Closeup of fried chicken
There are different types of drumsticks and more than one way to fry drumsticks. It does not matter if it's a chicken leg or a turkey leg, poultry must be cooked completely down to the bone for health reasons. Ingesting under-cooked poultry can result in salmonella poisoning causing a person to become very ill; severely enough at times to require medical attention and even hospitalization may be necessary. Add this to my Recipe Box.
What Type of Drumstick?
Chicken Drumsticks
This is the most popular of drumsticks and is from the chicken's lower leg. This section of meat is dark meat and is stronger in flavor than white meat sections.
Chicken Wing Drumsticks
This drumstick is not from a leg of a chicken but rather its wing. It's referenced as a drumstick because of its shape, which is similar to a chicken leg drumstick.
Turkey Drumsticks
This is the largest of drumsticks and is from the lower section of the turkey leg. Just like with a chicken, it's dark meat as well. Another similarity turkey leg meat has to the meat of a chicken leg is it, too, has a stronger flavor than a turkey's white meat.
Drumstick Fry Methods
Raw chicken drumsticks
The length of time to fry drumsticks depends on the method and equipment used. To be cooked properly the meat's temperature at the bone of chicken or turkey (in its thickest section) needs to be 165° Fahrenheit.
Frying Pan
Pour oil 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch deep in a frying pan and heat on the stove top at medium heat until the oil reaches 360°. Place drumsticks carefully into the hot oil. Cooking time is about 3 to 4 minutes for chicken and 9 to 11 minutes for turkey on one side. Turn the drumstick over and cookuntil golden brown or until there is no pink when the meat is pulled back from the bone (165° Fahrenheit), approximately 6 to 8 minutes for chicken and 9 to 11 minutes for turkey.
Electric Skillet
Heat oil 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch deep in an electric skillet to 360°. Carefully place drumsticks into the hot oil. Cook chicken for about 6 to 8 minutes and turkey for about 9 to 11 minutes on one side. Turn and continue cooking chicken another 6 to 8 minutes and turkey an additional 9 to 11 minutes, until golden brown or until there is no pink when the meat is pulled back from the bone (165° Fahrenheit).
Deep Fryer
Fill deep fryer about 1/3 full with oil and heat to 360°. Carefully place drumsticks into the hot oil. Cook chicken drumsticks about 8 to 10 minutes and turkey drumsticks about 12 to 15 minutes, flipping as needed and cookuntil golden brown on all sides. The meat can be tested to confirm if it is cooked through by pulling the meat away from the bone at its thickest section. If there is no pink present then it's done. The temperature of the meat at the bone should be 165° Fahrenheit.
Oven Stockpot Frying
A large bottom heavy stockpot is filled with about 1 inch of oil and heated in a 350° preheated oven until the oil reaches 360° on a meat thermometer. Drumsticks are carefully placed into the hot oil.
Turkey Fryer
Note: Cooking time for a whole turkey is 3 minutes per pound.
Fill turkey fryer with oil and heat to the temperature recommended by the manufacturer's recommendations. Carefully and slowly lower the turkey drumsticks into the oil. Cook until golden brown or 165° Fahrenheit in the thickest section of the drumstick.
*Tips
Fryer
• Naked or battered, the cooking time does not vary.
• The chicken should be placed into hot oil with a motion of moving away from the body. This helps prevent splatter of hot oil causing skin burns.
• A spatter screen can be used to prevent oil splatter.
• If using a turkey fryer the manufacturer's recommendations for safety and best results are to be followed.
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