Turkey Fryer Safety Tips

Deep frying a turkey is a popular favorite during the Thanksgiving holiday season. But, if you’re not careful, frying a turkey can ruin your Thanksgiving too. You’ve no doubt seen videos of people accidentally starting fires with their attempts. In some cases, families have even lost their homes. Deep-frying can pose risks and life safety concerns. Here are five tips to keep in mind if you plan to deep fry your bird.

1. Find a safe place to cook. Don’t ever set up a fryer any closer than 20 feet from your home, garage, or any other structure. Make sure the area is flat to keep the fryer from tipping and never put it on a deck or other flammable surface.
2. Don’t use too much turkey. You don’t want to drop a 20-pound bird in your fryer; it’s just too big. Keep your turkey to 12 pounds or less, don’t stuff it and make sure it’s completely thawed and dry.
3. When it comes to the oil, use something with a high smoke point (for example, canola or safflower) and do a test with water beforehand to figure out how much you need. Put the turkey in your fryer and fill with water until it is covered. Then take the turkey out and mark the water line on the outside of the pot — that’s how much oil to use. Be sure to dry everything completely after your test.
4. Gently lower the turkey into the oil. Use caution when it’s time to cook. Watch the turkey as it cooks and never leave a cooking turkey unattended. Keep an eye on the oil temperature to make sure it doesn’t get too hot. Watch the clock because you want your turkey to cook for about 3-5 minutes per pound. Supervise kids and pets so they don’t get too close to the fryer.
5. Always have an operable fire extinguisher present — preferably a multi-purpose model with dry powder. Don’t ever spray water on a fryer fire. If you don’t have an extinguisher, either cover the oil or dump a large amount of baking soda on the blaze. And, if all else fails, call 911 — quickly.

Many other, less risky cooking options for your holiday meal exist. Whichever way you decide to cook your turkey, we at ABI Insurance wish you a happy and safe Thanksgiving!

Reprinted with permission from Safeco Insurance a Liberty Mutual Company.