Safety tips for fried turkey

  • Published
  • By American Society of Safety Engineers
  • American Society of Safety Engineers
TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  Fried turkey is great, but every year deep-fryer fires are responsible for five deaths, 60 injuries, the destruction of 900 homes and more than $15 million in property damage, according to the National Fire Protection Association.

Some dangers associated with deep frying a turkey are:

· Frying units can easily tip over, spilling hot cooking oil over a large area.
· An overfilled cooking pot or partially frozen turkey will cause cooking oil to spill when the turkey is inserted.
· A small amount of cooking oil coming into contact with the burner can cause a large grease fire.
· Without thermostat controls, deep fryers have the potential to overheat the oil to the point of combustion.
· The sides of the cooking pot, lid and pot handles can get dangerously hot, creating severe burn hazards.

If you fry a turkey:

· Fryers should always be used outdoors, on a solid level surface a safe distance from buildings and flammable materials.
· Never use potholders or oven mitts and wear long sleeves and safety goggles to protect from splatter.
· Make sure the turkey is completely thawed before it is placed in a fryer.
· Keep all-purpose or special kitchen fire extinguishers nearby.
· If a fire occurs, call 911 immediately. For more information see http://phoenix.about.com/od/foodanddrink/a/fryaturkey.htm

Here are some practical tips from the personal experience of a safety professional:

· Some instructions call for dropping the turkey into the cooking pot filled with water to estimate the amount of oil you will need (since that measurement is crucial to avoiding overflow). That will cause your turkey to be wet--so dry it first before placing into hot oil.
· Oil will expand when hot--so use less than you estimate. Although cooking goes fast, heating the oil can take longer than you expect, so start early.
· Peanut oil can solidify if left in a cold garage or other storage area, and the large container won't fit in a microwave. Thawing in a sink takes a long time.
· Garages don't technically qualify for being outside, but in real cold weather at least move your cars outside.