Deep Fryer Safety Tips

What would the holidays be without turkey? If you plan to deep-fry your bird this year, do it safely!

Sedgwick County firefighters offer these precautions:

• Make sure your fry pot is at least twice as big as your turkey, so a 12 to 15 pound bird needs a 30 to 34 quart pot.
• Determine how much oil you need by doing a test run first with water. Put your turkey in and measure how much water it takes to cover the bird by an inch. Mark that on that pot, as your oil fill line.
• When you are ready to cook, find a spot for the fryer OUTSIDE, away from buildings, vehicles and trees. Never deep fry under a carport or canopy.
• Make sure your turkey is completely thawed and dry. Even ice crystals in the cavity could make the hot oil pop and splatter.
• Turn the burner off before SLOWLY lowering the turkey into the oil with a hook.
• Keep a fire extinguisher close, and monitor the turkey the entire time it’s cooking. Do NOT go back in the house.
• If the oil ever starts to smoke or burn, turn the fryer off.