5 Tips to Safely Deep Fry Your Thanksgiving Turkey

According to the University of Illinois, 88% of Americans eat turkey on Thanksgiving which means that more than 46 million turkeys will be eaten next Thursday. While we don't have an exact number as to how many of these birds will be deep-fried, we do know that more and more Americans are turning to this method to have their turkey ready in less time.

As with anything that involves hot oil, a flame, and a holiday, things could go wrong very quickly and have some tragic results. Here's an example of how quickly things can go wrong.

There are some great advantages to deep frying your turkey, the flavor can be amazing and the bird is really moist. But, as with anything, the more you know, the better off you'll be. With all of this in mind, the New York Propane Gas Association offers the following tips.

1. Stay away from the house. The recommendation is that you set up the turkey fryer at least 10 feet away from your home and keep children and pets away. Never walk away while it's cooking.

2. Find flat ground. The oil must be even and steady at all times to ensure safety. Place the fryer on a flat, level surface and carefully gauge the amount of oil needed.

3. Use a thawed and dry turkey. Make sure your Thanksgiving turkey is completely thawed and dry. Extra water will cause the oil to bubble furiously and spill over. If oil spills from the fryer onto the burner, it can cause a fire.

4. Monitor the temperature of your fryer. Use caution when touching the turkey fryer. The lid and handle can become very hot and could cause burns. Also be sure to keep track of the oil's temperature as many fryers do not have their own thermostats.
5. Better to be safe than sorry.  Have a fire extinguisher (multipurpose, dry-powder) ready at all times in the event that the oil ignites.

Follow these tips to safely deep fry that bird and have a great Thanksgiving!