It’s Thanksgiving. And you’re planning to prepare the special thanksgiving turkey that everyone’s looking forward to. But uh-oh! The turkey fryer you’ve been using is struggling to heat up! It’s getting nowhere near the required heat level.
Why is my turkey fryer not getting hot enough?
Your turkey fryer might not get hot enough if you put too much oil. Also, using bigger fryers compared to the burner can delay the heating-up process. Perhaps, you haven’t changed the oil in the fryer. Finally, some physical issues with your turkey fryer might need to be addressed.
We need to address the issue in more detail. Tag along, and we’ll show you how you can fix the issue.
Why is the Turkey Fryer Not Heating Enough?
Turkey fryers provide great conveniences for those afraid to roast an entire turkey inside their home. Quality turkey fryers can provide a great cooking surface for such a big bird.
Despite its durable build and safe frying environment, the product has flaws. Failing to get a high enough temperature is a common flaw among them.
The turkey fryer is not at fault here. Most of the issues people face with their turkey fryers are due to external influences.
To help you detect the root of the issue, we’ve listed all the possible reasons below-
Reason 1 of 5: Fryer is Out of Gas
Your propane tank is bound to run out of gas one day. So if you haven’t checked your gas tank for a while, you should do it now.
When running low on gas, the fryer will eventually fail to reach high heat. It’ll stop flaming on when it finally runs out of gas.
Reason 2 of 5: Obstruction in Burner
If not used for a while, your fryer can grow soots and debris in the burner. This can obstruct the air intake of the fryer. An obstructed burner won’t be able to properly supply gas to produce enough heat.
Reason 3 of 5: Excess Flow Valve Tripped
There can be a slight chance that your excess flow valve has tripped inside the regulator.
Excess flow valves operate somewhat similarly to an electrical circuit. That means it’ll trip when an excess gas flows through the valve. When that happens, the flames will blow out abruptly and you’ll lose heat.
Reason 4 of 5: Vapor Lock
This is a failsafe feature present in almost all gas cylinders. There is very little possibility that you’ll ever have to worry about triggering this feature.
Your LP cylinder will lock itself when exposed to too much sunlight(overheating). Too much heat will create excessive pressure inside the gas tank. If the situation gets hazardous, the tank will lock itself out.
The gas tank will lock your fryer out from the gas source in its vapor lock state. And with that, you won’t be able to extract any more gas from the tank.
Reason 5 of 5: Old Oil Turned Bad
The oil used in turkey fryers, preferably peanut oil, is very expensive. So we try to get the most use out of it. It’s very common to use the same oil multiple times to fry turkeys and other foods. But there’s a clear limit on how much use oil can take.
Frequent use and frying will gradually break the components of the oil, making it go bad. Bad oil is bad for our health and won’t heat up like it usually does.
Many other external reasons can impact the temperature issue of your fryer. For example- cooking outdoors on a windy day will make the fire struggle to stay lit.
If the burner is smaller than the turkey fryer, it’ll struggle to heat it. Pouring too much oil in the fryer will also make it take longer to get hot.
How to Fix Turkey Fryer Heating Issue?
The perfect roasted turkey requires you to cook it at a temperature of 350°F. Any less might not cut it. So you must ensure your turkey fryer constantly supplies the recommended heat level.
You can try among the finest Big Green Egg thermometers to measure the turkey’s temperature.
If the turkey fryer fails to reach that temperature, your turkey will take longer to cook. Not only that, you might end up burning the turkey.
To avoid such circumstances, here’s what you should do to fix the heating issue-
Fix 1 of 5: Replace the Propane Gas Tank
If your propane gas tank runs out of gas, replace it with new gas. A 5-gallon propane tank should be able to serve you for a good enough time.
Keeping 2-3 propane tanks in your stock for emergencies is better. In the case of leakage, you can easily replace the tanks without running short.
Fix 2 of 5: Clean the Burner
Clean up any visible soot, debris, or spider nest in the air intake regulator. An air compressor is an effective tool to clean your obstructed air intake regulator. Stick the air compressor in the air intake and blow it.
Cleaning the air intake with a garden hose can also do the job. But you’ll have to dry it out before using it.
Fix 3 of 5: Fix the Tripped Valve
Turn off the control and tank knobs for at least 30 seconds. After that, slowly turn on the tank valve and gradually let the gas pass. Light up the burner and notice if the flame is normal.
If the flame is still low, try repeating the process multiple times.
Still no luck?
In that case, the excess flow valve probably got stuck in the regulator. The only way to fix this issue is by getting a new regulator.
Fix 4 of 5: Undo the Vapor Lock
Undoing the vapor lock is easier than it sounds.
All you have to do is disconnect the coupling nut of the cylinder and reconnect them. But before that, turn off the tank knob and gas cylinder valve. And you should be good to go!
And with that, the issue is resolved and Thanksgiving is saved!
Try to fry your turkey in the garage if it’s too windy outside. If you’re facing any complications with your turkey fryer, contact the manufacturer for possible fixes.
At the end of the day, you’re dealing with equipment that involves fire. So being careful and taking safety measures should be ensured for everyone’s best interest.
Fix 5 of 5: Change Old Oil
It’s okay to use the same oil several times to fry your food. However, you should keep count of the use on the back of your head. Because after a while, the oil will lose all its essential properties and turn bad.
The rule of thumb is to change the oil after every 8-10 cooking sessions.
Looking to buy quality peanut oils with higher smoke points? We’re more than willing to help! These are our top picks for peanut oil that you can try for frying your turkey-
These peanut oils bring a nutty aroma and flavor to your food. Their high smoke points mean that they can fry longer without breaking down.
You should be careful about choosing your oil for frying. Many food-grade oils can still give your tummy a hard time.
Frequently Asked Questions
How hot should oil be for cooking frying turkey?
The oil should have a temperature of 325° F for cooking turkey parts. We should consider 4-5 minutes per pound to calculate the time. That will tell us when it’ll take to reach the recommended time.
How long should I fry my turkey at 300° F
To fry your turkey at 300° F, you must take 3 and a half minutes per pound. If you’re cooking a 15-pound turkey, it should take about 15 x 3.5 = 53 minutes.
How to detect bad deep fryer oil?
Old oils will form a visible foam on the surface when heated. It’ll also produce a lot of smoke and a fishy aroma without reaching frying temperature.
Final Words
The reason why your turkey fryer not getting hot enough has been explained. Make sure to clean the fryer properly after frying your turkey. Change the oil after every 8-10 uses for the ideal frying experience.
We’ve reached the end of the line. Happy Thanksgiving!
