5 Safety Tips for Deep Frying a Turkey

5 Safety Tips for Deep Frying a Turkey

Are you planning on deep frying a turkey this week? Thanksgiving Day is almost upon us and the most popular way to cook a turkey is also the most dangerous. According the U.S. Fire Association (USFA), Thanksgiving is the peak day for home cooking fires and deep frying a turkey easily increases the risk of fire and injury.

Practice these 5 safety tips for deep-frying your turkey (adapted from USFA):

1. Do not overfill. Make sure you take into account the size of your turkey before filling the pot with oil. Once the turkey is placed in the pot, hot oil can splatter and spill causing burns and potential fires.
2. Stay outdoors. Turkey fryers can easily tip over, spilling hot cooking oil over a large area. Do not deep fry on a wooden deck or in the garage and maintain a safe distance from your home.
3. Thaw & dry completely. Once placed in the hot oil, any excess water on the turkey will cause the oil to bubble quickly and over the sides of the pot increasing the risk for burn and fire.
4. Keep your eye on the bird. Monitoring the temperature is essential to a safe frying experience—not to mention a delicious dinner!
5. Be prepared. Make sure you have the proper cooking gloves and utensils to handle the heated pot and turkey once all is complete. And always keep a fire extinguisher close at hand!

These 5 simple tips will help keep you safe during the holiday. For more information, visit www.usfa.fema.gov.