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Turkey Fryers
Media stories can save lives! A news story about a residential fire provides a valuable opportunity to give your community a safety message during a teachable moment. Drop in these prevention tips and facts, and you just might save a life.
All U.S. homes should have working smoke alarms.
Fires can be prevented. A few easy steps can save your life!
For safety's sake, buy a fried turkey from a grocery store, specialty food store, or restaurant instead of frying it yourself. If you decide to fry a turkey, follow these tips to prevent fires and injuries:
- Place the turkey fryer on a level surface, in an open area away from homes, fences, sheds, and other structures.
- Never place the fryer on a wooden deck or porch or in a garage or carport.
- Leave at least 2 feet between the fryer and the propane tank.
- Keep the fryer in full view at all times.
- Keep children and pets away from the fryer.
- Check the oil temperature often. If you see smoke coming from the oil, turn off the gas right away.
- Completely thaw and dry the turkey before frying. Adding a partially frozen or wet turkey to the pot makes the oil splatter a lot, causing a fire or explosion hazard.
- Cover bare skin before adding or removing food from the fryer.
- Raise and lower food slowly to avoid splattering or spilling oil.
- Use the right amount of oil. To find out how much oil to use, read the fryer's instructions, or:
- Place the turkey in the pot.
- Fill with water until the turkey is covered by ½ inch of water.
- Remove the turkey and pat dry.
- Mark the water level in the pot.
- Dump the water, dry the pot, and fill oil to the level marked.
- If the fryer catches fire, call 911 right away. Do not try to put it out with water.
Turkey Fryer Fire Facts
- Cooking fires peak on Thanksgiving Day.
- Between 1998 and 2005, the Consumer Product Safety Commission had 112 reports of fires or burns related to turkey fryers.
- Most fires from turkey fryers occur while the oil is being heated, before the turkey is added.
- Contact with hot oil can cause serious burns.