Thanksgiving turkey fry · Princeton Popcorn
How much beef tallow do you need to fry a turkey?
For a standard 30-quart fryer and a 12 to 14 lb bird, about 3 gallons of melted fat, or roughly 22 to 23 lb of tallow. One 30 lb bucket melts down to about 4 gallons, so it fills that fryer with some to spare.
Thanksgiving deliveryOrder by Wed, Nov 18
$134.9930 lb bucket of 100% beef tallow
Illustrative image. The bucket is the real one.
The numbers
Turkey fry numbers at a glance
- ~4 gal
- One 30 lb bucket of tallow, melted
- ~3 gal
- A 30-qt fryer with a 12 to 14 lb turkey
- 7.5 lb
- Melted beef tallow per gallon
- 350°F
- Heat the fat, then hold 325 to 350°F while it fries
- 3–4 min
- Fry time per pound of turkey
- 165°F
- Done, in the thickest part of the breast and thigh
- ≤14 lb
- Biggest bird for a 30-qt pot (USDA suggests 12 lb or less)
- 400°F
- Never let the fat get hotter than this
Find your number
How much tallow does your fryer need?
Every pot is different. Set the turkey in the empty pot, cover it with water (keep 3 inches below the rim), lift the bird out and mark the line. Measure how many gallons that took, then slide to it here. Dry the pot completely before any fat goes in.
| Fill line | Tallow | What to order |
|---|---|---|
| 2 gal | about 15 lb | One 30 lb bucket (half left over) |
| 2.5 gal | about 19 lb | One 30 lb bucket |
| 3 gal | about 22.5 lb | One 30 lb bucket (typical 30-qt fryer) |
| 3.5 gal | about 26 lb | One 30 lb bucket |
| 4 gal | about 30 lb | One 30 lb bucket, used to the last scoop |
| 4.5 gal | about 34 lb | One 30 lb bucket plus one 7 lb tub |
| 5 to 8 gal | 37.5 to 60 lb | Two 30 lb buckets |
Based on about 7.5 lb of melted beef tallow per gallon. Round up rather than down.
Fry times
How long to fry a turkey in tallow
At 3 to 4 minutes per pound with the fat held at 325 to 350°F. Start checking at the low end. The thermometer decides, not the timer.
| Turkey | Fry time | Fryer |
|---|---|---|
| 10 lb | 30 to 40 minutes | 30-qt pot |
| 12 lb | 36 to 48 minutes | 30-qt pot (USDA's suggested max) |
| 14 lb | 42 to 56 minutes | 30-qt pot, at the top of its range |
| Over 14 lb | 3 to 4 minutes per lb | A larger pot, or fry two smaller birds or the breast and legs apart |
Done at 165°F in the thickest part of the breast and thigh. Rest 20 to 30 minutes before carving.
Step by step
Frying the turkey, start to finish
Read every step before you light the burner, and follow the manual that came with your fryer.
Pick your spot
Set the fryer up outdoors on flat, level dirt or concrete, at least 10 feet from the house, garage, deck and trees. Never indoors, in a garage, or under a roof or covered patio.
Get the bird ready
Thaw the turkey all the way (in the fridge, about 24 hours for every 4 to 5 lb). Take out the neck and giblets, skip the stuffing, and pat it very dry inside and out.
Do the water test
Set the turkey in the empty pot and cover it with water, leaving at least 3 inches below the rim. Lift the turkey out and mark the water line. That line is how much tallow you need. Then dry the pot and the turkey completely.
Melt the tallow slowly
Scoop the tallow into the dry pot and melt it on low heat up to your line. Clip on a frying thermometer and bring it to 350°F.
Burner off, then lower
Turn the burner off. Wearing heavy gloves, lower the turkey slowly on the hook or basket. Once it settles, relight and hold the fat between 325 and 350°F.
Fry to 165, then rest
Fry about 3 to 4 minutes per pound until the thickest part of the breast and thigh reads 165°F. Burner off, lift it out slowly, and rest it 20 to 30 minutes before carving. Never let the fat go past 400°F.
Fryer safety
Six rules that keep it a good day
- Stay with the fryer the whole time. Not even a minute away.
- Heavy gloves, long sleeves and eye protection.
- Kids and pets at least 3 feet back from start to finish.
- A grease-rated fire extinguisher within reach (ABC or BC, or Class K, as your fryer maker specifies).
