Question on Fish/Turkey Cookers

[C N]

We have one of these things.... never used it, though. Asking for advice from those who are successful at it....

When the weather gets warm and we catch some crappie, I want to fry Crappie fillets and sliced potatoes and try out this cooker:
1. Do you guys fry the fillets whole or cut them up in pieces?
2. If whole, what temp do you fry them?
3. If in chunks/pieces what temp?
4. If you do potatoes, do you put in with the fish or do by themselves?
5. What temp do you cook the taters?
6. How many fish do you put in one batch to fry?
7. Let's say you fry them at 350...... do you heat the oil to 400 before you put them in or ????

Any help from you guys/gals would be much appreciated. I don't want to ruin a batch or two trying to figure it out.

[kazualobzerver]

Know a few turkeys on here that cook fish, does that count?:D Have never used one CN but bet there are some that have.

[C N]

Know a few turkeys on here that cook fish, does that count?:D Have never used one CN but bet there are some that have.

You said it, Kaz...... I didn't! LOL

I'm hoping someone will be kind enough to steer me in the right direction. I did just pay up my fire protection dues so all should be well!

[DMW1960]

We have one of these things.... never used it, though. Asking for advice from those who are successful at it....

When the weather gets warm and we catch some crappie, I want to fry Crappie fillets and sliced potatoes and try out this cooker:
1. Do you guys fry the fillets whole or cut them up in pieces?
2. If whole, what temp do you fry them?
3. If in chunks/pieces what temp?
4. If you do potatoes, do you put in with the fish or do by themselves?
5. What temp do you cook the taters?
6. How many fish do you put in one batch to fry?
7. Let's say you fry them at 350...... do you heat the oil to 400 before you put them in or ????

Any help from you guys/gals would be much appreciated. I don't want to ruin a batch or two trying to figure it out.

1. Got ours from Wal-Mart about 2 years ago. NO TURKEYS YET.
2. Catch fish clean them put into quart bags with water frezze them.
3. Dont do nothing to fish but make sure they are totally unfrozen. Just use the same size pieces that they were when I cleaned them. Roll them in egg and milk then what ever batter you want. I like mine in corn meal with about 25% flour.
4. Turn on propane most cookers come with one of those stick guage things that show the temp. Heat to about 300 degrees watch temp, drop one piece in you can tell if its cooking ok, if it is drop about 10 to 12 pieces in depending on size. Only put about enough fish in to cover the area of the pot. Do not put them in where they are stacked 2 or 3 layers thick! CN if you have ever fried donuts works the sameway. The fish usually turn themselves, like donuts, sometimes you have to help them. Just like a can of bisuits and making donuts! Don't let temp get above 350 degrees you will burn your oil. At about 400 you better have fire department on hand!
5. Get cardboard beer flat, put paper towels in it about four. Get you a metal wire dip basket like about the size of a coffee cup sauser. China cooking stores have them for woks! Use dip basket to pull fish out about after 5 minutes. Get container of salt and salt fish crab a beer and dig in.
6. Fry potatoes same way right behind first mess of fish. About 350 degrees sliced or french fried cut. Should be about 5 minutes. They will also turn by themselves. Do not stack them in more than 1 layer deep also - just like fish.
7 Get carboard beer flat, put paper towels in it. Use Wok dipper to lift them out. Grab salt. Bring me another beer!
8 Crab more fish, put them into the oil 5 minutes 350
9. Get me another beer
10. Pull fish out
11. Get me another beer
12 Put potatoes in

GET the idea? Honesty PW had never fried fish before ever I had to show her how to do it! I also have used our fry Daddy! Same way!

Ps: The first time on each fish or potatos just put one piece in and test the oil. Warning if you put potatoes in below 300 temp they will come out greasy!

[Smitty 79]

Try to make sure you get most of the moisture of them taters before u put em in the oil r they will boil over!!!
Learned that the hard way!!
Only other thing I can tell ya is don't overfill your fryer with oil or you will have the same problem
The more you put in the more room ya need so it don't go crazy!!

[C N]

Smitty, what temp do you fry your taters and fish? Do you use a thermometer?

Thanks for the warning on the moisture, but I often cook them on the stove so know ALL about that. I just never measure the temp and didn't what others do OUTSIDE.

[beagle man]

crappie filet, 325dg.for 3min, cut the big filets in chunks, or add one minute to cooking time if left hole

[C N]

Thank you, Beagleman!!!!! That's what I needed to know! Do you toss taters in with the fish or do them later?

[beagle man]

potatoes first, then fish.

[Hogster1]

CN if ya can find an old cast iron dutch oven to use it will distribute the temp more even and hold the temp alot better than a regular pot will.Nothing frys better than cast iron.