(KNSI) — One of the most popular ways to cook a Thanksgiving bird is also one of the most dangerous, according to experts.
The Department of Public Safety says last year, Minnesota reported 335 fires causing more than $5.3 million in damages over the week of Thanksgiving.
St. Cloud interim Fire Marshal Brett Young says every year, there are house fires connected to deep frying a turkey and people suffer devastating burns on their hands and feet. “That’s probably one of the more dangerous ways to cook a turkey. They taste good coming out of the deep-fried oil, but there are much safer ways to cook a turkey.”
Young says if that is how you’re planning on cooking it, whatever you do, don’t do it inside, on a deck or in a garage.
“Unfortunately, that oil can splatter over, and when you have that open flame underneath, that can cause a catastrophic event in your house. So if you are choosing to cook a turkey that way, you want to make sure that you’re doing it outside.”
Another important tip is to never put a wet or frozen turkey into the hot oil. “The excess moisture can cause oil to splatter out uncontrollably. So if it’s not thawed out, you’re obviously bringing that moisture out, and oil and water don’t mix, so you need to be very, very careful with that.”
The U.S. Department of Agriculture recommends thawing the turkey in the refrigerator so it can defrost at a consistent temperature. They say to allow one day for every four to five pounds of weight.
Other tips include making sure the fryer is stable. If the fryer tips over or oil spills out, it will cause an instant fire. Do not overfill the fryer with oil. Even a small amount of spilled oil can cause a large fire. Lower the bird in slowly to avoid splatters, use temperature controls, so the oil doesn’t overheat and catch fire, and never leave the bird unattended.
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