Essential fire safety tips for cooking a thanksgiving turkey
Enjoy the holidays safely this year with these tips and precautions
The kitchen serves as a place of love and bonding for many, especially on holidays like Thanksgiving. However, as Thanksgiving cooking ramps up, the potential for fire-related incidents grows. According to the CPSC, Thanksgiving Day sees the highest number of cooking fires, with an average of 1,600 incidents taking place. The NFPA estimates that Thanksgiving Day shows an increase of 399 percent over the daily average of house fires. Statistics prove that unsafe cooking practices on Thanksgiving are the leading cause of house fires in the U.S. It’s very easy to have the mindset that “it won’t happen to me”, but it’s always better to be safe than sorry when it comes to home fire safety. As you begin preparing for Thanksgiving and organizing for a big feast, keep in mind that following a few simple safety precautions can keep your loved ones safe and allow you to fully embrace the holiday.
The NFPA states, “Cooking causes half (52%) of all reported home fires and nearly two of every five (36%) home fire injuries, and it is a leading cause of home fire deaths (17%)”. Don’t become a statistic by ignoring these tips and reminders when it comes to home safety on Thanksgiving. It’s easy to get caught up in the chaos of the holidays, but safety should always be a top priority. At American Restoration Solutions, we’re prepared 24/7 to respond to your Thanksgiving fire emergencies and all other property damage crises you may face throughout the year.
safe cooking: what to do & what not to do
Do:
Designate at least one person to stay in the kitchen to supervise when food is cooking, even if they are not the one cooking.
Keep children and pets away from hot stovetops.
Turn pan handles to the back and away from the range so they do not get knocked into.
Have a fire extinguisher in the kitchen and near your workspace outside if you decide to grill or deep fry your turkey.
If a pan on the stove catches fire, cover it with a lid to smother the flames or use a fire extinguisher.
Ensure the turkey is fully thawed and dry before immersing in hot oil for frying.
Turn off propane tanks when not in use.
Use a meat thermometer to keep track of the internal temperature of the turkey and avoid any foodborne illness.
Keep flammable items away from hot ranges or ovens
Don’t:
Don’t wear loose-fitting clothing.
Don’t overfill the oil or leave the turkey fryer unattended.
Don’t use a turkey fryer in your home, garage, or porch.
Don’t pour water or flour on a pan fire.
Don’t leave cooking food unattended on the stove or in the oven.
Don’t overcrowd the pot.
Don’t overheat the oil.
5 ways to cook a Thanksgiving turkey / alternatives for deep-frying
Deep-frying your Thanksgiving turkey may seem like the way to go for its crispy skin and juicy meat, but there are numerous safer and equally flavorful alternative cooking methods you may want to consider instead. To avoid the higher risk of fire that deep-frying implies, try cooking your Thanksgiving turkey with one of these alternative methods:
Oven roasting: The most common choice for a stress-free Thanksgiving, oven roasting allows for precise temperature control and avoids the dangers of hot oil
Grilling: Cooking your Thanksgiving turkey on the grill can free up space in your kitchen for other dishes and produce a unique smoky flavor. If you choose to grill this Thanksgiving, make sure to monitor the grill closely and consider using a grill basket to secure the turkey and reduce the risk of flare-ups.
Smoking: This method ensures that your turkey cooks evenly, preventing it from drying out as it cooks slowly on low.
Air-Frying: Opting to air-fry your turkey decreases the risk of fire due to the lack of hot oil and traditional ovens.
Sous Vide: Cooking your bird sous vide is one of the best ways to ensure a low maintenance, relatively safe, evenly cooked and juicy meal.
While following proper precautions and instructions for deep-frying may result in a safe and enjoyable experience, you can significantly reduce the risk of fire by opting to not fry your turkey at all. Whichever method you decide to cook your Thanksgiving turkey with, be sure to research and follow proper safety measures.
how to safely Deep-fry a Thanksgiving Turkey
Choose a small turkey – Even though you might be inclined to choose the biggest bird for the biggest feast possible, opting for a smaller turkey is better for deep-frying. You may even want to fry individual parts of the turkey like the legs, wings, breasts. Cooking a small turkey or parts of the turkey will make it easier to lift and move around, decreasing the chance of dropping it and spilling hot oil on you or your property.
Thaw the turkey completely – One of the biggest dangers when deep-frying a turkey is not allowing it to thoroughly thaw. When the turkey is submerged into hot oil, any hidden ice pockets will melt, turning into water and potentially causing an explosion in the oil. Make sure to feel inside the cavity to ensure there’s no ice left.
Set up your frying station – Only fry on flat ground to keep the pot sturdy and the oil levels even. Stay away from anything that could be damaged by splattering oil and ignited in flames. Put a tarp underneath your frying pot to protect the surface from oil stains. Keep fire extinguishers nearby and be sure to keep pets and children at a lengthy distance from the workspace.
Measure your oil carefully – Using the proper amount of oil when lowering your turkey into the frying pot is extremely important. To find the necessary amount of oil, place your turkey in the pot and fill it with water. The turkey should be covered by about half an inch and there should be at least 4 inches of space in the pot above the water line. Measure the water line with a tape measure or ruler and the result will tell you the amount needed to safely submerge your turkey in oil.
Prepare your turkey – Pat the turkey dry, remove the neck and giblets, and season accordingly. Do not stuff your turkey before deep-frying as the contents will fall out and burn in the oil. Truss the turkey with butcher’s twine, tie the wings to the body, and insert the hanger with the lowering hook component.
It’s Frying Time – Fry your turkey about three minutes for each pound and check the internal temperature with a thermometer until the middle of the thigh reads 150 degrees Fahrenheit. Slowly lift the turkey out of the oil and have someone else insert the meat thermometer into the thigh to ensure the turkey is secured on the hanger.
Have a fire extinguisher nearby – In case of emergency, have a fire extinguisher suitable for grease fires on standby and call 911 immediately.
At American restoration solutions, we’ve got your back 24/7
American Restoration Solutions is ready to respond to any fire damage emergency you may have this Thanksgiving. When you reach out to ARS, we will arrive on-site within an hour with state-of-the-art equipment and a skilled team of IICRC-certified technicians to begin assessing the damage. Since each fire damage situation is different, our expert project managers will begin by putting together a unique mitigation plan for your property. The steps will look something like this:
Arrive on-site ASAP to inspect damaged structure/contents and determine the extent of the damage.
Develop a recovery plan and estimated timeline.
Removal of water, soot, and debris from damaged areas like walls, ceilings, and floors.
Use air scrubbers, HEPA filters, and specialized cleaning solutions for the deepest cleaning possible.
Sort through salvageable and unsalvageable contents. Pack salvageable goods such as garments, clothing, textiles, and upholstery to be taken to one of our facilities for thorough cleaning and restoration.
Store your belongings in one of our fully insured warehouses until you are ready to receive them back.
Turkey frying has become more and more popular in recent years, causing a spike in the number of house fires on Thanksgiving Day. We highly recommend following these tips and tricks for cooking your bird this year to avoid any potential hazards affecting your loved ones or your property. In the event of a fire damage crisis, American Restoration Solutions is here to help restore your property and belongings in an effective and timely manner. Call (833)-4MITIGATION for emergency fire/smoke mitigation and visit our website to learn more about the services we offer including water damage and mold remediation.
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