We here at Austin County News Online would like to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving.  But, if you decide to fry your turkey, there are some things to keep in mind for yours and your family’s safety. 

Firemen from across the country are giving demonstrations on the dangers that can happen if you fry a turkey without keeping safety in mind.  The video below was from ABC News.

Here are 5 safety tips to keep in mind when frying your turkey:

  1. Stay Away from The House – Set up the turkey fryer more than 10 feet away from your home and keep children and pets away. Never leave it unattended.
  2. Find Flat Ground – The oil must be even and steady at all times to ensure safety. Place the fryer on a flat, level surface and carefully gauge the amount of oil needed.
  3. Use a Thawed and Dry Turkey – Make sure your Thanksgiving turkey is completely thawed and dry. Extra water will cause the oil to bubble furiously and spill over. If oil spills from the fryer onto the burner, it can cause a fire.
  4. Monitor the Temp – Use caution when touching the turkey fryer. The lid and handle can become very hot and could cause burns. Also be sure to keep track of the oil’s temperature as many fryers do not have their own thermostats.
  5. Be Prepared – Have a fire extinguisher (multipurpose, dry-powder) ready at all times in the event that the oil ignites.

Help prevent a turkey fryer fire!

Below are statistics and safety tips about using a turkey fryer and why they can be dangerous.

Did you know?

Thanksgiving is the peak day for home cooking fires.

Data snapshot: Thanksgiving Day Fires PDF 677 KB

Five dangers of deep frying a turkey:

  1. Turkey fryers can easily tip over spilling hot oil across a large area.
  2. An overfilled cooking pot will cause oil to spill over when the turkey is placed inside.
  3. A partially frozen turkey will cause hot oil to splatter.
  4. Turkey fryers can easily overheat and start a fire.
  5. The pot, lid and handles of a turkey fryer can get dangerously hot and cause burn injuries.

Prevent a Turkey Fryer Fire handout PDF 296 KB

Preventing Turkey Fryer Fires recipe card PDF 168 KB

More information can be found at the U.S. Fire Administration at:  https://www.usfa.fema.gov/prevention/outreach/cooking.html

Floating Vimeo Video