’Tis the season of loosened belts and post-dinner naps. That said, to avoid the discomfort of your stomach feeling like a bowl full of jelly, look to a kitchen range with an Air Fry setting—so that you can still enjoy all of your deep-fried favorites (hello, donuts!) and savory grub (it’s good to see you, pork chops!) with none of the guilt.
This year, we challenge you to use this innovative oven setting to prepare the perfect holiday turkey. Once you have a grasp of this tech, you can even make air-fried turkey legs and air-fried turkey wings to enjoy as leftovers (we know those post-Thanksgiving turkey hoagies can get old real quick).
Check out which top-notch appliance brands offer kitchen ranges with Air Fry tech—and stay tuned for our favorite air-frying recipe for the perfect holiday turkey!
Wait, can you air fry a turkey?
Absolutely! Requiring far less oil than traditional oven-roasting and deep-frying methods, air-frying your Thanksgiving turkey is the healthiest cooking approach with minimal fat involved. You’ll also be happy to know that using the Air Fry setting on a specialized Frigidaire Gallery, LG, and Samsung range still results in a nice and crispy skin. It’s truly the chef’s kiss.
To further understand how air frying a turkey is a viable option for your Thanksgiving dinner, we must learn how air frying works.
How Air Fry Works
When used as an oven setting, Air Fry uses convection fans to rapidly circulate extremely hot air around your fried meats and treats, resulting in evenly cooked foods with a crispy, golden exterior.
For those who fancy themselves seasoned pros in the kitchen, it should be noted that this tech differs from convection bake settings, both in terms of the speed at which the convection fans operate and the temperature of the oven—Air Fry ups the ante on both counts.
Available at a touch of a button on all models, Air Fry doesn’t require you to preheat your oven. To use this cooking mode, just place your tray of food on the rack, press the Air Fry button on your range’s control panel, set the appropriate temperature (between 350 and 500 degrees), and select “Start.”
Appliance Brands that Offer Ranges with Air Fry
From our Appliances catalog, Frigidaire Gallery, LG, and Samsung are the reigning manufacturers behind air-frying ranges.
Check out what each brand offers in terms of installation types and fuel options, along with some unique benefits that are sure to elevate your Thanksgiving dinner.
Frigidaire Gallery
Known for their time-saving features, Frigidaire Gallery appliances also deliver a luxe appearance to exude both beauty and brains. Kitchen ranges with Air Fry tech are available in classic stainless steel and black stainless, boasting both freestanding and built-in installations—in case you’re looking for a cost-effective option or vying for a flush-inset kitchen design, respectively.
In addition to offering electric and gas options, Frigidaire Gallery’s Air Fry line includes induction stovetops so that you can quickly prepare all the Thanksgiving staples, including cranberry sauce, creamy gravy, and garlic mashed potatoes, before you hear the first doorbell ring.
If you’re partial to wall ovens, this brand manufactured electric double- and single-oven configurations (FGET3069UF and FGEW3069UF) with you in mind.
Pictured: Frigidaire Gallery 29.88" Stainless Steel Free Standing Gas Range with Air Fry (FGGH3047VF)
LG
A purveyor of innovation, the same manufacturer that brought us OLED TVs now offers high-end kitchen appliance features, including Air Fry, that can be yours at a mid-range price. Feast your eyes—and taste buds.
As you can expect, LG kitchen ranges with Air Fry are available in electric and gas fuel options, providing you the option of a smooth glass-top surface or professional-looking grates—as well as your choice of a stainless steel or a black stainless-steel finish.
It should be noted that, currently, only freestanding models are distributed by the brand. To make up for it, LG stocks some models with a patented InstaView oven door, an obscured window that lets you see the inside of the oven without opening the appliance to let the hot air out. Just knock on the InstaView window twice to illuminate the cavity and reveal the contents of your oven.
Samsung
Competing for your attention, Samsung ranges with Air Fry offer the same flexibility in terms of electric and gas cooking power. Unlike the other electronics titan on this list, Samsung sells slide-in models in addition to freestanding ranges. Not only that, Samsung throws in a third appliance finish to rival stainless steel and black stainless steel: Tuscan stainless steel.
A warm-toned compromise between light stainless steel and broody black stainless steel, this Samsung appliance finish was specifically created to blend into contemporary décor and elevate your kitchen design.
You’ll be happy to know that air-frying Samsung ranges generously provide a specialized Air Fry tray to contain any messes. That’s what we call the gravy on top.
Pictured: Interior of Samsung 29.94" Fingerprint Resistant Tuscan Stainless Steel Slide-In Electric Range (NE63T8511ST)
Easy, No-Fuss Thanksgiving Turkey with Air Fry (Recipe)
As promised, here is our favorite recipe for the perfect holiday turkey. Put your Air Fry oven setting to work, and take heed to the following ingredient quantities and directions:
RECIPE Easy, No-Fuss Thanksgiving Turkey with Air Fry
- PREP TIME: APPROX 5 MINUTES
- COOK TIME: APPROX 3 HOURS
- TOTAL TIME: APPROX 3½ HOURS
- COURSE: MAIN
- SERVINGS: APPROX 6
Ingredients:
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon ground rosemary
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon dried sage
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon dark brown sugar
- 12-pound turkey (1)
- Chicken broth, for basting
- Olive oil, for brushing
Directions:
- Mix together the salt, thyme, rosemary, pepper, sage, garlic powder, paprika, and brown sugar in a small bowl.
- Brush the whole turkey with olive oil and rub on both sides with the dry rub mixture, making sure to get under the skin wherever possible.
- Place the turkey inside your air-frying oven and roast at 350 degrees for 2½ to 3 hours. Be sure to baste with chicken broth every 30 minutes, using the broth and juices that pool at the bottom of the tray throughout this process.
- Toward the 2-hour mark, use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the thickest parts of the thigh, wings, and breast. Continue cooking until the thermometer reads the minimum temperature of doneness, 165 degrees.
- Once your turkey reaches this minimum clearance, let the bird rest for 15 to 20 minutes before slicing and serving.
From our Big Sandy family to yours, we hope you enjoy the upcoming holiday season! To show how thankful we are for your support, our friendly staff of experts is here to make your days merry and bright. Check out our Appliances catalog, call any of our customer service lines, or visit us today!