Fire Safety – Turkey Fryers

May families enjoy deep-frying their turkey for Thanksgiving but if they are not careful this can lead to fire and possibly serious injuries. It should come as no surprise that Thanksgiving is the peak day for home cooking fires.

Here are five dangers of deep-frying a turkey from the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA):

1. Turkey fryers can easily tip over, spilling hot cooking oil over a large area.
2. An overfilled cooking pot will cause cooking oil to spill when the turkey is put in, and a partially frozen turkey will cause cooking oil to splatter when put in the pot.
3. Even a small amount of cooking oil spilling on a hot burner can cause a large fire.
4. Without thermostat controls, deep fryers can overheat oil to the point of starting a fire.
5. The sides of the cooking pot, lid, and pot handles can get dangerously hot.

Please follow these tips for safety:

1. Be sure to follow the instructions in your fryer’s owner’s manual.
2. Completely thaw your turkey – remember oil and water do not mix.
3. Never leave your fryer unattended while in use.
4. Keep children and pets at a safe distance.
5. Keep an all-purpose fire extinguisher handy.
6. Use your fryer outside and away from trees, siding, fences, and any other structure.

Click here to watch a video demonstrating why using a fryer can be dangerous.
Click here for a printable “Prevent a Turkey Fryer Fire” handout.
Click here for a printable flyer from the NFPA on the dangers of Turkey Fryers.