Best Oil-Less Turkey Air Fryers – Buying Guide and Reviews

RIGHT Oil-Free Air Fryer Oven

When the holidays come around, so does the roast turkey. It’s a meal that delivers excesses of astronomical proportions. Alongside the turkey are a multitude of side dishes ranging from various vegetables, pies, bread and cranberry sauce. All this food leads the diners falling into a food coma.

One thing you want to avoid is over-cooking the big bird. There is nothing worse than trying to chew through turkey that has the texture of sawdust. 

There are many ways to cook the perfect turkey, but it’s all pretty much trial and error. You want to ensure your turkey cooks all the way through, so no-one gets a side of salmonella with their holiday feast, but there is a fine line between undercooking and overcooking.

One way to be sure you don't end up with a dry bird is to deep fry it. There are deep fryers that have been specifically designed for large pieces of meat and the humble turkey. However, cooking a large turkey in a deep fryer isn't exactly a better choice for those wanting to eat healthily. You'd need gallons of oil for frying and we all know that fat isn't good for you. Fortunately, air fryers are available in models large enough to cook this substantial feathered creature. The trick is getting it right and choosing the right oil-less turkey air fryer for your family.

Here's a list of Best Oil-Less Turkey Air Fryer

What Is An Oil-Less Turkey Air Fryer?

We’re all familiar with a deep fryer and most of us have seen air fryers advertised on TV. For those who haven’t seen these appliances yet, an air fryer is simply a mini version of a convection oven. It allows you to cook a variety of foods in different ways, with the most popular one being frying without oil. Instead of a ton of oil, you can add a little spritz of oil, or none at all, to air fry all your favorite foods. The most popular foods include french fries and chicken wings, but other foods like steaks and crumbed foods are also a huge favorite when cooked in an air fryer.

The Great Turkey Debate: Air Fryer Vs. Convection Oven

AIR FRYER BY COZYNA
Cuisinart CMW-200 Convection Microwave Oven with Grill

You’ve most likely only ever seen a Thanksgiving or Christmas turkey come out of an ordinary oven. The usual practice is to stuff and season the turkey the night before and put it in the oven the next morning. The cooking time varies, depending on the size of the bird, but you can count on the turkey being in the oven for a minimum of 5 hours. In an air fryer, you can expect the turkey to be cooked in half the time. In an air fryer, the turkey is less likely to dry out as the rapid hot air technology seals the bird quickly, sealing in the juices.

The Pros & Cons Of Roasting A Turkey In An Oil-Less Air Fryer

You may still be skeptical about cooking a 20-pound turkey in an air fryer. It's perfectly normal to feel that way. After all, the turkey is the star of the holiday dinner table and if you mess it up, you'll earn the scorn and disappointment of your family and invited guests. Here are the pros and cons of roasting a turkey in an oil-less air fryer.

Pros

  • No more wasted oil. You need several gallons of oil to deep fry a turkey, and that means you’ll be throwing out those same several gallons. An oil-less turkey air fryer needs no oil.
  • The turkey will cook in half the time, compared to cooking in a convection oven.
  • The oil-less air fryer heats fast and cools fast, making it a safer option as well as faster.
  • You can collect the drippings in an oil-less air fryer and use them to make a delicious gravy.
  • It’s almost impossible to overcook your turkey as you set the temperature and the timer depending on the weight of the bird.
  • It’s safer to cook in an oil-less air fryer. No danger of knocking over a vat of boiling hot oil.
  • Oil-less air fryers are versatile and relatively inexpensive

Cons

  • Apart from cooking a turkey, you may not have any other use for an oil-less turkey air fryer and it's a large appliance to have sitting around for several months each year.
  • You may need to season the cooking pot before you use it for the first time. It’s a little time consuming, but necessary for some models.
  • Most oil-less turkey air fryers need to be used outdoors. Most holidays are in winter. If it’s cold and windy, setting up, cooking and removing the bird before serving will be a pain.
  • You need a separate heat source such as propane. You’ll need a lot of it too, so to be on the safe side, have two tanks of propane ready.

