How Does an Oil-Less Turkey Fryer Work?

On this page (10 sections)

1. How does an oil less turkey fryer work?
2. What does “oil less” change about the meal?
3. Who should choose the Big Easy, and who should skip it?
4. When does the electric Masterbuilt make more sense?
5. How do you choose the right oil less turkey fryer setup?
6. How should you set up and cook your first turkey?
7. What helps the skin brown, and what mistakes should you avoid?
8. Which accessories are worth adding?
9. How do you clean and store an oil-less cooker?
10. Which oil less turkey fryer setup should you buy?

An oil less turkey fryer cooks a turkey with heat instead of a vat of oil. The Char-Broil Big Easy uses propane-powered infrared heat, making it a fit for outdoor cooks who want a whole bird without handling frying oil.

The choice comes down to cooking method, bird size, and space. The electric Masterbuilt discussed below fries with oil, so it serves a different buyer despite sharing the turkey fryer name.

How does an oil less turkey fryer work?

An oil less turkey fryer heats food without immersing it in oil. In the Big Easy, a basket holds the turkey inside a propane-powered infrared cooking system.

Infrared heat transfers energy to the food through radiant heat. The turkey cooks inside the chamber while rendered fat and juices drain away.

Char-Broil says its infrared system provides even heat without flare-ups. You still need to follow the manual for loading, grease management, and safe operation.

The Big Easy includes a cooking basket, basket lifter, lid, and meat thermometer. Its piezo ignition starts the burner with a turn of the knob.

What does “oil less” change about the meal?

Oil-less cooking removes the oil bath and its cleanup, but it doesn't turn a propane cooker into an unattended appliance. You'll still handle hot metal, cooked meat, and drippings.

It also changes the kind of cooking you're buying. If your goal is turkey cooked without immersion in oil, the Big Easy fits; if you specifically want deep-fried turkey, choose a fryer built for that method.

Char-Broil describes the Big Easy's intended result as a crispy outside and juicy inside. Preparation, bird size, and the point at which you stop cooking all affect the meal.

For a closer comparison of the tradeoffs, read oil-less vs. oil turkey fryers. Our guide to the best turkey fryers covers the wider range of cooking options.

Who should choose the Big Easy, and who should skip it?

The Big Easy suits outdoor cooks who want whole birds and large cuts without a pot of frying oil. It's especially useful if turkey is only part of your cooking plans.

Beyond its turkey capacity, it holds chicken up to 16 lb, an 8 lb roast, or a 6 lb pork shoulder. Those separate limits matter when planning meals through the year.

Its lifting handles help with moving it between suitable outdoor locations. At 28.9 lb, though, it needs a storage spot you can reach without awkward lifting.

Skip it if you lack an open outdoor cooking area, don't want to manage propane, or usually buy birds above its limit. It also isn't a substitute for an appliance you want to use for boiling or steaming.

For more detail on this cooker, see the Char-Broil Big Easy turkey fryer review.

When does the electric Masterbuilt make more sense?

The Masterbuilt suits buyers who want oil frying, boiling, and steaming in one electric cooker. Choose it for those cooking jobs, not as an oil-less version of the Big Easy.

It has a 10-liter oil capacity and can fry a turkey up to 20 lb. That larger bird allowance may matter for holiday meals, while the boil and steam modes broaden its uses.

A magnetic breakaway cord, basket lifting hook, and drain clips support handling. The built-in drain valve helps empty cooled cooking liquid after use.

Skip it if avoiding a vat of oil is your main goal. Frying mode still brings the work of filling, cooling, draining, and storing or disposing of oil.

Don't assume an electric cooker can go anywhere near an outlet. Follow its manual for placement, electrical requirements, and the cooking mode you're using.

How do you choose the right oil less turkey fryer setup?

Choose by location first, bird size second, and cooking method third. A cooker that can't fit your safe cooking area or your usual turkey won't solve your meal-planning problem.

Match an oil-less turkey fryer to your space

Measure both the cooking area and the storage space before ordering. The Big Easy measures 20.75 in deep, 16.3 in wide, and 23.5 in high, but its footprint doesn't include the clearance needed around it.

Leave room to lift the basket out and set down a tray of food safely. Follow the manual for clearances from walls, overhead structures, and other objects.

Plan around the turkey you actually buy

Stay within the cooker's maximum food weight, and check that the bird fits the basket as directed. A weight limit isn't permission to wedge food tightly against the sides.

For a larger gathering, plan a second cooking method or a separate batch instead of exceeding capacity. Batch cooking also requires a safe plan for holding the first food until serving.

Our guide to choosing a turkey fryer covers fuel, size, and safety. For meal planning, see what size turkey fryer you need.

How should you set up and cook your first turkey?

Start with a fully thawed bird, a stable outdoor setup, and a clear path for lifting hot food. Read the cooker's assembly and operating instructions before the day you plan to serve dinner.

