Thanksgiving should be remembered for warm kitchens, full tables, and the people gathered around them, not for the flash of a cooking fire. Yet it remains the peak day for home cooking fires, with incidents rising to more than three times the usual daily average. When turkey fryers are used improperly, a festive meal can turn dangerous in seconds.
Originating as a regional Louisiana/Cajun cooking practice in the 1980s, the popularity of deep-fried turkey and consumer-model turkey fryers became mass-market phenomena. While deep-fried turkey may seem like a tasty alternative to the traditional oven-roasted variety, deep-frying an entire bird at home can be an extremely dangerous undertaking.
In Canada, the Department of National Defence fire prevention guidelines are very clear in their warnings about the dangers of using turkey fryers1, cautioning that “the use of outdoor gas-fuel turkey fryers that immerse the turkey in hot oil is strongly discouraged.” The guidelines further warn that the use of turkey fryers can lead to devastating burns, other serious injuries, and destruction of property because of the potential for ‘splash-back’ and spills from the large amounts of hot oil required for the process.
If you're planning to deep fry a turkey at home this Thanksgiving or at any other time, please read these turkey fryer safety tips ahead of time to prevent fires and injuries, and to keep your family, your guests, and your home safe.
The Dangers of Deep-frying a Turkey
Deep-frying a whole turkey requires a significant amount of oil heated to 175 degrees celsius or higher. Oil is combustible, and at high temperatures the risk of cooking oil vapours igniting increases. The risk of severe burns is also higher when deep-frying a turkey because the fryer can tip, boil over, spill, or otherwise splash hot oil onto the cooking element and start a fire. Simply put, the unusually large amount of oil required to deep fry a turkey can lead to catastrophic results.
Turkey Frying Safety Tips
Before deep-frying a turkey, consider and follow these potentially life-saving safety tips and guidelines:
Always do
- Thoroughly thaw and completely dry your turkey before deep-frying. A partially frozen turkey will cause cooking oil to splatter when you put it in the cooking pot.
- Keep children and pets away from your turkey fryer.
- Place your turkey fryer on a sturdy, level surface.
- Have an all-purpose or grease-fire extinguisher nearby when frying.
- Check the thermostat controls. Deep fryers can overheat oil to the point of starting a fire. If your turkey fryer does not have a thermostat, use a kitchen thermometer that attaches to the side of the pot.
- Wear safety goggles and heavy-duty, heat-resistant gloves while frying.
- Follow all instructions for your specific fryer appliance.
- Turn the burner off when putting your turkey in or taking it out of the fryer.
Never do
- Do not stuff a turkey that you intend to deep fry.
- Never overfill the recommended amount of oil in the fryer. Test the amount of oil you will need by first filling the fryer with water and placing the turkey in the pot, making sure the water is not too close to the top. Remove the turkey and measure the water to use as a guide for how much oil to put in the fryer.
- Never use a turkey fryer indoors. Fry turkeys on a flat, open surface, away from trees, buildings, overhangs, and tripping hazards.
- Never use a turkey fryer on a wooden deck or patio, which could easily catch fire. Make sure the fryer is at least 10 feet (3 metres) from your home and not placed under roof eaves.
- Do not move the fryer once it is in use.
- Do not touch the sides of a hot fryer without protection.
- Never use ice to cool hot oil because oil and water do not mix. Adding ice can cause hot oil to spatter outside the fryer.
The fire restoration experts at ServiceMaster Restore urge everyone to follow our turkey fryer safety recommendations for a safe and successful turkey frying experience. Even if you have been frying turkeys for years, accidents can still happen. A cooking fire can be devastating, causing injury and severe damage to your home and property. If an accident does happen, call the experts at ServiceMaster Restore. We are available to help you 24/7… even on Thanksgiving.
1 https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/services/benefits-military/military-housing/home-fire-prevention-booklet.html#toc8