Deep-frying a Thanksgiving turkey has been a popular Southern tradition for decades and has gained widespread popularity in recent years – and if you’ve ever had a deep-fried turkey, it’s no surprise. The crispy, golden-brown skin combined with the savory, moist meat makes a Thanksgiving Day meal you won’t soon forget.
However, if not done correctly, this cooking method can create an equally unforgettable disaster resulting in property damage and burn injuries. This article will delve into the dangers of deep-frying turkeys, examine the associated risks, and discuss some southern-style safety tips for turkey frying.
Deep frying a turkey has become an increasingly popular cooking method for the holidays in recent years. With its moist, juicy meat and crispy golden skin, a deep-fried turkey can be delicious However, this cooking technique also comes with some serious dangers that shouldn’t be overlooked
The Risks of Hot Oil
One of the biggest risks of deep frying a turkey is the large amount of hot oil required. Typically, around 5 gallons of oil is needed to fully submerge a turkey in a deep fryer. Oils such as peanut, vegetable, canola or corn oil are commonly used and are heated to temperatures between 350-450°F. Dealing with such a high volume of extremely hot oil can easily lead to accidents.
According to the Cosumnes Fire Department there is a high risk of the hot oil spilling, splattering or the deep fryer tipping over. This can result in severe burns from exposure to the oil. Additionally, if the oil makes contact with an open flame it can ignite, rapidly spreading and turning into a fast-moving grease fire.
Dangers of Frozen Turkeys
One of the biggest dangers of deep frying turkeys comes from trying to cook frozen or partially frozen birds. It’s absolutely vital that turkeys be completely thawed before being submerged in hot oil.
When a frozen turkey is added to hot oil, the ice instantly turns to steam. This causes a violent boiling reaction as the steam rapidly expands inside the turkey. The resulting pressure buildup causes hot oil to violently erupt out of the pot. This boiling liquid expanding vapor explosion, or BLEVE, is incredibly dangerous.
The spurting stream of hot oil can lead to severe burns and is likely to ignite as well. Flames from a turkey fryer BLEVE have been known to reach 10 feet high or more.
How Overheating Occurs
Another risk with deep frying turkeys is the possibility of the oil overheating. Different cooking oils have varying smoke points, which is the temperature at which the oil starts smoking and decomposing. Once oil reaches this temperature, it can quickly ignite into a fast-spreading grease fire.
If a turkey fryer lacks thermostat controls, it’s easy for the oil to become dangerously overheated. Once the oil starts smoking it’s critical to immediately turn off the heat source and allow the oil to cool to prevent a fire. It’s also important never to leave a fryer unattended.
The Dangers of Minor Spills
Even just a small amount of hot oil spilled on the propane burner below the fryer pot can cause problems. If hot oil hits the live flame it can ignite, sending flames up the side of the pot. This escalates as more oil spills out, causing the entire fryer to light up.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission reported an incident where a minor spill during turkey lowering led to a 100 foot high fireball that engulfed the front of a home.
How Improper Handling Can Cause Burns
Besides the hazards from hot oil, deep turkey fryers themselves present burn risks. The metal sides of the fryer, lid, handles and pot remain extremely hot to the touch long after use. Direct contact with these metal surfaces can cause serious burn injuries.
It’s crucial to use well-insulated potholders or oven mitts when handling a turkey fryer even after cooking is complete. Young children and pets should also be kept at a safe distance.
Key Safety Tips
Deep frying a turkey can be done safely with proper precautions:
- Cook outside at least 10 feet from buildings on a flat surface.
- Use a turkey fryer with thermostat controls to prevent oil overheating.
- Thaw and dry turkey completely before cooking.
- Follow oil displacement method to prevent overflow.
- Lower and raise turkey slowly to prevent spills.
- Keep an ABC fire extinguisher on hand.
- Prevent children and pets from accessing the fryer.
- Wear protective goggles and oven mitts.
- Never leave the fryer unattended.
While delicious, deep fried turkey comes with genuine risks if safety rules aren’t followed. It’s important to take the dangers seriously and exercise extreme caution when cooking to have an accident-free holiday meal. With proper care taken, you can minimize the hazards and enjoy deep fried turkey without injury or incident.
Overflowing and Boiling Oil
Frozen turkeys explode due to how water and oil react to heat. Water’s boiling point is 212°F, and cooking oil is around 350°F. So, when a frozen turkey is added to a pot of boiling oil, the ice within it will instantly vaporize into steam. This steam will rapidly expand, multiplying in volume and increasing the internal pressure inside the fryer. The result of this expansion of gases and pressure is a torrential overflow of oil and steam called a Burning Liquid Expanding Vapor Explosion (BLEVE). The steam and oil vapor overflowing from the fryer are extremely hot and can cause severe burns if exposed to the skin or eyes.
As oil reaches a high temperature, typically over 450°F, it will begin to smoke and potentially catch fire. This critical temperature is called an oil’s “smoke point.” Each oil has a different smoke point, with animal fats like lard having lower ones than plant-based oils. If your fryer lacks thermostat controls, the oil within can easily become too hot, reaching its smoke point, and catching fire.
If the oil spills from the lid of the fryer and hits the flames below, it will combust. The flames will snake up the side of the fryer, igniting the rest of the oil as it goes. This chain reaction can result in the entire fryer catching on fire and exploding into large pillars of flame. In extreme cases, these explosions can be as large as 10 feet high. These oil fires can melt siding and ignite wooden decks, sheds, and eaves.
The Dangers of Deep-frying a Turkey
According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), an estimated five deaths, 60 injuries, and over $15 million of damage occurs yearly due to turkey fryer fires. This activity is considered so dangerous that the NFPA discourages even well-informed and seasoned cooking veterans from undertaking this tradition.
What are the dangers of deep frying a turkey?
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