That’s the message the Consumer Product Safety Commission is sending this Thanksgiving. To make its point even stronger, the agency shared a scary video of what happens when you mess up when you fry a turkey.
Many people thought it was fun to make small-scale disaster movies, and the CPSC agreed as the video got a lot of views on social media.
The space agency said, “You know when we do stuff in space in the U.S. and the rocket takes off, the satellite goes into orbit, or the helicopter flies over Mars and everyone cheers because it all worked out as planned and no one got hurt.” Its a lot like that. “.
The CPSC warns people who want to fry a turkey this year that they could severely damage their home if they do any of the following:
Its also crucial to carefully read and follow the instructions that come with your fryer, the CPSC says. And heaven forbid, do not set up a fryer inside your home.
Frying a turkey has become an increasingly popular cooking method in recent years, especially around Thanksgiving. While a deep-fried turkey can be moist and delicious, it also comes with serious safety risks. In this article, we’ll explore why frying a turkey is so dangerous and how to do it safely.
The Dangers of Turkey Frying
There are several reasons why frying a whole turkey poses fire and burn hazards:
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Hot oil – Any cooking method involving large volumes of hot oil brings risk. Oil used for frying turkeys is heated to 350-375°F. If the hot oil spills or the fryer tips over, it can cause severe burns.
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Moisture in turkey – Even a fully thawed turkey contains moisture inside Oil and water don’t mix well, especially at high temperatures If moisture hits the hot oil, it can cause splattering or bubbling over.
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Big bird, big fryer – Turkeys weigh around 10-20 pounds. To fully submerge and cook them requires a large fryer, usually around 20-30 quarts. The bigger the fryer the more oil is needed. More oil means greater risk.
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Open flame – Most turkey fryers use propane burners with an open flame to heat the oil. This open flame in close proximity to a huge volume of hot oil is dangerous. If the oil ignites, it can quickly turn into an uncontrollable fire.
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Overfilling – Adding too much oil is one of the biggest risks with turkey fryers. Overfilled oil can bubble over, ignite due to the flame, and spread fire rapidly. Always precisely measure oil amount before frying.
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Tip over hazard – Large birds and heavy pots of hot oil can tip the fryer over. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has received many reports of tip over incidents while moving the turkey in and out of fryers.
According to the CPSC, there are over 1,000 emergency room visits each year related to turkey fryer accidents. Don’t let yourself or your loved ones become a statistic this Thanksgiving.
Safest Ways to Fry a Turkey
Frying turkey comes with hazards, but is possible to do safely with proper precautions:
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Use an electric fryer – These minimize the open flame risk of propane fryers. Look for fryers with safety features like auto shut-off.
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Fry outside – Never attempt frying inside or in an enclosed space like the garage. Only fry outdoors on a flat surface away from houses.
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Prep area – Have a clean, organized area for preparing the turkey to lower accident risk. Dry thoroughly with paper towels.
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Measure oil precisely – Underfilling is also dangerous, so carefully measure to recommended fill lines. Allow room for turkey displacement.
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Wear safety gear – Use long heavy duty gloves to avoid burns. Wear closed toe shoes and keep kids/pets away.
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Use a fryer stand – Stands prevent tip overs. Don’t move the fryer once oil is added.
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Monitor temperature – Keep oil between 325-375°F. Overheating oil fuels more dangerous boilovers.
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Thaw and dry turkey – Completely thaw turkey over 24-48 hrs and pat dry inside and out with paper towels before frying.
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Lower turkey slowly – Use the handles and lower turkey into oil slowly and carefully to prevent splatter.
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Have an extinguisher – Keep a fire extinguisher on hand. If the oil ignites, calling 911 immediately is also critical.
While it’s safer to deep fry turkey outside rather than inside, risks are still present. If attempting to fry turkey this Thanksgiving, take all necessary precautions.
Safer Ways to Cook a Moist Turkey
If you’re wary of frying whole turkeys due to safety concerns, here are some alternative cooking methods to get a moist, delicious turkey:
Oven Roasting
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Brine turkey in saltwater overnight before roasting to infuse moisture.
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Cook stuffing in a baking dish separately rather than stuffing the turkey.
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Use a roasting rack inside a roasting pan to allow air circulation.
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Baste turkey with broth and butter every 30 minutes during roasting.
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Cover turkey with foil to trap moisture if skin browns before fully cooked.
Grilling
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Grill turkey pieces rather than whole for more even cooking. Use a meat thermometer.
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Marinate turkey in olive oil, citrus, and herbs at least 2 hours before grilling.
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Use indirect heat, placing turkey away from direct flame on one side of grill.
