Anyone know why turkey deep fryers aren't available for natural gas
fuel sources? It can't be from lack of interest, and I don't see how it
is any more or less dangerous than propane.

On 2006-12-07, ms5150 > wrote:
> Anyone know why turkey deep fryers aren't available for natural gas

Anyone know why people ask such stupid questions when you can google
up dozens of natural gas turkey fryers on the web?

nb

ms5150 wrote:
> Anyone know why turkey deep fryers aren't available for natural gas
> fuel sources? It can't be from lack of interest, and I don't see how it
> is any more or less dangerous than propane.

I gather you don't have access to the Internet. Perhaps you could go
to your local library and ask someone to show you how to access a
website called Google. Once you've found it, put "turkey fryer" and
"natural gas" into the search box. Lo and behold, waddayaknow, lookie
the a lot of natural gas fueled turkey fryers! -aem

Yes, I did google this before I asked. Have either of you clicked on
these? They usually send you to propane fueled fryers. I took it a step
further and called companies that sell turkey fryers, and was told they
don't make them.

ms5150 wrote:
> Yes, I did google this before I asked. Have either of you clicked on
> these? They usually send you to propane fueled fryers. I took it a step
> further and called companies that sell turkey fryers, and was told they
> don't make them.

I clicked on a couple of the listings and they went right to natural
gas fueled fryers. For sale. As I recall (but not 100% sure), 30
quarts and 150,000 BTU. Having no interest in buying one I didn't
call any of them. -aem

You take the time to flame me but you don't take time to do your own
fact checking before you start making some condescending remarks?
Notice that most of the places that list them don't specialize in
cooking tools? They list them as "gas" cookers in their description if
you click on the add, but take a look at the pictures and tell me if
that doesn't look like a propane connection to you. They also list them
as high pressure, high BTU, both of which do not describe natural gas.

The turkey fryer companies probably don't want you hooking such a burner
up to a house NG system. (How much fireproof hose do you have to get it
away from the house and do you have a remote way to turn it off?)

The turkey fryer I have has an easily adjustable air intake on the
burner as well as a valve to control the amount of propane. NG would not
be a problem to burn, but I don't think it would put out much heat.

House NG pressure is a lot less than the pressure of propane from a
propane tank and has less BTU to start with. (I did have to get a
adjustable pressure regulator to get enough propane pressure to get the
burner to run above anything but a low flame.)

Yes, it can be dangerous. I accidentally overheated the oil when I
pulled the turkey out. (Took out turkey and went inside for a few
minutes to put bird on table.) Went back outside and oil surface was on
fire. I had a ABC fire extinguisher but all it did was blow burning oil
onto the back lawn. The longer it burned the higher the flames got as
the oil got hotter and hotter.

Luckily I had a long hose to propane burner so I turned it off remotely
at the tank. Took a welding glove and put the lid on the pot. (Most
turkey fryer kits do NOT include a lid. I bought my pot at Walmart and
it included a lid.) Smothered the flames with no problem. Threw away pot
and grease due to ABC fire extinguisher contamination.

Would I do it again? Yep. Take the same precautions (Outside, not under
the covered porch, remote shut-off on tank, HALON fire extinguisher next
time, welding gloves, pot cover.) I would just turn off burner before
removing turkey. When I put the turkey in I did turn off the burner so
grease splatter would not get ignited. When it settled down, the burner
was relighted.

I keep a Halon fire extinguisher in my kitchen as well. Nothing is
better as proved by the uselessness of the ABC extinguisher on the oil.
It doesn't leave a mess other than what the fire created and it
chemically smothers the flames just like the lid. That way you feel more
at ease to use it BEFORE a fire gets really burning on your stove.

Bart D. Hull

Tempe, Arizona

Check http://www.inficad.com/~bdhull/engine.html
for my Subaru Engine Conversion
Check http://www.inficad.com/~bdhull/fuselage.html
for Tango II I'm building.

Remove -nospam to reply via email.

mike wrote:
> You take the time to flame me but you don't take time to do your own
> fact checking before you start making some condescending remarks?
> Notice that most of the places that list them don't specialize in
> cooking tools? They list them as "gas" cookers in their description if
> you click on the add, but take a look at the pictures and tell me if
> that doesn't look like a propane connection to you. They also list them
> as high pressure, high BTU, both of which do not describe natural gas.
>

On 2006-12-07, ms5150 > wrote:
> Yes, I did google this before I asked. Have either of you clicked on
> these? They usually send you to propane fueled fryers. I took it a step
> further and called companies that sell turkey fryers, and was told they
> don't make them.

I did a little more looking. I suspect many of the places you
contacted are either click-thru sales portals or dedicated vendors of
other manufacturers. One such website lamented, "Are you looking for
a natural gas turkey fryer? Do not waste your time..... We are,
however, speaking (begging) some of our manufacturers." Well, there ya
go. You need to cut to the chase and look for manufacturers. Here's
one claiming, "It is a low pressure propane (natural gas available by
request)...":

http://www.tejassmokers.com/newproducts_page4.htm

Unfortunately, they want $312!

