Butterball Oil-Free Electric Turkey Fryer and Roaster Review

Are you looking for a healthier alternative to deep fried turkey? Then you may want to consider the Butterball oil free turkey fryer than runs on electricity (not propane like many other options).

Read our buying guide packed with information to help you decide if it’s the right choice for your needs. The Masterbuilt Butterball Oil Free turkey fryer is one of the top products on the market today and a nice alternative to cooking a turkey in the oven.

Let’s get into all the details you need to know about this popular oil free turkey fryer.

Butterball Oil-Free Electric Turkey Fryer and Roaster Review

The Butterball Oil-Free Electric Turkey Fryer is a top-rated outdoor fryer on Amazon. If you’re looking to cook turkeys of up to 18 pounds inside with no oil, this Butterball fryer is an excellent choice!

There are a number of new air fryers you can find today. However, this one has been top of the class for years, and it still takes the top spot today.

Oil Less Electric Turkey Fryer

Butterball oil less electric fryer is basically a small over that cooks some delicious turkey in about 10 minutes per pounds. This means that a 12 pound turkey takes two hours. It doesn’t taste the same as deep fried turkey, but you can add wood chips to get a smoky flavour as well as collect drippings for the gravy.

2 Distinct Advantages for the Butterball Oil Less Fryer

There are two huge advantages to this oil-free turkey fryer. The first is that you can use wood chips. Smoky BBQ flavour? Yum! Please note, however, that this isn’t a smoker (if you like to do this, be sure to check out: Meat Smoking Guide).

The second is that you can catch the turkey drippings. The result is some extra delicious gravy.

Looking for an Outdoor Oil Fryer?

If you’re looking for an outdoor turkey fryer that uses oil and runs on propane, this is not the one! It’s an oil-free fryer that runs on electricity. Instead, consider the Eastman Outdoors Stainless Steel Cooking Set. 

Crispy, Moist Turkey with the Butterball Air Fryer

Almost all the reviews mention that this turkey fryer turns out turkeys that are moist on the inside and crispy on the outside, almost similar to a deep-fryer but minus all the oil and calories.

The best part about it is that it can cook at a rate of around 10 minutes per pound, meaning a 15-pound turkey will take only around 2.5 hours. This is certainly faster than a conventional oven.

For best results, we recommend heating up the machine for an hour before use. You should also use a turkey rub of some kind on the outside (along with some oil or butter). We have some recipe ideas below so keep on reading.

Or, you can add an injectable marinade as well as there’s no fear of exploding like with deep frying!

Powerful, 1600-Watt Cooking Element

This electric oil less turkey fryer comes with a ton of features including double-wall construction to make use of radiant, infrared heat, a powerful 1600-Watt cooking element, built-in box for wood and a pan to catch drippings. You can use one of these rub recipes for amazing results.

There’s also a 90-day warranty as well as excellent customer service from Amazon.

How Long Does it Take to Cook a Turkey in an Oil Less Fryer? 

Turkeys take about 10 minutes per pound to cook in an oil less fryer. However, this is an approximate guide and you should monitor your turkey very closely in the last 20 minutes of cooking. Use a turkey frying thermometer for best results. Also be sure to allow for 15-20 minutes of resting time before carving.

Free up Space Inside the Oven with the Masterbuilt Butterball Oil Free Turkey Fryer

One of the main reasons why you might consider the Masterbuilt Oil Free Fryer beside the taste and health benefits when compared to deep frying is because of the convenience. Holiday celebrations are often busy days and oven space is at a premium.

You probably want to roast vegetables, make desserts, and heat up side dishes, but it’s difficult to do this when the turkey is in the oven for hours.

A turkey roaster can free up this much-needed space, making your day easier and more stress-free. Plus, if you live in a warm climate, you’ll love getting the heat out of the kitchen!

What’s the Capacity of the Butterball Electric Turkey Roaster?

This roaster can handle turkeys up to 18 pounds. It’s also ideal for whole chickens, ducks or other cuts of meat as well. However, in our experience, you’ll get the best results by sticking to cuts of meat that are less than 15 pounds. This allows for a more optimal air flow and more even cooking.

Is this Oil Less Fryer and Roaster Safe?

It’s an excellent question. Everyone has probably seen those YouTube videos about turkey fryers exploding, or heard about houses burning down due to frying turkey and wants to know if this one is safe.

The good news is that this machine is very safe! We love that it runs on electricity because you don’t have to worry about connecting tanks, or lighting it. You just plug this machine into the wall.

The second safety consideration that you’ll appreciate is that there is no oil. Compare this to the outdoor deep fryers where you have an open pot of boiling out on a flimsy stand. That certainly is a recipe for disaster with little kids and pets around.

