Safe Use of a Turkey Fryer

It’s that time of year when many people just want to relax and enjoy their family and friends, and maybe a good football game. Sadly, it’s also the time when cooking fires dramatically increase and ruin the good time for everyone. According to the United States Fire Administration, Thanksgiving Day has more than double the number of residential cooking fires than an average day. Careless cooking activities are typically responsible for cooking fires.

When it comes to turkey frying, simple mistakes can be deadly.  Here are some reminders for turkey fryer safety.

Fry outside and away from the house, or anything else.  Make sure the fryers are used on a flat surface to reduce accidental tipping.

Avoid oil spillover fires - don’t overfill the pot. The way to determine how much oil to use is to put the turkey in the pot, fill with water to barely cover, then remove the turkey and note the amount of water remaining. Thoroughly dry the pot before adding oil.  Do not fill the pot more than 3/4 full of oil.

Turn off the flame while lowering the turkey into the oil. Lower the turkey slowly to avoid splashing or excessive bubbling.

NEVER leave the fryer unattended. Wind can greatly affect fire and heat. Rain or snow can cause flash fires. Children, pets, or even unwary adults can tip the fryer with disastrous and deadly results.  The oil inside the cooking pot can remain dangerously hot, hours after use.

NEVER put the fryer near a garage, porch, or deck. 

Properly thaw the turkey before frying. Ice and hot oil react violently.  The National Turkey Federation recommends refrigerator thawing and to allow approximately 24 hours for every five pounds of bird thawed in the refrigerator.  Be careful with marinades. Oil and water do not mix – causing a fire or even an explosion hazard.

Keep a class B dry chemical extinguisher nearby - NEVER use water on a grease or oil fire. Most home fire extinguishers are multipurpose dry chemical extinguishers. These are suitable for most types of fires, including hot oil fires. To use the extinguisher remember PASS - Pull the pin, Aim at the base of the fire, Squeeze the lever, and Sweep from side to side.

Following is a short video on the dangers of turkey fryers -