Safety Tips for Deep Frying a Thanksgiving Turkey

11/3/2021 (Permalink)

Safety tips to protect yourself, your loved ones, and your home!

It’s November, so it’s time for turkey!!! 

Deep frying is the newest trend in Thanksgiving turkey preparation. The outcomes can be wonderful, but the process can be risky. I will explain why deep-frying is dangerous and share safety tips to protect yourself, your loved ones, and your home. 

Why deep fryers can be dangerous 

• The fryer has the potential to tip over and spill gallons of heated oil.
• When the turkey is placed into the cooking pot, overfilling the pot with oil produces leakage. If the oil spills onto the burner, the entire fryer will burst into flames.
• When frozen or partially frozen turkeys are placed in the fryer, steam quickly expands, causing the oil to boil over.
• If there are no thermostat controls, the fryer units have the potential to overheat to the point of combustion.
• The sides of the cooking pot, the lid, and the pot handles can become extremely hot, resulting in severe burns.

Deep-Fried Turkey Safety Tips

• Place the turkey fryer at least 10 feet away from your home and away from children and pets. It should never be left unattended.
• Place the fryer on a leveled, flat surface and carefully measure out the amount of oil required.
• Make sure your turkey is totally thawed and dry before cooking.
• Keep an eye on the temperature of the oil and use the fryer with caution. Severe burns from the lid and handle are possible.
• Always keep a fire extinguisher or multipurpose dry powder on hand in case oil catches fire.