SPOKANE, Wash.— Turkey frying can be a delicious way to cook Thanksgiving turkey but can also be very dangerous to people and property if not done right.
According to the North Carolina Office of State Fire Marshal, turkey fryer fires cause an average of 5 deaths and 60 injuries yearly. These greasy fires also caused over $15 million in property damage.
This year, Spokane County Fire District #4 (SCFD4) has offered tips to keep you, your family, and your home safe while frying the Thanksgiving turkey.
Before you fry the turkey, it is essential to have the right equipment to ensure a safe frying process. This includes ensuring the turkey fryer is on a sturdy and level surface so it won’t tip over and spill boiling oil on the ground. Use a thermostat or a kitchen thermometer to monitor the temperature of the oil, and use protective oven mitts when handling the cooking pot.
SCFD4 recommends keeping the turkey fryer at least 10 feet from your home and not under leaves or flammable objects.
Another critical thing to remember is not to overfill the pot with cooking oil. A good hack to see if you have enough oil is to fill the fryer with water and place the turkey in the water to make sure the water doesn’t get too close to the top. You can then measure how much water there is and use it as a guide for filling the pot with oil. Lastly, the turkey should also be fully thawed, otherwise it will cause cooking oil to splatter when you put it in the pot.
Being extra cautious when frying could save yourself a trip to the emergency room. It is important to keep children and pets away from the turkey fryer.