If push comes to shove, buy a cheapo LP fryer and change the burner.
Here's a link to a place that sells quality NG burners:

http://masl.to/?V2E35535E

You might call and ask them what they would charge to change the
burner on one of their burner stands, as they do in-house fabrication.
I can vouch for these folks as being a reliable business.

nb

I'm reluctant to modifying something that already is considered really
dangerous. The UL does not certify any of these. I don't need a UL
certification, but the fact that NONE of these have one should tell you
something.

The "natural gas available upon request" is for a crab cooker. It might
work for turkeys, but I'm not spend $300+ on something that "might
work".

The fact that a company that makes propane turkey fryers hasn't simply
made one that runs on natural gas leads me to believe that there is a
reason for this, and that's why I'm posting this question. My suspicion
is that it is because natural gas does not put out enough BTUs to do
the job.

BTW, you can pretty much put any simple term/terms into google and get
a hit, especially in the advertising column. If you don't believe me,
search for something like "flux capacitor". I appreciate your
follow-up, but I don't appreciate your original "stupid" comment.

On 2006-12-07, mike > wrote:
> certification, but the fact that NONE of these have one should tell you
> something.

Yeah, it tells you there are very few people that have NG connections
for outdoor appliances. I don't. No one in my family does. With the
exception of one person, not a single person I know has a way to hook
up an outdoor NG burner. The one I know who does had to have it
specially installed. Now what vendor in his right mind is going to
use resources and materials to produce burners no one is likely to
buy?

> The "natural gas available upon request" is for a crab cooker. It might
> work for turkeys, but I'm not spend $300+ on something that "might
> work".

No one said you have to. You asked for a link, I gave you one. Now
I'm getting conditions. BTW, are you aware of the difference between a
crab cooker and a turkey cooker? The crab and the turkey.

> is that it is because natural gas does not put out enough BTUs to do
> the job.

You don't have a clue what you're talking about, do you.

> follow-up, but I don't appreciate your original "stupid" comment.

Judging by your reply, I hafta say I was right on target.

nb

mike wrote:
> I'm reluctant to modifying something that already is considered really
> dangerous. The UL does not certify any of these. I don't need a UL
> certification, but the fact that NONE of these have one should tell you
> something.
>
> The "natural gas available upon request" is for a crab cooker. It might
> work for turkeys, but I'm not spend $300+ on something that "might
> work".
>
> The fact that a company that makes propane turkey fryers hasn't simply
> made one that runs on natural gas leads me to believe that there is a
> reason for this, and that's why I'm posting this question. My suspicion
> is that it is because natural gas does not put out enough BTUs to do
> the job.

The reason that they don't stock them set up for natural gas is because
those things need to be used outdoors and few folks have natural gas
piped outdoors... and mostly folks use them with portable tanks, which
are propane. But if you request a gas appliance they will ship you one
set up for whichever gas you like. ALL gas appliances can be set for
natural gas or propane. Gas stoves are sold with the kit to swap back
and forth, typically in an envelope taped to the rear of the stove, or
taped under the utility drawer. Best to call your gas supplier to make
the swap... takes five minutes and it's almost always a free service...
why would they not enable a customer to consume their gas...

Sheldon

ms5150 wrote:
> Anyone know why turkey deep fryers aren't available for natural gas
> fuel sources? It can't be from lack of interest, and I don't see how it
> is any more or less dangerous than propane.

Natural gas has less BTU's than propane and takes longer to fry the
turkey. You can convert about any burner to natural gas by going to the
hardware store and getting a jet for the burner that has the proper
sized oriface. Just ask for a natural gas jet. Do be aware it will take
longer to get the oil up to the proper temperature. Cajuns around here
use jet burners for turkey frying, crawfish boiling, etc. Sounds a lot
like a small jet engine firing up.

George

George Shirley wrote:
> ms5150 wrote:
> > Anyone know why turkey deep fryers aren't available for natural gas
> > fuel sources? It can't be from lack of interest, and I don't see how it
> > is any more or less dangerous than propane.
>
> Natural gas has less BTU's than propane and takes longer to fry the
> turkey. You can convert about any burner to natural gas by going to the
> hardware store and getting a jet for the burner that has the proper
> sized oriface. Just ask for a natural gas jet. Do be aware it will take
> longer to get the oil up to the proper temperature. Cajuns around here
> use jet burners for turkey frying, crawfish boiling, etc. Sounds a lot
> like a small jet engine firing up.

I'd think Cajuns just get in a circle and shove tubes up each other's
orifices! <G>

Ahahahahahahahahahahaha. . . .


Sheldon Okra