An Allergen-Friendly Thanksgiving
I think it’s safe to say we are officially entering into the Holiday Season! A season filled with nostalgia and cheer, planning and preparing, gathering and sharing. But if there is one word to describe Thanksgiving, I think we can all agree on food. When I think of Thanksgiving, I picture all my loved ones gathered around the dinner table with plates full of homemade dishes all squished together. It’s the only meal where it’s acceptable to pair your dessert right between the green bean casserole and stuffing. Not the best flavor combination if you ask me, but who cares? It’s Thanksgiving! If you can see the white of your plate, you did something wrong. A holiday that is all about food can be a dream come true for most, but for those with food allergies it can threaten to be a holiday nightmare.
Whether you are roasting, baking, or frying your Thanksgiving Turkey, most recipes will call for cooking oil. But did you know that most cooking oils contain some sort of nut? Nearly every vegetable oil, coconut oil, avocado oil, and peanut oil (to name a few) contain nuts or are produced and packaged in facilities that have cross-contamination with peanuts, soy, and other top allergens.
How sad would it be for your loved ones with allergies to miss out on the main course of the meal? That just can’t happen! Thanksgiving isn’t Thanksgiving without the turkey.
Simply Sunflower Oil is an all-natural cooking oil that has zero cross contamination with peanuts, tree nuts, wheat, and soy. Our sunflower seeds are mechanically cold-pressed, processed, and packaged in our independent production plant in North Loup, Nebraska to ensure there will never be any cross-contamination with other products. We make sure our oil is 100% safe for your loved ones with such food allergies.
To all of our friends with food allergies, you get to enjoy your Thanksgiving meal!
And to all of the Thanksgiving cooks, we have a solution for your turkey recipe. Try switching it up and frying your turkey this year with Simply Sunflower Oil! The high smoke point of 450°F makes our oil excellent for frying. You will wow your family, fill their bellies, and win major brownie points with those with food allergies. Here’s how to deep fry your Thanksgiving turkey:
Ingredients:
1 (13 to 14-pound) turkey
1 lb Brown sugar, dark
1 lb Kosher salt
4 gal Simply Sunflower Oil*
5 lbs Ice
6 qt Water, hot
Instructions:
You’ll want to start with brining the turkey. In a 5 gallon cooler, place the hot water, kosher salt, and brown sugar and stir until the salt and sugar are dissolved. Add the ice and stir then gently lower the turkey into the cooler until fully immersed in the brine. Keep the container covered and set in a cool place for 8 to 16 hours.
After brining is complete, rinse and dry the turkey. Let sit for 30 minutes before cooking. Be sure to remove any ties from the turkey at this point.
Pour the Simply Sunflower Oil into a 28-quart pot (or larger if needed) and heat at 250°F over a propane burner outside. Once the oil has reached 250°F, slowly immerse the turkey into the pot. Increase heat to 350°F. Be sure to maintain at 350°F throughout the frying process.
After 35 minutes, use a probe thermometer to check the temperature of the turkey. Once the internal temperature of the turkey breast reaches 165°F, it’s time to pull the turkey out from the oil. Allow the turkey 30 minutes to sit before carving.
Carve and enjoy!
We hope that this allergen-friendly turkey saves you from a holiday nightmare and brings sunshine to your family’s Thanksgiving. May your holiday be sunny and full of laughter, love, and food. Happy Thanksgiving from the Simply Sunflower Team!
