ANNUAL REMINDER: The Dos And Don'ts of Deep FryingYour Turkey
Thanksgiving Day is the busiest for firefighters across the country aspeople are three times more likely to have a cooking fire on Turkey Day thanany other day. In all, there are an average of 1,600 cooking related fires onThanksgiving each year.

According to the Williston Fire Department in Vermont, these are the Dosand Don'ts of deep frying your turkey this season.


Don't use a frozen turkey, or a partially frozen one. If you're notsure if your turkey is frozen, stick your hand inside and feel for any icecrystals.

Do make sure your turkey and pot are completely dry.  "Oil and water never really mix, especially in this circumstance."

Don't fill your pot with too much oil.  "Because if youput a turkey with too much oil into that pot, the oil is going to boil over andcause a potentially catastrophic fire.’


Do put your turkey in the pot and fill with water beforehand.Once the water is a quarter of an inch over the turkey, take the turkey out andmeasure the water line. That's how much oil you'll need to use later.

Don't deep fry your turkey anywhere in, or near your home, garage, under acovering, or on your deck. You want to be at least fifty feet away fromyour home.  "Your porch or your deck is often made of combustiblematerials and any potential for that fire to extend into the deck or porch areacould create a much larger problem for you."


Do use peanut oil. It will heat faster without burning.

Don't overheat the oil. You're ready to drop the turkey in once theoil reaches 350 degrees.


Do slowly lower the turkey into the pot. Cooking threeminutes for every pound.

Do use a meat thermometer to check the turkey's internaltemperature.   150 degrees means you're good to go. Slowly take theturkey out and let the oil drip back into the pot.

If a fire does occur, don't use water to put it out. Do usea chemical fire extinguisher, preferably a ten pound one.
Once you're done, shut the gas off and let the oil and equipment cool. The oilcan go right back into the container and can be reused up to three times. Neverdump oil down a sink or drain.

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