Turkey Fryin' Tips

Deep-fried turkey, a concept that started in the South, is rising in popularity nationwide. The process requires careful preparation and time to prevent fire or burn injuries. An average of eighteen reported incidents that involve fires, flames or burns associated with turkey fryers are reported each year, twenty-eight in 2002. Deep Fryers can be dangerous because:

• Many units easily tip over, spilling the five gallons of hot oil within the cooking pot.
• If the cooking pot is overfilled with oil, the oil may spill out of the unit when the turkey is placed into the cooking pot. Oil may hit the burner/flames causing a fire to engulf the entire unit.
• Partially frozen turkeys placed into the fryer can cause a spillover effect. This too, may result in an extensive fire.
• With no thermostat controls, the units also have the potential to overheat the oil to the point of combustion.
• The sides of the cooking pot, lid and pot handles get dangerously hot, posing severe burn hazards.

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