Deep-frying a turkey on Thanksgiving? Avoid fires and keep safe with these tips

9/21/2021 (Permalink)

Burning turkey in the deep fryer can cause more damage than a ruined Thanksgiving Day dinner.

Burning turkey in the deep fryer can cause more damage than a ruined Thanksgiving Day dinner.

Across the country, deep fryers cause an average of five deaths, 60 injuries, and more than $15 million in property damage each year, according to the National Fire Protection Association.

Keep safe (and don’t ruin Thanksgiving) by following these tips from Austin fire officials on how to deep-fry your turkeys:

1. Go easy on the oil: The turkey will displace the oil in a fryer pot, so if there’s too much, it will spill out and possibly catch fire on the burner. Follow the fryer’s manual and do a “dry run” with water in the pot to figure out how much oil you’ll need to use.

3. Easy does it: Slowly lower your thawed turkey into the pot to prevent oil from splashing out and possibly catching fire.

5. Keep an eye on it: Many frying pots do not have thermostat controls, and, if unattended, the oil will continue to heat until the point of combustion. Never leave an active fryer alone.

6. And just in case: Don’t use water to put out an oil fire; water will only spread it. Instead, use a fire extinguisher — so keep it nearby.