Staten Islanders Warned to Be Careful of Turkey Fryers
Thanksgiving is right around the corner. Besides the ever-earlier appearance of Christmas decorations, I have also noticed turkey fryers and frying oil at the local Home Depot. More and more people each year decide to deep fry a turkey for the holidays, but many may not know how to properly go about it. I started to deep fry turkeys for Thanksgiving and Christmas about 6 years ago, using the typical propane fryer, and spent many hours outside on Christmas day making sure that the oil did not overheat. After placing the turkey into the hot oil, the temperature of the oil would drop dramatically. I would have to raise the temperature of the oil so that it could reach the proper cooking temperature, and then again make sure that the oil did not overheat. Peanut oil starts to smoke at 450 degrees and could flash over, or ignite, after rising a few degrees above that temperature. I would have to raise the temperature by opening a valve on the propane fryer and increasing the size of the flames. The turkeys were the best anyone in my family ever tasted and would usually be eaten before it made it from the cutting board to the serving plate. Needless to say, when I added a second turkey, I was spending more hours outside than inside cooking. To cut down my outdoor time, last year I invested in an electric turkey fryer. Unlike the propane burners, the electric fryers have a thermostat, preventing the peanut oil from flashing-over and making sure that the oil stays at the proper cooking temperature. The absence of an open flame also prevents oil that spills over the side from going on fire. The advantages over the propane burner are so great that they are even approved for indoor use, although I wouldn’t recommend that.
I have attached a helpful video that shows the dangers involved in deep frying a turkey and provides helpful points for you to follow if you decide to deep fry a turkey. I have provided a few of these helpful safety tips below:
Make sure that the turkey is completely thawed before placing into the hot oil. The threat is not from the turkey actually exploding, but from the oil bubbling over uncontrollably, igniting on the open flame. Make sure that you don’t overfill the fryer. It’s always possible to add oil once the turkey is in the fryer but impossible to take out boiling oil. Never allow children or pets near the turkey fryer, as even hours after the burner is shut off, the oil will continue to stay hot. Never use turkey fryers on wooden decks as any spilled oil may ignite, setting the deck on fire. Also, make sure that an all purpose fire extinguisher is available. If the fire is manageable, use the extinguisher. However, don’t hesitate to call 911 if the fire increases or you don’t feel safe in trying to extinguish the fire yourself.
The preparation in frying a turkey is well worth the time and effort. With the many different marinades and rubs for you to choose from, you can always find a taste that you and your family will look forward to during the holidays. Please be safe.
