Deep frying is one of the fastest and tastiest ways to prepare turkey. This Southern-style of cooking the Thanksgiving bird has grown in popularity in the past few years, and special heavy-duty pots designed for the purpose are widely available. Lowering the turkey into the oil can take two people to accomplish and works for birds under 15 pounds. It takes about four minutes per pound to cook in this manner. Measuring the amount of oil is crucial to avoid any dangerous spills.