First responders tend to see an uptick in kitchen accidents and fires around the holidays due in part to cooking mishaps.
Every year, deep-fryer fires are responsible for five deaths, 60 injuries, 900 home fires, and more than $15 million in property damage, according to the National Fire Protection Association.
Follow these 13 turkey frying safety tips if you’re planning to prepare a turkey for Thanksgiving:
Never leave the fryer unattended.
Keep children and pets away from the fryer at all times.
Wear protective equipment – eye protection and good grill mitts.
Defrost your turkey COMPLETELY and dry it before immersing it in hot oil.
Keep a grease-rated fire extinguisher within arms reach of your work area.
Never operate a fryer outdoors in the rain or snow.
Keep outdoor fryers away from combustible structures or trees – that means off the deck, too!
Place the fryer on a level surface and do not move it around once heating.
Leave two feet between the tank and the burner when using a propane-powered fryer – consider wrapping hose in aluminum foil to prevent hot oil that may splatter from touching it.
Do not overfill the fryer.
Turn off the burner if oil is smoking. Use a fryer with a temperature gauge and keep a sharp eye on it.
Turn off the burner before lowering the turkey into the oil. Once the turkey is submerged, turn the burner on.
Once finished, carefully remove the pot from the burner, place it on a level surface and cover to let the oil cool overnight before disposing.
