Ted Todd Insurance Encourages Potential Backyard Chefs to Put Safety First at Thanksgiving

Eating turkey on Thanksgiving is a tradition that is as American as apple pie. In fact, the National Turkey Federation estimates about 88% of Americans eat turkey on Thanksgiving Day. In 2008 Americans consumed more than 690 million pounds on Thanksgiving Day!

In recent years, deep-frying has become an increasingly popular way to cook this holiday bird, as the process creates extraordinarily tender, juicy meat enveloped in a crispy outer skin.

But there is a downside to the deep-frying method—the increased potential for fire or injury. The combination of extremely hot oil, a large, dense item to fry, dry outdoor conditions and chef inexperience with frying pose extra dangers:

• Spillover Effect. Many fry units tip over easily, spilling hot oil. If the cooking pot is overfilled with oil or the turkey is still partially frozen, the oil may spill over when the turkey is placed into the oil. Oil can come in contact with the burner or flames, creating a fire than can engulf the entire unit.
• Combustion. Fryers without thermostat controls can overheat the oil to the point of combustion.
• Burns. The sides of the cooking pot, lid and pot handles can get dangerously hot, posing severe burn hazards.

Given the added dangers, Ted Todd Insurance recommends that turkey chefs carefully consider the added risks associated with deep-frying. “Don’t compromise your safety and the safety of those you love just to achieve a better tasting turkey,” cautioned Ryan Kelly, the company’s operations manager.

Should you still prefer to deep-fry your turnkey, Ted Todd Insurance recommends that backyard chefs closely adhere to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s safety guidelines for frying turkeys:

• Never leave the fryer unattended with the burner on.
• Place the fryer on a strong, level surface in an open area, well away from all walls, fences or other flammable structures.
• Never use a fryer in a partially enclosed area such as a garage, breezeway, carport, porch, or any structure that could catch fire.
• Thoroughly thaw the turkey before cooking.
• Cover your bare skin when adding or removing food.
• Raise and lower the turkey very slowly to reduce spillover and splatter.
• Check the oil temperature frequently so avoid overheating.
• If oil begins to overheat and smoke, turn the gas supply off immediately.
• If a fire occurs, call 911—and never attempt to extinguish fire with water.