1. Prepare the site. Use a level, heat-safe surface outdoors with the required clearances, away from foot traffic and enclosed spaces.
2. Check the propane setup. Inspect the hose and connections, and perform the leak check described in the manual before lighting.
3. Prepare the turkey. Remove packaging and giblets, thaw it fully, and pat the surface dry before seasoning as directed.
4. Load the basket correctly. Follow the required bird position and leave room for heat to reach the food.
5. Prepare for removal. Have heat-resistant gloves, the lifter, and a stable receiving tray ready before the bird is done.

Keep children and pets away from the cooking area. Stay nearby while the cooker operates, and follow the instructions for shutting off the burner and propane supply.

Use cooking times to plan dinner, not to prove doneness. A turkey must reach 165°F in the thickest breast and the innermost thigh and wing, with the thermometer kept away from bone.

Don't stuff the bird for this method unless the appliance instructions expressly allow it. Cooking stuffing separately makes it easier to manage its temperature and the turkey's doneness.

What helps the skin brown, and what mistakes should you avoid?

Good preparation and checking temperature before the bird overcooks matter more than chasing a fixed cooking time. Dry the surface and follow the recipe's preparation steps for this type of cooker.

Don't judge the center by the skin. A browned bird can still need more cooking, so check more than one spot with the thermometer.

Avoid crowding the basket with extra food or using foil in ways the manual doesn't allow. Both can change heat flow or interfere with draining.

Another common mistake is making several unfamiliar changes during the first holiday cook. Start with a straightforward recipe for the appliance before adding new cuts, racks, or extra batches.

Oil-less also doesn't mean risk-free. Read Turkey Fryer Safety: A Plain Checklist before cooking, and use can you use a turkey fryer indoors? to settle location questions.

Which accessories are worth adding?

Add accessories for meals you expect to cook, rather than buying every extra before your first turkey. The Big Easy already includes a basket lifter, so the kit's main value is its food-holding options.

The 22-piece kit includes rib hooks, 2 leg racks, 8 skewers, a kabob holder, and another basket lifter. Its leg racks hold up to 12 legs or wings, and the holder keeps 8 kabobs upright.

Choose it for regular chicken, rib, or kabob meals. Skip it if you'll only cook whole turkeys, and don't treat extra racks as an increase in the cooker's food capacity.

The cover suits storage where dust, debris, or weather exposure is a concern. Its compatibility information names model 16102040, so confirm fit for the Big Easy model 24102165 discussed here before buying.

Skip the cover if fit isn't confirmed or your storage arrangement doesn't need it. A cover never makes a hot cooker ready for storage.

How do you clean and store an oil-less cooker?

Clean the cooker after it cools, then dry it before storage. Oil-less cooking avoids a pot of used frying oil, but grease and food residue still need attention.

The Big Easy's front-access grease tray collects drippings. Empty it and clean the basket and cooking surfaces using the methods allowed in the manual.

The accessory kit's steel and wire-steel pieces are dishwasher safe. That doesn't mean every part of the cooker belongs in a dishwasher.

Wipe the cover with a damp cloth, and let both cover and cooker dry before covering. Follow the manual and local rules for propane-cylinder storage.

Which oil less turkey fryer setup should you buy?

Choose the Big Easy if you have suitable outdoor space, want propane cooking without an oil bath, and can keep your turkey within its 16 lb limit. Add the accessory kit only if smaller cuts are part of your meal plans.

Choose the Masterbuilt if you want a larger turkey allowance plus oil frying, boiling, and steaming. The Masterbuilt turkey fryer review is the useful next step for that choice.

If your main requirement is an oil less turkey fryer, settle the outdoor location and bird size before buying accessories. Those two checks decide whether the cooker will fit your holiday meal.

Frequently asked questions

How does an oil less turkey fryer cook a turkey?

An oil less turkey fryer heats the bird without submerging it in hot oil. The Char-Broil Big Easy uses liquid propane and infrared cooking technology, with a basket holding the food inside the cooker.

Check doneness with a meat thermometer rather than judging only by skin color.

Does an oil less turkey fryer use any oil?

The Big Easy doesn't need a vat of oil to cook a turkey. Any light surface oil used during preparation should follow its cooking instructions and isn't an oil bath.

Fat and juices still drip from the bird, so you'll need to empty the grease tray and clean the cooker.

Is an oil less turkey fryer the same as an air fryer?

The names overlap, but they don't identify the same heating system. Char-Broil calls the Big Easy an outdoor air fryer, and it uses propane-powered infrared heat.

A countertop air fryer commonly uses an electric element and fan.

Choose by fuel, cooking method, capacity, and location rather than the name.

Can you cook other foods in an oil less turkey fryer?

Yes, the Big Easy cooks chicken, roast, and pork shoulder as well as turkey. Its accessory kit adds ways to hold ribs, chicken legs, wings, and kabobs.

Use the capacity limit and preparation instructions for each food, since the maximum turkey weight doesn't apply to every cut.