Finally, it does have a kind of a high center of gravity. This makes it easier to handle, but you should also be very careful to put it on a flat, hard surface for cooking. And then, make sure nobody bumps into it while it’s turned on, but instead give it a wide berth (children and pets!).

Butter Air Fryer: Cheaper than Deep Frying

Another reason to consider an air-fryer is because it’s much cheaper than a deep fryer. You don’t have to buy vats of peanut oil every single family celebration!

Plus, using electricity is cheaper than filling up a propane tank like with most other outdoor fryers.

Get the Butterball Turkey Roaster on Amazon Today

You can easily get the Butterball Oil-Free Electric Fryer on Amazon today. Don’t forget to check if this electric greaseless turkey fryer is eligible for free shipping with a Prime membership:

Key Features for the Butterball Oil-Less Turkey Roaster: 

• Fries with no oil but limited by the size of the unit
• Electric (for outdoor use). You don’t need a propane tank.
• Cooks turkeys (or chickens) up to 18 pounds (@10 minutes/pound), as well as other foods like meat, pork, chicken and seafood.
• Built in wood chip box
• Built-in tray to catch drippings
• Tempered glass lid so you can keep an eye on your bird as it’s cooking
• Stay cool handles that can be touched even throughout the cooking process
• Thermostat temp control with the touch of  a dial
• 90-day warranty
• 34 pounds in weight
• 15 x 16 x 16 inches
• Powerful 1650 Watt electric element
• Includes a cooking basket for easy lifting out of the machine
• Includes a sturdy stand that keeps the heat off your deck or patio
• Easy assembly with just a Phillips screwdriver
• Well insulated so oil stays hot longer
• Quick-start guide included

Masterbuilt Oil Free Turkey Fryer Features and Results

Do you want to know more about how to cook a turkey in this butterball oil free electric turkey fryer? Check out this short video below for all the details you need to know.

What Does this Masterbuilt Air Fryer Include?

The contents of the box includes:

• Thermostat temperature control
• Tempered glass lid
• Turkey stand
• Roasting basket
• Lifting hook
• Drip pan for easier clean-up
• Wood chip box
• Manual

People that Like the Butterball Oil-Free Turkey Fryer are Saying: 

—>See More Customer Ratings and Reviews Here<—

“The Butterball oil-less fryer works amazingly well! When I cut into my turkey, juices flowed out of it. Way better than cooking it in a normal oven and my entire family agreed with me! I also use it to cook chickens all year round with some great results. It’s quite a versatile unit and I imagine you could cook a lot of stuff in it actually.”

“A great product at a great price. I’ll be using this Masterbuilt Butterball Fryer at every single holiday! My family can’t get enough at peeking at the turkey through the glass lid as it’s roasting.”

“I love this Butterball Oil-Free fryer. The turkey was 50% better than deep-fried and way healthier too, and I use it for all different kinds of food too.”

“I love the Masterbuilt oil free turkey fryer. It’s very simple and easy to put together; it only took me about 10 minutes. It also cooks up some really flavourful and moist turkey and my family keeps asking me to cook it every single year!”

“I love the Butterball Roaster because it frees up space in my oven to cook other dishes when I have all my family coming over. It’s super convenient and I just store it in the corner of my garage when I don’t need it.“

Butterball Oil Less Turkey Fryer Negatives: 

• Skin not as crispy as compared to a turkey deep fryer that uses oil
• Some reports that it does not cook turkey as fast as the manufacturer claims (slower than 10 minutes per pound).
• Works best for smaller turkeys of 12 pounds. Although it can handle slightly larger turkeys, you’ll have to stuff it in the machine. The result is that the outside may be burnt before the inside is fully cooked (you can check internal temperatures with a meat thermometer).
• Only to be used outside, even though it runs on electricity.
• Can take a bit of time to clean (although easier than a fryer that uses oil)
• Be careful as the outside can get quite hot
• Made in China
• Some people don’t like the taste of the turkey with an electric greaseless turkey fryer

Why Consider Using an Air Fryer Instead of a Regular Deep Fryer?

That’s a great question and we’re happy that you asked. Although we’ve given a few hints along the way about some reasons why you might want to consider this, here’s a quick summary of the reasons why you might want to try out the Butterball Oil Free Electric Turkey Fryer:

Health Considerations

It’s obvious that deep-fried food isn’t healthy because of the amount of fat and calories it contains. If you’re a health-conscious eater who wants a deliciously crispy on the outside, but moist on the inside Thanksgiving turkey, then you’ll want to opt for an air fryer like this one.

It’s Cheaper

Do you know all that oil that goes into a deep fryer? You can re-use it in some cases, which can lower your cost. However, it’s a hassle and using fresh oil every single time can get quite expensive. Just skip this when you opt for an air fryer.

