Happy Thanksgiving

11/20/2023 (Permalink)

Pot of Boiling Oil

Your local SERVPRO of Lee & South Chatham Counties wants to wish you a safe and blessed Thanksgiving. 

Here are some safety tips for this festive time of showing off your cooking prowess to friends and family. 

How to Safely Fry a Turkey

While the NFPA advises against frying a turkey yourself (since it can cause severe burns, injury, and death, not to mention severe fire damage to your property), a fire department chief in Charleston, South Carolina named Mike Julazadeh outlines the following tips if you still choose to fry turkey yourself, courtesy of PBS foods.

• Set the fryer at least 10 feet away from your property: Ultimately, you’ll want to stay a safe distance away from your home when you fry. Make sure the fryer is set up at least 10 feet away from your home, and never leave it unattended. Keep children and pets safely away. Don’t use the fryer on a wooden platform or deck.
• Fry on flat ground: When frying the turkey, it is important the oil is kept even and steady in the fryer. Make sure the area is flat and level so you can accurately use the right amount of oil.
• Only use a defrosted, thawed, or fresh, dry turkey: In other words, never submerge a frozen turkey in hot oil, or you risk a severe fire. The turkey should be completely dried and thawed by the time you fry it.
• Regularly monitor the oil temperature: While the turkey is frying, be careful when you touch any part of the fryer, as the lid and handle may be extremely hot. Keep in mind, most fryers don’t have their own thermostat, so you will need to use your own to monitor the oil temperature.
• Have a fire extinguisher ready: Always have a fire extinguisher on standby in the event the oil ignites, and call 911 immediately. The extinguisher should be dry powder, multi-purpose, and approved for grease fires.
• Avoid putting too much oil in the fryer: Any extra water will make the bubbling oil spill over once you lower the turkey in. If this oil touches the burner, it could cause a fire. To help avoid a fire, use the fryer’s owner manual to determine the correct amount of oil.
• Water and oil don’t mix (and remember, ice is frozen water): If a fire occurs, don’t use water or ice to try extinguishing it. When ice and oil meet, the water vaporizes, causing steam bubbles to pop and spray hot oil.

While prevention and safety are the goal, remember that SERVPRO^® will clean up after a Turkey Fryer Fire. (919)-533-6776

turkey fryer fire safety tips from the Austin, TX Fire Department: