No one disputes the delicious flavor of a deep-fried turkey, but stories of house fires and near misses can discourage even the biggest fried turkey fan. Enter the Masterbuilt Butterball indoor turkey fryer, an electric fryer that's so safe it's certified to operate indoors, on your kitchen countertop, any time of year. The Butterball features a one-of-a-kind design that's engineered to keep you safe. Not only do the black outer shell and porcelain-coated inner pot keep oil safely contained, but it also uses 33 percent less oil than conventional fryers. As a result, you can cook turkeys as large as 14 pounds safely and efficiently, with little threat of oil boiling over the sides.
The black-finished fryer looks great in a modern kitchen, as it complements most kitchen appliances and countertop materials. Chefs might even want to leave it on display when it's not in use. For convenience, the Butterball includes a window for turkey monitoring. Simply fold back the lid for easy access and you can watch your turkey cook to a perfect crisp.
The good looks accompany a powerful 1,650-watt electric heating element that heats up the oil in less than 30 minutes. Using the sturdy turkey basket, you can cook a 14-pound turkey in only four minutes per pound--less than an hour of cooking time. Masterbuilt also added a drain clip to the fry basket. With the drain clip, you can hang the basket on the side of the fryer while the turkey drains and cools. The clip makes it easy to move the turkey to a serving platter without making a huge oily mess.
Operating the Butterball couldn't be easier. Simply set the cooking temperature via the user-friendly control panel, then set the built-in digital timer to track the cooking time. A green ready light will come on when the oil is heated and the fryer is ready for use. After you lower the turkey into the oil, the timer will beep to let you know when it's done. The fryer even includes a couple of extra safety controls, including a thermostat control to keep the temperature steady (up to 375 degrees F) and an automatic shutoff function that activates when the cooking temperature gets too high.
The Butterball isn't just for turkeys. You can prepare an endless variety of foods in the fryer--from hot wings and fried fish to corndogs and fries for the kids. You can also fill the fryer with water to steam or even boil your favorite dish. Other options include inviting the whole family over for a large low-country boil, steaming fresh crab legs for two, or even trying your hand at frying desserts like doughnuts, apple turnovers, and fried ice cream.
Additional turkey fryer highlights include a built-in filter to reduce cooking odors, a drain valve for easy cleaning, a hideaway storage compartment, and a space-saving design that takes up minimal space on the counter. The fryer measures 15.7 by 14.2 by 14.6 inches (W x H x D) and carries a 90-day limited warranty.
The black-finished fryer is one of three fryers in the Butterball indoor fryer series. Also available are a stainless-steel fryer with the same capacity as the black model and an extra-large fryer that handles turkeys up to 20 pounds.
Editor’s note: The power cord on this model has a hideaway storage compartment that can be tricky to find.
