Deep-frying a turkey for a holiday meal seems to be getting more popular lately. Frying a turkey is supposed to bring out a unique taste not attained in traditional oven baked birds. If you want to try this just remember that cooking fires are probably one of the leading causes of fires around the holidays.
Basic safety measures that should be followed when frying a turkey. It goes without saying that it’s done outside and away from the house or structures. It’s a good idea to put water in the pot first and put the turkey in the water to see the level of grease you’re going to need. If you put the turkey in the pot with too much grease, the grease can spill over straight into the fire causing a dangerous flare up.
It has been noted that most fryers do not have thermostat controls, so if you don’t watch the fryer carefully it will continue to heat and may end up catching fire.
While turkey frying fire dangers have gotten a lot of attention lately, they aren’t the only dangers when holiday cooking is involved. During the holidays there may be more people and children in the house and around the cooking area which increases the chances of an accident or fire. You want to at least keep the cooking area a kid-free zone.
Accidents will happen no matter how careful you are, it’s just a fact of life, but here are some tips to help minimize the risk.
- Don’t leave the kitchen while cooking on the stove, especially when frying.
- Keep flammable materials like towels and paper at least three feet away from the stove top.
- Don’t let grease build up on the stove or toaster oven.
- Turn pot or pan handles towards the back of the stove to keep small children from grabbing them.
Always use common sense and pay attention to what you’re doing. Don’t make the holiday season something to remember in a bad way, be safe.