Safety and an Electric Oil Less Freyer

Deep frying, either indoors or outdoors brings some safety concerns along with it. Hot oil can burn as almost nothing else can. And, it’s also prone to catching on fire quite easily if it overheats.

Air frying is a much safer alternative and is comparable to cooking something in the oven. As in, you should keep an eye on things but it’s not likely to burn down your house or burn you!

Smoking and Gravy Considerations

One of the big advantages of using an air fryer is that you can add wood chips for a smoked flavour to your food. You can also catch the drippings to make a delicious gravy. You can do neither of these things with a regular deep fryer. If you want to take your smoking to the next level, have a look at this: How to Smoke Turkey.

For example, the Butterball Oil-Free Fryer has a wood chip drawer that allows for some serious smoke generation. And, then it has a removable drip tray to catch all those turkey drippings. Ummm….all we can say is “Yum!”

Capacity

This Butterball Oil-Free fryer is designed to handle turkeys up to 18 pounds, but for best results, we recommend sticking to ones that are less than 15 pounds. The reason for this is that you’ll literally have to stuff a larger turkey in the machine and there will be almost no room for air circulation. This can cause the outside to burn while the inside isn’t cooked fully.

Compare this to something like the Grand Gobbler from Bayou Classic (an outdoor propane fryer) that can accommodate turkeys 25 pounds or more. It’s certainly quite a difference and will be a factor if you have a large family.

The Verdict: Air Fryer vs Regular Deep Fryer

Okay, so it’s definitely a matter of personal preference and we’re not going to tell you one way or the other which one you should buy. The choice if yours alone!

Masterbuilt Oil Free Electric Turkey Fryer Recipes

If you want to take your delicious to the next level with this handy device, then you’ll want to take a close look at these recipes below.

Masterbuilt Butterball Oil Less Fryer and Roaster Recipe #1

Many people find that a rub for turkey or chickens works well with these oil-free fryers. You can find some of our recommendations here (from Paula Dean, Martha Stewart, Epicurious and more): Best Turkey Rub Recipes. Do you want to share any tips? Leave a comment below for us with your home cooking secrets.

Beyond that, because you’re not deep-frying this turkey, you can stuff some things inside of it to enhance the flavour. It’ll also make your gravy extra delicious (don’t forget to put the drip pan underneath your turkey to catch the the drippings)!

Some ideas for recipes include:

• Peeled onion or garlic
• Lemon
• Sprigs of Rosemary or other herbs that you like

Be sure to dry the turkey well after thawing with paper towels in order to prevent steaming. Then, rub olive oil all over the outside of your turkey before putting on the dry rub for best results.

Beyond that, follow the instructions that come with your oil-free electric fryer as far as cooking times go, and you should have some excellent results.

Oil Free Turkey Fryer Recipe #2

Here’s another recipe that involves brining that you can try out in the video below:

Butterball Oil Less Electric Turkey Fryer Recipe #3

Another recipe for roasting turkey with your electric oil less fryer involves both a rub, and an injection. If you’re going to go with this one, you’ll need an industrial size needle to get the job done. The one we recommend is the Grill Beast Professional Marinade Needles.

Here’s what you’re going to need for this recipe:

Turkey Rub for an Oil Less Fryer and Roaster

• Italian seasoning
• Vegetable oil

Turkey Injection Sauce

• Melted butter (1/4 cup)
• Chicken broth, warmed up (1 cup)
• Fresh lemon juice from 1 lemon
• Garlic power (1 teaspoon)
• Salt and pepper (to taste)

Inject your turkey at 1 inch intervals with the injection sauce, using a marinade needle. Use the rub on the surface of the bird, both inside and out.

Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for cooking the turkey. Use a meat thermometer to ensure that the correct internal temp is reached (165F for white meat, 180F for dark meat). Be sure to let it rest for 10-20 minutes prior to carving it to seal in the juices.

Can I Put the Stuffing Inside the Turkey?

Many people cook the stuffing inside the turkey when they’re doing it in the oven. What about with this turkey fryer from Masterbuilt?

In general, it’s not a great idea to cook any stuffing inside a turkey, no matter how you’re cooking it. Doing so puts your whole family at risk for food poisoning because the stuffing may never really reach the correct temperature in the middle, but it’s been exposed to the raw turkey juices.

Another reason to not do this is that the stuffing can suck the juices out of the turkey, leaving it a bit drier than it should be.

Cook stuffing by itself in the slow cooker or oven please! We personally cook ours in the slow cooker on low for 4-5 hours and find that it’s moist and juicy, but a bit crispy on the outside.

And of course, you should NEVER fry a turkey with stuffing inside.

