Otherwise known as the ‘Grand Gobbler’, the Bayou Classic Turkey Fryer is specifically designed to cook extra-large turkeys of up to 25lbs. Designed to be durable, the fryer is made from a heavy-duty 99% pure aluminum. Equipped with a patented poultry rack and lift hook, it also features a vented lid and heavy-duty handles for safe handling.
Want to see all of the models we’ve reviewed? Head to our guide on the best turkey fryers around.
Bayou Classic 4225 42Qt Aluminum Turkey Fryer: What you need to know
The Bayou Classic Turkey Fryer is a heavy-duty stockpot with a large, 42-qt capacity. It should be used outdoors only. Its top performance is thanks to its patented poultry rack and lift hook that creates a circular flow of oil throughout the cavity during the cooking process. This results in succulent and golden brown turkey or other meats.
It comes with a stainless 12-inch fry thermometer that allows you to easily monitor and maintain precise temperatures. In addition, it also has a convenient 2 oz seasoning injector with stainless needle, which is great for infusing your preferred flavorings into the turkey before frying. It also comes with one protective leather glove (right-hand only) to safely insert, lift and remove your turkey from the hot pot.
When you’re not frying large turkeys, you can simply remove the rack and hook to use as a stockpot for cooking various dishes like soup.
Bayou Classic 4225 42Qt Aluminum Turkey Fryer: Features
The Bayou Classic Turkey Fryer’s main selling point is its huge 42-qt capacity, which can fit a 25lbs turkey with ease. Depending on weight, the fryer is even big enough to cook a couple of turkeys at once, making it more time-efficient.
Due to its large size, the Bayou Classic Turkey Fryer requires a lot more oil than other fryers to fully submerge each turkey. For large-sized poultry, it would need up to 5-6 gallons which can be more costly in the long-run. However, the heavy-duty stockpot retains the heat well, resulting in thoroughly cooked, delicious turkeys that are crisp yet succulent on the inside. The extra heat also makes meats easier to carve and serve at mealtimes.
It’s also worthwhile noting that the stockpot can take quite a while to fully heat up the oil. It can be anything up to 35-minutes, so do allow extra time to wait before you start cooking those Thanksgiving or festive feasts.
The stockpot itself is built to last with heavy-duty, riveted handles for easy movement. The handy thermometer and protective glove are also convenient features, and it’s important to maintain caution when inserting and lifting out of the hot oil.
What’s more, the Bayou Classic Turkey Fryer is easy to clean which will save you hours of elbow grease. Simply mix warm water and soap to remove excess oil residue. Bear in mind this is for outdoor use only, so you’d need to have adequate storage space for when not in use.
If you’ll only need a fryer for smaller turkeys or rarely use one, you probably wouldn’t benefit from a fryer this big. But for turkey connoisseurs, this fryer gives you everything you’d need at such a great price.
For those with a smaller household or would prefer something with less capacity, check out the Char-Broil Big Easy Oil-less Liquid Propane Turkey Fryer review.
Bayou Classic 4225 42Qt Aluminum Turkey Fryer: User reviews
Users of the Bayou Classic 4225 42Qt Aluminum Turkey Fryer were impressed by its huge capacity, and incredible cooking results. Many mentioned how delicious and succulent their turkeys turned out, especially for Thanksgiving.
Others praised the construction of the stockpot, saying it was a good quality product, and oil never overflows compared to smaller fryers. The additional protective glove was popular, with many saying it was helpful when lowering their turkey into the hot oil. It was also easy to clean and maintain.
Minor downsides included the fryer using up a lot of oil, and the long wait for it to fully heat up. A few users also mentioned that the meat thermometer was not very accurate.
Should you buy the Bayou Classic 4225 42Qt Aluminum Turkey Fryer?
For those who enjoy cooking turkey meals for the family or large gatherings, the Bayou Classic 4225 42Qt Aluminum Turkey Fryer will make life easier. Not only does it have an extra-large capacity to fit those big Thanksgiving turkeys, but its heavy-duty stockpot gives you quality results each time. It does use up a lot of oil in comparison to other fryers, and it takes longer to heat up. However, its large size and convenience makes it a good investment.