With the holiday season approaching, an increasingly popular method to prepare turkey is to deep-fry the entire bird. Please heed the following safety tips to help minimize injury to you or damage to your property.
Fryers should always be used outdoors on a solid level surface at least 10 feet away from the house or other building (do not use on a wooden deck or under a patio cover or under a roof overhang or in a garage or enclosed space).
Read the instructions that come with the fryer. Carefully measure the amount of oil you will need. Do not overfill the fryer. A small amount of oil coming into contact with the burner can cause a large fire.
Keep a fire extinguisher rated for grease fires within reach at all times.
Make sure that the gas lines and valves are working properly.
Keep children and pets away from the cooking area.
Make sure the turkey is fully thawed, cleaned, and dried off. Do not stuff the turkey.
Never leave the hot oil or cooker unattended.
Use well-insulated potholders or oven mitts. Wear long sleeves and goggles to protect from splatter.
Slowly and safely lower and raise the turkey in and out of the hot oil. Be careful not to splash the oil.
Cool the oil completely before disposing or storing it.
Have a safe and enjoyable holiday season.