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Rotate turkey every 20-30 minutes and mop with sauce glaze.
Air Fryer
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Cut turkey in half and pat dry thoroughly before air frying.
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Brush turkey with oil or cooking spray for browning and crispiness.
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Cook at 350°F for 15 minutes per pound, checking often.
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Use a meat thermometer and adjust time if needed to reach safe internal temperature.
Slow Cooker
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Place turkey pieces or boneless breasts in slow cooker with broth, onions, herbs.
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Cook on low heat for 7-8 hours until turkey is very tender.
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Use juices from slow cooker to make gravy.
While deep frying turkey may sound tempting, the risks outweigh the rewards. With alternative cooking methods, you can still achieve tender, juicy holiday turkey safely.
Why do some turkeys basically explode?
The CPSC’s new video shows what look like normal turkeys starting fires in different home settings. The fires start when oil splashes over the edge of the pot and a gas burner below lights it on fire. The video is like other work the agency has done in the past. For example, it uses dummies to show what can go wrong when fireworks are not handled properly.
But birds arent bottle rockets. So why are these turkeys blowing up?
“The reason frozen turkeys explode, at its core, has to do with differences in density,” chemist Kristine Nolin wrote for The Conversation, saying the high proportion of ice inside frozen turkeys can fuel explosions.
Because its less viscous, water might seem less dense than oil; its not. In a pot of hot oil, water from the turkey falls to the bottom. But the extreme heat also converts the water into its gas phase: steam.
“The water molecules then rapidly spread far apart from one another and the volume expands by 1,700 times,” Nolin said, noting that the waters density is suddenly much lower than the oil above it.
Add the rapid change in density and expanding volume together, she said, “and you get an explosion. Even worse is when oil that has been moved starts to burn and spreads flames around the fryer, as seen in the CPSC video.
So, why do people still deep-fry turkeys?
Millions of people in the U.S. love fried turkey because it’s juicy and only takes a few minutes per pound to cook. S. since the technique started to become popular more than 20 years ago.
As the CPSC video shows, one of the biggest risks of working with very hot oil and an open flame is that it can be hard to fix mistakes once you know you’ve done them.
One tried-and-true way to make sure the oil level in your fryer pot is just right is to measure it with water first, making sure the water level is about 1 to 2 inches above the bird.
“Remove the turkey and note the water level, using a ruler to measure the distance from the top of the pot to the surface of the water,” the National Turkey Federation says. “Pour out the water and dry the pot thoroughly” before refilling the pot with oil to the proper level.
If you decide to measure the oil this way, do it before the turkey is marinated or breaded.
Also, because water and hot oil can be dangerous, make sure the turkey is completely thawed, drained, and patted dry before you put it in the fry pot.
What are the dangers of deep frying a turkey?
FAQ
How do you deep fry a turkey without it exploding?
Why does deep-frying a turkey cause a fire?
How unhealthy is a fried turkey?
How do you stay safe when frying a turkey?
Is frying a Turkey dangerous?
That’s the Thanksgiving message being sent by the Consumer Product Safety Commission — and to emphasize the warning, the agency shared an alarming video showing the cataclysmically explosive results of making mistakes when frying a turkey. Cook the turkey, not your home. Because it’s less viscous, water might seem less dense than oil; it’s not.
Why is meat unhealthy for you?
Meat is actually healthy. What can sometimes make its daily consumption inadvisable are those meats or cuts that have a high percentage of fat. However, they are a great source of proteins of high biological value, iron and B complex vitamins.
What happens if you deep fry a Turkey?
Deep-fried turkeys cause an average of five deaths, 60 injuries and over $15 million in property damage every year, according to the New York City Fire Department. When done improperly, deep frying can lead to exploding birds, oil burns and dangerous fires.
Can frying turkeys explode?
Frying turkeys can explode. Here’s how to avoid that | News | WLIW-FM Become a member of WLIW ( $5 monthly or $60 annually) and get access to WLIW Passport as our thanks for your support. Members get extended access to PBS video on demand and more. Members get extended access to PBS video on demand and more.
What happens if you fry a Turkey in hot oil?
In a pot of hot oil, water from the turkey falls to the bottom. But the extreme heat also converts the water into its gas phase: steam. Add the rapid change in density and expanding volume together, she said, “and you get an explosion.” And things get worse when, as in the CPSC footage, displaced oil is ignited and spreads flames around the fryer.
Is it safe to fry a Turkey with oil?
Some experts say the risk is from frying great enough that consumers should never even attempt to fry a turkey using oil. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) suggests that consumers use electric turkey fryers, infrared fryers or air fryers instead. “Turkey fryers that use cooking oil are not safe,” an NFPA bulletin said.