Use of turkey fryers that use oil for cooking are considered by the NFPA as unsafe for residential use and highly encourage purchasing fried turkey from a grocer or restaurant than frying at home. Too often these devices result in serious burns, other injuries, and property damage. Furthermore, fryers are available that do not require the use of oil for cooking and are considered safer for residential use.
What causes these fires, and possible explosions, to occur? Turkey fryers require a large amount of oil that, when heated to high temperatures, tend to release cooking oil which becomes ignited by the heating device resulting in a roaring fire.
Determined to use that turkey fryer that requires cooking oil? To help prevent the outbreak of fire, be sure to:
- Set the fryer up at least ten feet away from the house or any structures – do not set up in the garage or on an outdoor deck.
- Fully thaw and DRY the turkey before adding to the cooking oil. Mixing water, or ice if still frozen, will cause dangerous splattering of oil which is likely to ignite.
- Keep children and pets away from the unit – both pose a danger of knocking the fryer over or getting burned by possible oil splatter as the turkey cooks.
- Have a working fire extinguisher nearby. Water will NOT put out an oil fire, instead it will make the fire grow and spread. If a fire does occur, call 911 for help and move everyone to a safe location. DO NOT try to fight a growing fire on your own!
