Thanksgiving Dinner Safety Tips

11/23/2021 (Permalink)

As the holiday season approaches, we encourage you to take the best precautions possible. Kitchen fires are not uncommon during this time of year and safety should be a priority. Starting with thanksgiving dinner, here are some do’s and don’t tips you can follow:

Thinking of going the extra mile and deep frying your turkey this year?

• Safety first! Wear goggles and mitts to avoid any burn injuries and protect you from splashing oil.
• Keep the fryer a minimum of 10ft away from your home, kids, pets, garages, trees, or any other structure. 
• If using a propane powered fryer, keep the tank and burner 2ft apart from each other.
• Keep the fryer on a flat surface on the ground.
• Make sure the oil is leveled and steady at all times. This ensures safety for everyone.
• Turkey must be completely thawed and dried out before lowering to oil. Water and ice may cause flare-ups if it makes contact with hot oil.
• Never leave the fryer unattended.
• A turkey of 8-10lbs is perfect, try to keep away from 12lbs.
• When you lower the turkey into the fryer, turn off the burner before, and turn it back on after. 
• If the oil starts to smoke, turn off the fryer. Oil will catch on fire once it passes its smoke point.

In case of small, controllable fire:

• Be extremely careful with grease fires. It is easy to accidentally spread them and cause a bigger fire. 
• Turn off burner
• Take a metal lid to cover the fire.
• Baking soda can also be used to smother the fire.
• Only as a last resort use a fire extinguisher. The pressure may cause the grease and fire to spread so stand far away and spray with caution until the fire is out.

After successfully frying and safely removing the turkey, here are some tips on how to properly dispose of the oil.

Planning on cooking your turkey the old fashioned way?

• There are still a few safety tips to follow! 
• Keep your stove and oven clean
• Stay in the kitchen area. Avoid going into different rooms to deal with guests.
• Check on your oven frequently to make sure it is cooking properly
• Keep children away from the kitchen, you don’t want them to accidentally get hurt with hot pots and pans. 

In case your oven catches fire

• Turn oven off
• Keep the oven door closed
• Keep a flame-resistant oven mitt, potholder or lid nearby to smother any flames

For more safety guidelines, visit Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections website.

As stubborn and sensitive smoke alarms are, do not remove them! Ultimately they have a purpose and save lives. Make sure they are always functional and in good condition. 

A good safety tip is to have an escape plan for you, your family, and guests just in case something does happen. 

Stay safe and enjoy your cooking!

#fireDamage #smokeDamage #fryingTurkey #firePrevention 

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