Ready to deep-fry that turkey?
We’ve already blogged about how kitchen fires are responsible for most residential fires, but this is a special Thanksgiving edition. Whether you’re hosting or visiting family this Thanksgiving, there’s a lot of cooking going on in Southern California. We’re hoping these simple tips will help make sure that your Black Friday has everything to do with shopping, and nothing to do with black walls in your kitchen after a cooking fire.
Even William Shatner wants to you be safe when cooking your Thanksgiving turkey in a deep-fat fryer! Check out our Facebook page for a video on how dangerous deep-frying your turkey can be, featuring the original Captain James T. Kirk himself.
General kitchen safety tips:
- Be sure to keep pot handles and electrical appliance cords out of the reach of children
- Put a lid on a pot or pan to extinguish a food or grease fire – never use water
- If you use an extinguisher, make sure it’s the right one for kitchen/cooking fires
- In the event of an oven fire, turn off the heat and close the oven door
- Avoid wearing loose or baggy clothing
- Always use potholders while working in the kitchen
Safety tips for deep-frying a turkey:
Deep-frying a turkey uses oil over an open flame, and therefore it presents several hazards. The operation must be considered hazardous from the time the flame is lit to the time the turkey is removed and the oil is cooled.
- Turkey fryers should always be used outdoors a safe distance from buildings and other material that can burn.
- Never use on wooden decks or in garages.
- Never leave the fryer unattended.
- Never place a frozen turkey in the fryer. Make sure the turkey is completely thawed and drain off excess marinades before placing it in the pot.
- Lower and remove the turkey carefully and slowly to avoid oil splashes or spillage.
- Always measure the amount of oil needed and never overfill the pot. How to measure what oil you’ll need: Place the turkey in the empty pot and fill with water to just cover the turkey. Remove the turkey and use a ruler to measure the depth of the water.
- Keep children and pets away from the fryer during and after operation.
- Ensure a fire extinguisher rated for flammable liquids is readily available.
- Use a thermometer to monitor the temperature of the oil during operation and keep the temperature at 350 °F (175 °C). Reduce the heat immediately if the oil begins to smoke.
- Use heavy gloves or well-insulated potholders when touching pot or lid handles.
If your Thanksgiving meal gets out of hand and roasts your entire kitchen or home, please call us immediately. We are available 24/7 and have trained staff standing by to help you with your emergency. We are experienced in dealing with all insurance companies, and can help you transform the tragedy into a home again. Call (877) 732-8471 whenever you need us. We’ll be here for you.