Saftey Tips for Using a Turkey Fryer

Though it's tradition to roast a turkey for Thanksgiving, many new ways of preparing the Thanksgiving bird are surfacing. One of the most popular is deep-frying the traditional centerpiece of the Thanksgiving meal. If you are planning to give this a try, here are some things to keep in mind.

In the United States, more than 141 serious fires and hot-oil burns have been reported from the use of turkey fryers over the last decade, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Thanksgiving Day is the leading day for cooking fires, with three times as many as on an average day, according to the National Fire Protection Association. And each year, $15 million in property damage is caused by deep fryer fires in the United States.

Here are a few safety tips:

• Make sure the person using the turkey fryer is not impaired by alcohol or drugs.

• Look for the newer fryers with sealed lids to prevent oil spills.
• Keep the fryer in full view while the burner is on.
• Keep children and pets away from the cooking area.
• Place the fryer in an open area away from all walls, fences or other structures.
• Never use the fryer in, on or under a garage, breezeway, carport, porch, deck or any other structure that can catch fire.
• Slowly raise and lower the turkey to reduce hot-oil splatter and avoid burns.
• Never cook in short sleeves, shorts or bare feet. Cover all bare skin when dunking or removing the bird.
• Protect your eyes with goggles or glasses.
• Immediately turn off the fryer if the oil begins to smoke.
• Make sure the turkey is completely thawed and be careful with marinades. Oil and water don’t mix, and water can cause oil to spill over, creating a fire or even an explosion.
• Don’t overfill the fryer with oil. Turkey fryers can ignite in seconds after oil hits the burner.
• Keep a fire extinguisher appropriate for oil fires close at hand and be familiar with how to operate it.
• Do not use a hose in an attempt to douse a turkey fryer fire.
• If you do burn yourself, or someone else is burned, seek immediate medical attention.

Hope you have a safe and happy Thanksgiving!

Tagged as: Turkey, Thanksgiving, Injury, Health, Burn , Fire, Cooking and Tips

Dr. Anita Varkey is medical director of the general medicine clinic at Loyola Outpatient Center at Loyola University Health System. Dr. Varkey is an internist, researcher and professor who specializes in primary care, preventive medicine and women's health. "TCWell" focuses on health and wellness issues.