How to Cook Chicken Fully When Deep Frying

Poultry deep fryers, also known as turkey fryers, cook whole birds quickly and fully with little hassle. They produce crunchy, flavorful skin while ensuring the meat within remains moist and tender. Between 6 and 8 minutes per pound of meat is required to cook chicken fully when deep frying. Once cooked, the bird needs to cool to allow the juices to return to the center of the meat for best taste. This recipe is for one whole chicken, but if you have multiple chickens, you can fry them one after the other.

Pulling chicken from a deep fryer. (Image: DAJ/amana images/Getty Images)

Step 1

Rinse the chicken under cool, running water on the exterior and interior. Pat it dry with paper towels and rub the ground black pepper and salt over its surface.

Step 2

Fill the deep fryer with peanut oil and then preheat it to a temperature of 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Follow the manufacturer's instructions carefully; serious injuries can occur if the deep fryer is misused.

Step 3

Place the chicken into the deep fryer carefully, per manufacturer's instructions. Cook the chicken for 6 to 8 minutes per pound.

Step 4

Remove the chicken from the deep fryer and allow it to cool for 10 minutes. Carve and serve the chicken while hot.

Things You'll Need

• Whole chicken

• Water

• Paper towels

• 1 tablespoon ground black pepper

• 1 teaspoon salt

• Poultry deep fryer

• Peanut oil

Tip

Refrigerate leftover deep-fried chicken immediately and consume it within three days.

Warning

If you are unfamiliar with the poultry deep fryer, or you do not have the manufacturer's instruction booklet, do not attempt to operate it. Serious burns or dangerous fire can occur with misuse.