t’s the holiday season and we are only a couple of weeks away from Thanksgiving. There will be a lot of families baking their turkeys to a golden brown and some will fry them to a tender-crisp. While deep-fried turkey is amazing, tender, and locks in all the flavor, there are many risks and dangers associated with the task.
In an article on about.com a Phoenix Fire Department posted the dangers associated with frying a turkey and tips to make the process as safe as possible:
Here are 5 dangers associated with deep-frying a turkey, according to the Avondale Fire Department.
- Units can easily tip over, spilling hot cooking oil over a large area.
- An overfilled cooking pot or partially frozen turkey will cause cooking oil to spill when the turkey is inserted.
- A small amount of cooking oil coming into contact with the burner can cause a large fire.
- Without thermostat controls, deep fryers have the potential to overheat the oil to the point of combustion.
- The sides of the cooking pot, lid, and pot handles can get dangerously hot, creating severe burn hazards.
If You Fry a Turkey
- Fryers should always be used outdoors, on a solid level surface a safe distance from buildings and flammable materials.
- Never use a fryer on a wooden deck, under a patio cover, in a garage or enclosed space.
- Do not overfill the fryer.
- Never leave the fryer unattended because, without thermostat controls, the oil will continue to heat until it catches fire.
- Never let children or pets near the fryer when in use or after use as the oil can remain hot for hours.
- Use well-insulated potholders or oven mitts and wear long sleeves and safety goggles to protect from splatter.
- Make sure the turkey is completely thawed before it is placed in a fryer.
- Keep all-purpose fire extinguishers nearby.
- If a turkey fryer fire occurs, call 911 immediately.
To read the entire article http://phoenix.about.com/od/foodanddrink/a/fryaturkey.htm
