In recent years, deep fried turkey has become a very popular Thanksgiving item. It has been endorsed by celebrity chefs like Martha Stewart and others. But, if you’re planning to deep fry your turkey this year, you should be aware of the fire hazard before you get started.
Deep frying a turkey is popular for two primary reasons. The first is that it’s quick. You can cook a pretty large bird in about 45 minutes, as compared to 3 or 4 hours of roasting in the oven. In addition, deep frying a turkey gives you a nice crisp skin on the outside, but the turkey stays moist inside. Many cooks have difficulty getting this result from roasting.
The Rhode Island Association of Fire Chiefs this week issued a warning to those planning Thanksgiving festivities.
Each year, there are about 2000 Thanksgiving fires, causing an average of five deaths and 25 injuries. The majority of these fires are the result of deep frying turkey.
The Rhode Island Association of Fire Chiefs recommends against the practice.
However, if you are planning to deep fry your turkey, use the following precautions:
Always fry the turkey outside –never in the garage or house. If a fire starts outside, it will be easier to contain.
• Don’t overfill the fryer. You want to be certain that the hot oil will not spill out when you put in the turkey.
• Avoid putting in a wet turkey, as the water will cause the oil to splatter when you put the turkey in the fryer.
• Don’t fry your turkey at higher than 350 degrees. At 375, the oil can ignite.
In addition to these precautions you should use when frying a turkey, remember basic kitchen fire safety when cooking this Thanksgiving.
• Ensure you have implements available to fight a grease fire, such as baking soda, a co2 fire extinguisher or a lid to cover the pot.
• Don’t leave towels or hot pads lying near the stove.
• Don’t leave the house with food cooking.
Remember that it’s not always wise to try and fight a fire yourself. In many cases, you minimize the risk of injury to you and your family by simply calling 911 and getting out of the house. Don’t let a senseless fire ruin your Thanksgiving feast.
Image courtesy of Dis for Dad.com
