Over the last few years, deep frying turkeys on Thanksgiving has become very popular, according to the Maple Valley Fire and Life Safety in a press release.
If you are planning on doing this, Maple Valley Fire asks to please follow these safety tips so that you and your family can have a safe and enjoyable Thanksgiving holiday:
- Place the deep fryer away from your home or other combustibles on a flat, stable surface.
- Determine how much oil is needed before you start by placing the turkey in the deep fryer and filling it with water.
- Thaw and pat-dry the turkey before immersing it in the hot oil to avoid splattering.
- Monitor the oil temperature and follow the instructions in the recipe. Typically, this is 375 degrees.
- Never leave the cooking turkey unattended.
- Keep all kids and pets away from the deep fryer.
- Avoid letting oil run down the sides of the deep fryer where it may ignite.
- If the oil catches fire:
- Turn off the propane or other fuel source.
- Cover the deep fryer with the matching lid while wearing an oven mitt.
- Use a fire extinguisher if needed.
- Call 9-1-1 if there are any injuries or concerns about the fire spreading.
- Avoid consuming alcohol or anything that may distract you while using the deep fryer.
- Recycle or reuse the oil.
Other holiday cooking tips from Maple Valley Fire:
- Create a “kid free” zone around the stove/oven to reduce the chance of burns to children.
- Turn pan handles toward the back of the stove to reduce the chance of accidently bumping them.
- “Keep an eye on what you fry”, meaning stay in the kitchen when cooking.
- Always have an oven mitt and fitted lid next to pans in case of a cooking fire.
- Make sure your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are working and have fresh batteries.