably manages up to a sixteen-pound turkey without competing for indoor power or space. You get that outdoor cooking atmosphere many of us enjoy during the holidays, plus strong infrared performance that delivers consistent results.

If you already have a propane setup or prefer keeping the heat and mess outside, the Big Easy feels like the more practical long-term choice for most households.

• Why It Beats Basic Oven Roasting For Turkey

Oven roasting a turkey usually takes four or more hours, dries out the breast meat if you are not careful, and heats up your entire kitchen when you already have sides, pies, and everything else going.

The Big Easy finishes a fourteen-pound bird in roughly two to two and a half hours, keeps all the heat and any potential mess outdoors, and produces noticeably crispier skin with less effort. You still get juicy meat throughout because the infrared surrounds the bird evenly.

Plus you free your oven completely for casseroles, rolls, and desserts. Many people who switch notice they actually enjoy the holiday cooking process more when the main protein does not dominate the indoor kitchen for half the day.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Wrapping Up

After years of holiday cooking, the Big Easy Turkey Fryer has proven itself as the smarter, safer choice for anyone who wants great turkey without the traditional headaches.

You will enjoy juicy meat, useful drippings, and peace of mind that lets you actually enjoy the day with your family. If you are ready to upgrade your Thanksgiving tradition, this is the product I recommend you buy.