Will you be Frying a Turkey or Roasting one in your Riverside Home?

11/25/2019 (Permalink)

6 Tips from our Riverside Fire Department

Riverside families will come together this holiday season.  Avoid tragic fires with these cooking tips.  

Many families come together over the Holidays for their favorite turkey dinner. It's also a time where family members may want to join in the food preparation so fire safety is important. With the speed of deep-frying a turkey, the irresistible flavor, and juiciness that results, turkey frying has become a Thanksgiving tradition for some. But turkey fryers have the potential to cause fire and serious injury, which is why organizations like Underwriters Laboratories and the National Fire Protection Association advises against using them. If you plan to deep-fry your holiday bird, be sure you know how to safely use the fryer, and take these precautions to protect yourself, your guests and your home.

Many first-timers fill the fryer with too much oil or attempt to fry a turkey that isn't entirely thawed. Both mistakes can cause serious fires. U.S. fire departments respond to more than 1,000 fires each year in which a deep-fryer is involved.

Tips to help prevent deep fried turkey accidents

• Keep outdoor fryers off decks, out of garages and a safe distance away from trees and other structures.
• Make sure the turkey is thawed and dry before cooking. Ice or water that mixes into the hot oil can cause flare-ups.
• Watch the weather. Never operate a fryer outdoors in the rain.
• Place the fryer on a level surface and avoid moving it once it's in use.
• Leave 2 feet between the tank and the burner when using a propane-powered fryer.
• Follow the manufacturer's instructions to avoid overfilling. Oil can ignite when it makes contact with the burner.
• Choose a smaller turkey for frying. A bird that's 8 to 10 pounds is best; pass on turkeys over 12 pounds.
• Never leave fryers unattended.
• Purchase a fryer with temperature controls and watch the oil temperature carefully. Cooking oil that is heated beyond its smoke point can catch fire. If you notice the oil is smoking, turn the fryer off.
• Turn off the burner before lowering the turkey into the oil. Once the turkey is submerged, turn the burner on.
• Wear goggles to shield your eyes, use oven mitts to protect your hands and arms and keep an "ABC" or grease-rated fire extinguisher close by. Do not to use water or a garden hose on a fire related to Turkey Fryers.
• Skip the stuffing when frying turkey and avoid water-based marinades.
• Keep children and pets away from the fryer at all times.
• Once finished, carefully remove the pot from the burner, place it on a level surface and cover to let the oil cool overnight before disposing.
• Opt for an oil-less fryer. This uses infrared heat, rather than oil, to cook the turkey.

If you are cooking in the kitchen

BE PROACTIVE

• Test the batteries in your smoke alarms. Press the test button on your units to make sure they work.
• Prevent fires by making sure your oven and stovetop are clean and free of grease and dust.

 BE ATTENTIVE IN THE KITCHEN

In 2015, U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated 1,760 home cooking fires on Thanksgiving. Unattended cooking was by far the leading contributing factor in cooking fires and fire deaths, and cooking equipment was involved in nearly half (48 percent) of all reported home fires.  Says ohsonline.com

• Stay in the kitchen when cooking on the stovetop and keep an eye on the food.
• Stay in the home when cooking your turkey as well, and check on it often.
• If you must step away from your cooking, set a kitchen timer so you don’t get distracted by guests.
• Keep children at least three feet away from the stove, oven, hot food and liquids. Steam or splash from vegetables, gravy, or coffee could cause serious burns.
• Keep items that can catch fire, such as oven mitts, wooden utensils, and towels, away from the cooking area.
• Make sure the floor is clear of tripping hazards such as children, toys, bags, or pets that could cause you to fall.
• Keep knives out of the reach of children.
• Turn pot and pan handles inward and away from the front or edge of the stove. If handles are turned outward, they could be jostled or knocked off the stove and spill, causing burns.
• Keep electric cords from appliances such as electric knives or mixers from dangling off the counter in reach of a child.

Should something occur and a fire breaks out SERVPRO of West Riverside City will be on hand.  We are ready to help, we are available during holidays.  Call us so we can take the stress off your shoulders in order to get your home back, "Like it never even happened." 

SERVPRO West Riverside City

951-351-8033