It’s starting to look lots like … FIRE!
The vacations are here, and you’re probably dusting off grandma’s recipe cards for her crowd-pleasing, old-fashioned yeast rolls. You may additionally be dusting off that turkey fryer you acquire on Black Friday last yr.
The probabilities of ever using one properly before are slim in the event you’ve stumbled upon this story in a frantic Google search while preparing your holiday feast and deciding how you can fry your bird safely.
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Thanksgiving is the height day for home cooking fires with greater than 3 times the each day average for such incidents, the National Fire Protection Association states. Christmas Day and Christmas Eve ranked second and third, with each having nearly twice the each day average.
So put down the apron and search for the closest fire extinguisher – you may need it later. These potentially life-saving suggestions could prevent you from burning down your house and offer the right turkey to accompany Aunt Betty’s string bean casserole.
No fowl play
Based on the NFPA, turkey fryers that use cooking oil are unsafe. They use large amounts of oil at high temperatures, which could cause devastating burns.
Because turkey fryers pose several distinct safety concerns, including burn and fire hazards, Underwriters Laboratories (UL), the leading independent product safety organization, doesn’t certify any turkey fryers.
Tur-key to success
If you should use a turkey fryer this Thanksgiving, State Farm offers these safety suggestions:
- Keep outdoor fryers off decks, out of garages and a protected distance away from trees and other structures.
- Be certain the turkey is thawed and dry before cooking. Ice or water that mixes into the new oil could cause flare-ups.
- Watch the weather. Never operate a fryer outdoors within the rain or snow.
- 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.
- Select a smaller turkey for frying. A bird that is 8 to 10 kilos is best; pass on turkeys over 12 kilos.
- Never leave fryers unattended.
- Purchase a fryer with temperature controls, and watch the oil temperature rigorously. Cooking oil that’s heated beyond its smoke point can catch fire. For those who notice the oil is smoking, turn the fryer off.
Now, let’s stop here for a moment. Did you understand all that?
If that’s the case, it would be best to maintain your oil temperature at 350 degrees and cook your turkey for 3 1/2 minutes per pound. We are going to do the maths for you. That is about 35 minutes for a 10-pound turkey.
Without feather ado
Let’s proceed with those safety suggestions:
- 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 guard your hands and arms and keep an “ABC” or grease-rated fire extinguisher close by. Don’t use water or a garden hose on a fireplace related to turkey fryers.
- Skip the stuffing when frying turkey, and avoid water-based marinades.
- Keep children and pets away from the fryer in any respect times.
- Once finished, rigorously remove the pot from the burner, place it on a level surface and canopy to let the oil cool overnight before disposing.
The USDA says all poultry should reach a protected minimum internal temperature of 165 degrees as measured with a food thermometer. For reasons of non-public preference, consumers may decide to cook poultry to higher temperatures.
For those who are still scratching your head and wish a fried turkey on your Thanksgiving or Christmas meal, fire officials recommend purchasing it from a food market, your favorite restaurant or buying a fryer that doesn’t use oil.