Turkey fryer safety for Thanksgiving

Are you frying up a turkey this year for Thanksgiving?

Traditionally, Thanksgiving turkeys are oven roasted and some are even smoked, but deep frying has become a popular method over the years and it saves time, but also comes with a higher risk.

If you’re thinking of frying up a turkey for the first time this holiday season, here are a few things emergency officials say to keep in mind.

First of all, fire officials say it is critical to keep your fryer at-least ten-feet from your home and any other nearby structures. Make sure your fryer is not overfilled with oil.

Ensure your turkey is completely thawed out, as a frozen or even partially frozen bird will cause oil to splatter upon submission into the fryer.

If your fryer has no built-in thermostat controls, fire officials suggest monitoring the temperature of your cooking oil by using a kitchen thermometer that attaches to the side of the pot.

See complete list of tips here.

In general, turkeys to be cooked on Thanksgiving should be thawed out in advance. If your turkey is 24-lbs or bigger, officials say it should go in the fridge to thaw 6-days out from Thanksgiving.

For birds around 20-lbs, families should thaw them out in the fridge 5-days before; 4-days before for birds weighing around 16-lbs and 3-days for birds weighing around 12-lbs.

Image via FDNY.