The Best Oil-Less Turkey Air Fryers

Masterbuilt MB23010809 Oil-Free Roaster Electric Fryer

Why have turkey only once or twice a year? With the Masterbuilt Oil-Free Roaster Electric Fryer, you can cook your favorite bird more often. This oil-less turkey air fryer is easy to use. Plug it into a power socket, select the settings and your turkey is cooking. It also features a removable drip pan that makes cleaning easy and you can use the drippings to create the perfect gravy.


For a little extra flavor, this model comes with a wood chip box that infuses a smoky flavor into your turkey. The glass lid makes it easy to keep an eye on your turkey and it cooks in almost half the time it would take in your ordinary oven.


Key Features:


  • Can cook a turkey up to 18 lbs.
  • Compact model, great for cooking turkey indoors
  • Removable drip pan for easy cleaning
  • Thermostat temperature control
  • Wood chip box to infuse a smoky flavor
  • Char-Broil The Big Easy TRU-Infrared Oil-Less Turkey Fryer

    Char-Broil The Big Easy TRU-Infrared Oil-Less Turkey Fryer

    Give your turkey the royal roasting it deserves with a Char-Broil The Big Easy TRU-Infrared Oil-Less Turkey Fryer. The infrared technology ensures your holiday turkey will be beautifully cooked inside and out. It has a capacity that is large enough to take a 16 lbs. turkey or any other meat you want to air fry making this a versatile piece of equipment.


    This oil-less turkey air fryer is easy to use. All you need to do is set it and turn it on. The drip tray on the bottom collects the escaping juices. This makes the unit easier to clean, but even better, you can use those rich drippings to make a spectacular gravy to go with your turkey. To get your money's worth out of this oil-less turkey air fryer, use it all year round to cook beef, pork, lamb or chicken.


    Key Features


  • Perfect option if you are counting your calories
  • Patented infrared cooking technology delivers juicy, crisp turkey every time.
  • Roast up to 16 lbs. including turkey, beef and other meats
  • Save on oil
  • No danger of hot oil burns or spattering
  • Package Includes: Cooker, cooking basket, lifter, meat thermometer, and quick start cooking guide
  • Measures:  24.5"H / 21.1" diameter
  • Weight:  30 lbs.
  • Cooks using propane which is not included

  • Char-Broil Air Fryer Video Review

    RIGHT Oil-Free Air Fryer Oven / Infrared Halogen Convection Oven 19Quart

    RIGHT Oil-Free Air Fryer Oven

    Designed for air frying novices, the cookbook features a diverse collection of flavorful guilt-free dishes for the home. Jenniffer Jones has written a total of 600 delectable recipes, designed specifically for the air fryer.


    The sheer number of recipes will motivate you to whip up something new in the kitchen for the rest of your life. In her cookbook, Jones includes appetizers, breakfast, lunch, dinner, side dishes, and snacks. For each recipe, she also gives nutritional facts such as the number of calories per serving, carbs, and protein.


    Number of recipes: 600

    Price: Kindle, $2.99; Paperback, $12.95

    Masterbuilt 23011114 Butterball Indoor Electric Turkey Fryer

    Masterbuilt 23011114 Butterball Indoor Electric Turkey Fryer

    Fry your holiday turkey without the fear and danger of a huge deep fryer with this Masterbuilt Butterball Indoor Electric Turkey Fryer. You can cook enough turkey to feed your whole family and several extra guests. This oil-less turkey air fryer can easily take a 20 lb. turkey. It features a sturdy stainless-steel construction and the cooking basket comes with its own drain clip. There is a drain valve to catch the drippings. This compact unit means you won't need to relegate it to the attic or another hidden room for most of the year. You'll find yourself using it for other meats and even vegetables.


    Key Features


  • Stainless Steel Construction
  • Thermostat Temperature control
  • Cooking Basket with Drain Clip
  • Drain Valve for Easy Cleaning
  • Fry up to a 20lb turkey

  • Masterbuilt 23011114 Air Fryer Video Review

    Conclusion

    An oil-less turkey air fryer will undoubtedly make cooking a whole lot easier and faster, which is precisely what you want when you're busy preparing the copious amounts of food that accompany the turkey during the holiday feast. Choose a simple countertop model or the much larger outdoor models. Whichever one you choose, you'll never fail at cooking your holiday turkey again and you'll have leftovers your family will actually want to eat.

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