Fried Turkey for Thanksgiving is Becoming a Tradition.

New National Poll Shows 49 Percent of U.S. Consumers Surveyed Have Eaten Fried Turkey

BREA, Calif. & NEW IBERIA, La. -- Fried turkey for Thanksgiving is becoming a tradition. A new national poll commissioned by LouAna Peanut Oil and Cajun Injector Marinade shows that 49 percent of adults surveyed have eaten fried turkey, and 28 percent plan to eat fried turkey this holiday season.

The survey of 1,000 adults was conducted by the Opinion Research Corporation for LouAna and Cajun Injector. Last year, a similar survey reported that nearly 39 percent of U.S. adults say they've eaten fried turkey.

"We're finding that more and more people are realizing the benefits of fried turkey," says Ventura Foods marketing vice president Herb Seigler. Ventura makes LouAna, the #1 brand of peanut oil for turkey frying. The company sells 75 percent of its peanut oil during the Thanksgiving and Christmas season.

"It takes just 48 minutes to fry a 12-pound turkey in peanut oil, compared to more than three hours to roast a turkey the traditional way," says Cajun Chef Pat Mould, owner of Louisiana Culinary Enterprises and author of Recipes from a Chef. He's been frying turkeys for more than 20 years.

"You'll never have dried-out turkey either," says Mould. "That's because you inject marinade into the turkey before you fry it, which keeps it moist. And the turkey won't be greasy as long as you fry it at a constant 350 degrees F. In fact, Cajun-fried turkey only has 220 calories per serving."

Louisiana-based Bruce Foods manufactures and markets Cajun Injector marinades, the #1 injectable marinade in the U.S., which is used for turkey frying. Bruce also markets the Cajun Injector electric turkey fryer by Masterbuilt, which is the #1 electric fryer and made for indoor use. Cajun Injector does 70 percent of its sales during the holiday season.

"Fried turkey continues to be more popular in the South, in part because turkey frying started here in Louisiana using propane fryers outdoors in the warmer weather," says Bruce Foods President and CEO Si Brown. "But fried turkey is really catching on in other parts of the country, including colder climates. And now with the electric fryer designed for indoor use, that means that people can still enjoy a fried turkey for Thanksgiving, even during a snow storm."

Turkey-frying recipes are available at www.louana.com and www.brucefoods.com.

Founded in 1928 in New Iberia, La., Bruce Foods has been manufacturing true Cajun and Tex-Mex food products for more than half a century. Bruce manufactures a variety of more than 550 food products under nine major brands including Cajun Injector Marinades, Casa Fiesta Mexican Foods, Louisiana Gold Pepper Sauce, Mexene Chili Products, "The Original" Louisiana Hot Sauce, Cajun King, Bruce's Yams and Bruce's Sweet Potato Pancake, Muffin & Biscuit Mixes. Bruce Foods brands are available in major supermarkets, including Wal-Mart and other stores across the U.S. For more information, visit www.brucefoods.com.

LouAna Peanut Oil is the leading national brand of peanut oil and is available in major supermarkets, warehouse clubs, super centers and other major retail outlets across the United States. LouAna peanut, canola, canola corn, safflower, sunflower and vegetable oils are made in Opelousas, La. LouAna is one of several brands of Ventura Foods LLC, of Brea, Calif. Other Ventura consumer brands include Marie's Refrigerated Produce Dressings and Dips, Dean's Dairy Snack Dips, and Gold-n-Soft margarine. For more information, visit www.louana.com.