Thanksgiving holiday, what a great time to have family and friends over for the festivities. Apple and pumpkin pies, a few side dishes, and some vegetables. To complete your thanksgiving dinner maybe you’d like to fry a turkey.
While a turkey may be great in the turkey fryer, precautions should be taken. Please read below to learn safety tips and risks during this Thanksgiving holiday.
Thanksgiving Fire Facts
- According to the NFPA, Thanksgiving is the peak day for home cooking fires, followed by Christmas Day, Christmas Eve, and the day before Thanksgiving.
- In 2019, U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated 1,400 home-cooking fires on Thanksgiving.
- Each year an estimated 1,000 fires are associated with deep fryers.
- The leading contributing factor in cooking fires and fire deaths was due to untended cooking.
- The second leading cause of home fire deaths is cooking equipment, including microwave ovens, stoves/ranges, and toasters/toaster ovens.
Be Careful With Turkey Fryers
To reduce the risk of fire when using a stainless steel turkey fryer, only use it outdoors on a stable surface; also, keep your propane tank at a safe distance from the fryer. Stay in the area with the turkey fryer while you’re using it.
Frying any type of food increases the risk of a fire. Turkey fryers are particularly dangerous because they use large amounts of boiling oil, which requires the fryer to be placed on a flat surface on its stand and can easily tip over.
Place it on a flat surface outside, keeping it at least 10 feet away from structures such as garages and porches. Keep a fire extinguisher within reach should a fire occur.
Before you put oil in the turkey fryer, put your turkey into fryer, add enough water to cover the turkey, and remove the turkey. Note where the water line is, as that’s how much oil you’ll need. Dry turkey and turkey fryer before putting oil into the fryer.
Never put a frozen or partially thawed turkey into the fryer. It will emit flames and hot oil from the fryer. To ensure the oil doesn’t overheat, check the temperature often with a cooking thermometer, maintaining a temperature of 350 degrees F (176 degrees C)
Thanksgiving Safety Tips
- Stay near the stove while cooking or baking
- Children should be at least 3 feet from the stove while it’s being used.
- Keek sharp knives out of children's reach.
- Check smoke alarms annually and change batteries every six months
Following these safety tips and avoiding the risks when using a turkey fryer, you’ll be sure to have a safe holiday.