- Never put water on a grease fire. If the fat smokes, turn the burner off and let it drop below 350°F before relighting.
- Don't overfill. The water test is how you avoid a boil-over.
Why tallow
Why fry the turkey in beef tallow?
It's about how it cooks.
Steady at frying heat
Tallow is mostly saturated and monounsaturated fat, so it holds up at frying temperature better than oils high in polyunsaturated fat. That's why it strains and fries again.
Room above 350°F
Rendered beef tallow smokes well above the 350°F you fry at, so the pot stays calm.
Crisp, golden skin
Tallow fries the skin deep golden and crisp with a rich, savory taste. It's the old-school frying fat.
One ingredient
100% beef tallow, rendered pure, nothing added. Made in the USA.
Fry again
Strain it after the bird and keep it for fish fries, fries or deer camp.
Solid when it cools
It sets up hard at room temperature, so storing it, or getting rid of it, is easy. No jug of used liquid oil.
From the popcorn farmer
Save a scoop for the popcorn
I grow popcorn in Princeton, Kansas, so here's my favorite trick with that bucket. While the turkey rests, melt a spoonful of fresh tallow in a heavy pot and pop a batch of kernels in it. You get a rich, savory bowl that holds the crowd until dinner.
Use tallow straight from the bucket, not the strained fry fat. That batch has turkey flavor in it now.
Easy Pop™ Mushroom popcorn, 2 lb bag · $19.99
See the popcorn
The bucket
30 lb of 100% beef tallow
The same 100% beef tallow we sell in jars and tubs, in the big bucket that fills a turkey fryer. About $4.49 a pound, and it ships free.
- Turkey fries
- Fish fries
- French fries
- Deer camp
- Cast iron
- Soap making
$134.9930 lb bucket
Pot needs a little more than 4 gallons? Add a 7 lb tub ($44.99).
Quick answers
Turkey fryer tallow questions
How much beef tallow do I need to fry a turkey?
For a standard 30-quart turkey fryer and a 12 to 14 lb bird, plan on about 3 gallons of melted fat. That is about 22 to 23 lb of beef tallow, so one 30 lb bucket covers it with some left over. Your own pot may differ, so do the water test below to find your exact fill line.
How many gallons is a 30 lb bucket of beef tallow?
About 4 gallons once it is melted. Melted beef tallow weighs roughly 7.5 lb per gallon, so 30 lb works out to about 4 gallons.
How many pounds of tallow is one gallon?
About 7.5 lb. To turn your water-test line into pounds, multiply the gallons by 7.5. Three gallons is about 22.5 lb, four gallons is about 30 lb.
How long does it take to fry a turkey in beef tallow?
Plan on 3 to 4 minutes per pound with the fat held at 325 to 350°F. A 12 lb turkey takes roughly 36 to 48 minutes. Go by the thermometer, not the clock: it is done at 165°F in the thickest part of the breast and thigh.
What size turkey fits a 30-quart fryer?
About 14 lb or less. USDA suggests 12 lb or less for deep frying, and smaller birds are easier and safer to lower and lift.
Does a turkey fried in beef tallow taste like beef?
No. Rendered beef tallow is mild and savory. The bird still tastes like turkey. What people notice is crisp, deep-golden skin.
Can I reuse the tallow after frying a turkey?
Yes. Let it cool, strain out the bits, and keep it covered in a cool place. It sets up solid, so it is easy to store. Retire it when it turns dark, smells off, foams, or smokes at normal frying heat.
How do I get the tallow out of the bucket?
Scoop it into your dry fryer pot with a sturdy spoon or ladle, then melt it slowly on low heat. Never set the plastic bucket on a burner or in hot fat.
When do I need to order for Thanksgiving?
Order by Wednesday, November 18, 2026 to have it in time for Thanksgiving on Thursday, November 26. Orders ship in 1 to 3 business days, and shipping is free on orders of $79.99 or more, so the bucket ships free.
Is this the same tallow Farmer Bob's sells?
Yes. Princeton Popcorn and Farmer Bob's are my two brands, and both sell the same 100% beef tallow in the same 30 lb bucket.
Frying steps and temperatures checked against USDA FSIS, FoodSafety.gov, the U.S. Fire Administration and turkey fryer makers' manuals. Always follow the manual that came with your fryer.
One bucket. One turkey. Done right.
Thanksgiving deliveryOrder by Wed, Nov 18
$134.9930 lb bucket of 100% beef tallow