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Deep-Frying Safety Tips To Ensure Your Thanksgiving Won’t Backfire

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As you prepare your turkey for Thanksgiving, we want to remind you of a few safety tips to make your holiday both savory and safe.

You’ve probably seen the videos of deep-frying turkey disasters online.

Every Thanksgiving firefighters throughout the country respond to 4,000 fires.

You want your thanksgiving meal to be flashy, but not literally.

The biggest mistake firefighters see with deep fryers, is putting a frozen turkey into the cooking oil.

Local fire departments showed us exactly how badly that can backfire.

“You’re gonna see a terrific flash up and possible explosion when the hot oil reaches the flames on the gas cooker,” explained Lake Missaukee Fire Chief Raymond Vasser.

The overflowing flames are one of the reasons why deep fryers should be used outside.

They could cause damage to both your home and your body.

“We had one a few years ago where the oil didn’t tip over, didn’t catch on fire, but the young lady was burnt with the oil on the legs,” said Vasser.

So keep these tips in mind…

“If they’re using a fire, keep it outside, keep it on a level stable surface. We have some that have tipped over. No alcohol, and make sure the bird is completely thawed and dried, towel dried, before they put it in the oil,” said Vasser.

Also keep the propane tank at least two feet away from the fryer.

Be careful of how much oil you fill at first, as putting in the turkey could displace it and cause the oil to overflow.

Be mindful of marinades, combining cooking oil and water will cause the mixture to boil over.

And last but not least…

“Keeping anything away from the kids and a little bit of instruction before they get a chance to get into the kitchen and get around stuff. Keeping the pots back from the edge in a situation where there’s oil, anyone that’s not old enough to be there shouldn’t even be in the vicinity, especially with the oil,” added Vasser.

Additional safety tips include:

·    Read and follow the manufacturer’s user guide.

·    Use a portable deep fryer with a gas valve controller.

·    Never leave the portable deep fryer unattended.

·    Keep children and pets away from the portable deep fryer. 

·    ONLY use cooking oil recommended by the deep fryer manufacturer. Do not use cheaper or different types of cooking oil for the portable deep fryer because the cooking oils have different ignition temperatures when heated.

·    Use well-insulated potholders or oven mitts as the deep fryer lid and handle can become very hot; wear safety goggles to protect eyes from cooking oil splatter.

·    If the cooking oil begins to smoke, immediately turn the propane tank to OFF by closing the propane tank valve.

·    Keep a fire extinguisher (dry-powder) ready at all times. NEVER use water to extinguish a cooking oil or grease fire.