Bend Fire offers turkey fryer safety tips
It’s that time of year to dust off the turkey fryer or, for first-timers, to give deep frying a turkey a try.
Every year at this time however there are tragic events where people are badly injured or homes damaged or lost due to turkey fryer accidents.
Bend Fire and Rescue is offering some tips on how to more safely use turkey fryers, should you choose to do so.
ALWAYS use your turkey fryer outdoors and on a non-combustible surface (concrete, gravel, asphalt, etc). Ensure the surface you are cooking on is flat and stable to a prevent tip-over. Always follow the manufactures warnings and instructions. The turkey fryer should be attended at all times by an adult. Keep children and pets away from the fryer. Do not move the pot of hot oil. Allow to cool before moving. Use proper body protection (gloves, eye wear, etc) when working around the hot oil to prevent burns from splashing oil Have a fire extinguisher close by in case of fire and never use water to extinguish a grease fire, as this could cause a steam explosion and spread the fire. CALL 9-1-1 IMMEDIATELY if a fire occurs.
Safe Cooking with Your Turkey Fryer:
Only fill the pot with enough oil to cover the turkey completely with 1 inch of oil above the turkey. This will help prevent splashing and spilling. (TIP: Put the turkey in the pot before cooking and fill the pot with water till the turkey is covered with 1 inch of water, then remove the turkey, mark the level of the water at that point. This will give you the depth of oil you should add later for the cooking.) ALWAYS fully thaw and dry the turkey before frying. Any water on the turkey could cause splashing of the oil as it reacts to the water. ALWAYS lower the turkey into the fryer slowly. DO NOT DROP! Monitor the oil temperature closely to prevent the oil from becoming too hot. Oil can catch fire when exposed to an open flame or if heated above recommended cooking temperatures. When the turkey frying is complete, allow plenty of time for the fryer to cool down before disposing of the used oil. Contact your local disposal company for proper disposal of the used oil.