The Takeaway on the Butterball Oil-Free Electric Turkey Fryer/Roaster:

If you’re looking for indoor turkey fryer, this Masterbuilt Butterball Fryer makes an excellent choice. Besides making some delicious Thanksgiving or Christmas turkey, it frees up oven space for other things.

When you have a big family gathering, this turkey fryer just takes up a small bit of space, and then you can put casseroles, potatoes, bread, desserts and other things in the oven. It makes feeding a large group of people easier than ever.

Amazing Flavour, as well as Drippings for Gravy with the Butterball Oil Less Fryer

But most importantly, the flavour! Although it doesn’t produce turkeys as crisp on the outside as an oil fryer would, this is to be expected for an oil-less fryer. What it does do is cook delicious, moist turkeys.

It also does two things that oil turkey deep fryers don’t: allow you to use wood chips for some serious flavour and also to collect the drippings to make a delicious gravy. This Masterbuilt turkey fryer is definitely a star in the kitchen!

Can it Cook Large Turkeys?

If you’re looking to cook a giant, this probably isn’t the machine for you. The company recommends using this oil free electric turkey fryer for turkeys of up to 18 pounds, but you’ll probably have the best results with smaller turkeys

You’ll have to jam the 18 pounder in the machine, and it may result in uneven cooking. It may be cooked/burnt on the outside but not on the inside.

If you’re looking to go big (and oil-free), we recommend the Char-Broil Big Easy. Or, if you’re happy with regular fried turkey, the Grand Gobbler.

Take the Butterball Air Fryer Anywhere

One of the huge pluses of this Butterball oil-free electric turkey roaster is that it’s small and portable. You can quite literally take it anywhere with you as long as you have a place to plug it into.

This makes it a super versatile device that you’ll love to have stored in your garage, just waiting for that special occasion.

Get yourself this Oil-Free Turkey Fryer Today

You can easily get it on Amazon today. Check now for the best prices and deals by clicking the button below:

Butterball Oil-Free Electric Turkey Fryer FAQs

There are a number of common questions that people have about using this electric oil-less fryer. Here are the answers to some of the most popular ones

Are Oil Less Turkey Fryers any Good?

Oil less turkey fryers are good if you want to have a safer, healthier and more cost effective Thanksgiving when compared to deep frying turkey. They work very well if you want to free up oven space or keep the heat out of the kitchen. And, oil free fryers can be used to cook a variety of other meats too.

How Long Does it Take to Cook a Turkey in a Butterball Oil Less Fryer?

It takes approximately 10 minutes per pound to cook a turkey in butterball oil less fryer plus 15-20 minutes of resting time before carving.. However, user a turkey thermometer for the best results and monitor closely towards the end of the cooking time to ensure that you achieve a minimum temperature but don’t exceed it by too much.

What Else can you Cook in an Oil Less Turkey Fryer?

It’s possible to cook a number of other things in an oil less turkey fryer. You can make everything from chicken to pork, beef , ribs and other large cuts of meat. They will come out moist, juicy and delicious.

Is there a Similar Air Fryer?

If you think the Butterball Oil Free Electric Turkey Fryer looks kind of familiar, it may be that you’ve already seen the Char Broil Big Easy. It’s a slightly more popular version of what’s basically the same thing. The major difference is that it runs on propane and it’s also slightly larger and more expensive.

A few years ago, Charbroil introduced their air fryer. Less than a year later, Masterbuilt came out with this one which is slightly smaller and runs on electricity.

You can check out the Big Easy here:

Which one should you consider? In our mind, it’s mostly a matter of electricity vs propane. If you prefer a slightly more powerful propane air fryer, opt for the big easy. But, if you don’t mind a little bit less powerful unit that runs on electricity, go with the Butterball one.

Can I Cook Things Other Than Turkey in It?

Basically, you can use an air fryer for just about anything. The sky is the limit, so get creative and look up some recipes online. You can air fry whole chickens, or other cuts of meat. You may consider doing up some shrimp, fries, or fish. The result is food that’s crispier and juicier than you might get from the oven.

Looking for a Turkey Deep Fryer?

If you’re looking for a more traditional turkey deep fryer that uses oil, please check out our Top 5 Turkey Fryers. There are a number of our top choices, including both the indoor and outdoor fryers.

Or, have a look at this handy comparison chart below:

Butterball Oil-Free Electric Turkey Recipe: Have Your Say!

What are your thoughts about this Butterball roaster?  Is it the right option for you, or are you opting for a more traditional turkey deep fryer? Leave a comment below and let us know what you think. We’d love to hear from you.

Also be sure to share this review with your friends or family members on Pinterest, Facebook, or Twitter. It’ll help other foodies, like yourself find this useful resource guide.

p.s. If you need even more ideas for what you can do with this air fryer, you’ll want to check this out: Oil-Free Fryer Recipes.

Last update on 2021-08-05 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API