This news item expired on Tuesday, December 1, 2015 so the information below could be outdated or incorrect.
US fire departments respond to more than 1,000 fires each year in which a deep-fryer is involved. The National Fire Protection Association says deep fryer fires result in more than $15 million in property damage each year and hot oil splatter can cause serious burns to an adult or life threatening injuries to a child.
If you're cooking your turkey in a deep fat fryer, always do it outdoors a safe distance from buildings and any other flammable material, and never leave it. Hot oil is extremely dangerous, so never use turkey fryers on a wooden deck or in your garage.
Place the fryer on a flat, stable surface and don't overfill it with cooking oil. Once the oil is up to temperature, turn off the burner and only insert turkeys that are completely thawed, otherwise hot oil will splatter and may boil over the sides of the fryer. Never use water to cool hot oil or extinguish a cooking oil fire. Keep children away from the fryer, and use thermometers to gauge oil and food temperatures. After cooking, make sure the oil is completely cool before removing it from the fryer.
More turkey fryer safety tips:
- Lower and raise food slowly to reduce splatter and prevent burns.
- Cover bare skin when adding or removing food from the fryer.
- Make sure to have at least two feet of space between the propane tank and the fryer burner.
- If the oil begins to smoke, immediately turn the fryer gas supply off and leave the pot uncovered to cool.
- Don’t overfill the fryer with too much oil, which can cause it to overflow when the turkey is added
- Make sure the turkey is entirely thawed and dried.
If you don't follow these tips, things can go horribly wrong very quickly. We've scoured the web for the top 5 all-time “Deep-fried turkey disasters”. Without further ado, here’s what not to do this thanksgiving!
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Have a Happy Thanksgiving!