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It seems like we hear horror stories about turkey frying that went wrong every holiday season. These stories wind up with fire damage and property loss. You want a perfectly-cooked bird. You deserve that delicious fried turkey. You also deserve to keep your home fire damage-free. Here’s how to get the best of both worlds.

Thanksgiving Fires — The Facts

According to FEMA, an estimated 2,400 residential fires are reported annually on Thanksgiving Day. These fires lead to an estimated five deaths, 25 injuries and over $19 million in property damage, and 76.5% of these fires stem from cooking.

Regarding turkey frying, the problem stems from attempting to deep fry a frozen turkey. It’s the number one rule — never cook a frozen turkey. There are countless reports and records of frozen turkeys erupting in a ball of flames when dunked into the deep fryer.

The same goes for deep frying a turkey indoors, on a wooden deck or surrounded by wooden blocks/logs for stability. Any flammable objects must remain well away from the fryer.

The Dangers of Deep Frying a Turkey

Here are a few common dangers when deep-frying a turkey.

• The fryer may tip over, spilling hot cooking oil everywhere.
• An overfilled fryer or frozen turkey will cause the oil to overflow.
• A small amount of oil connecting with the burner may lead to a fire.
• Ignoring thermostat controls can lead to overheating and combustion.
• The sides, lid and handles of the pot grow increasingly hotter.

Safety Tips for Deep-Frying a Turkey

Like all things, frying a turkey can and should be done right. Therefore, learning the basic safety tips for cooking a turkey can reduce the chance of a dangerous fire.

• Do not use a fryer on a wooden deck, inside of a garage or under a patio cover.
• Fryers should remain outdoors, on a level surface, safely away from flammable objects.
• Do not overfill the fryer with cooking oil.
• Do not leave the fryer unattended, without thermostat controls, for fear of fire.
• Never allow children or pets near the fryer.
• Use insulated potholders or oven mitts while wearing long sleeves and goggles to protect against oil splatter.
• Fully thaw the turkey before it goes into the fryer.
• Keep a fire extinguisher nearby.

Even on Thanksgiving Day, your local Restoration 1 is here to help with 24-hour fire damage restoration. When it comes to our beloved community, we don’t take holidays. Give us a call now!