DeBerry Insurance wants to make sure everyone has a safe and happy Thanksgiving. We had the opportunity to speak with Spring Hill’s Fire Chief, Terry Hood, to get his advice for safe turkey frying this holiday season.
Many people look forward to frying a turkey on Thanksgiving. Frying a turkey can make a delicious addition to your Thanksgiving meal, but it can also be very dangerous.
“First and foremost, you should always completely thaw and dry a turkey before placing it in a fryer; no ice crystals should remain inside the turkey,” Hood explains. (Ice or water that mixes into the hot oil can cause flare ups.) Hood also advises that it is important to use the proper amount of oil for the size turkey you are cooking so that the liquid doesn’t overflow. The amount of oil should be carefully gauged based on the size of the turkey. Turkey fryers should be placed on a flat surface at least 100 feet from the house when in use.
“Never use turkey fryers – or even outdoor grills – on a wooden deck,” he says.
Also, be aware that turkey fryers can easily tip over spilling hot cooking oil over a large area. Even a small amount of cooking oil spilling on a hot burner can cause a large fire. Without thermostat controls, deep fryers can overheat oil to the point of starting a fire.
Use heat protective pot holders when handling the fryer. The sides and handles can get extremely hot and cause severe burns when touched.
Keep children and pets away from the fryer at all times while in use.
If a grease fire does occur, never attempt to use water to put it out. Use an all-purpose fire extinguisher instead. Similarly, water should never be used to put out any type of cooking or kitchen fire.
“Never use water on a cooking fire,” Hood says. “When people panic and use water to put out a kitchen fire, that’s when they end up needing us. Water disperses cooking oil which can make a fire spread incredibly fast.”
If a pan catches fire while cooking, you should try to smother the fire with a pot lid or flour.
Safety measures are important for safely cooking any time of the year. We hope these few important reminders will help everyone have a safe and happy Thanksgiving!
