Time for Family, Football, and...Frying?
Yes, that’s right, frying. Across this great land men and women will don their trusted PPE of oven mitts and aprons and test their culinary skills by frying their turkey this holiday season.
This ancient art of deep fried turkey can be traced back to the great state of Louisianna in the 1970’s. The advent of larger portable propane burners combined with large aluminum pots normally used for crawfish boils gave birth to this time-honored tradition. In the swamps of the bayou, you could hear the propane burners and smell the luscious scent of Cajun spices as the centerpiece of the thanksgiving feast was dipped into a bath of hot oil. The trend soon spread far and wide with thousands of Americans partaking in this tradition annually. While many turkey frying attempts go off without a hitch, dangers do still exist that can cause harm to both people and property.
According to allnationrestoration.com, fire departments respond to approximately 900 turkey fryer fires annually during the thanksgiving holiday. Obviously, this is an alarming number, but don’t let statistics shy you away from experiencing one of the greatest culinary delicacies birthed from the American South. With a little preparation and precautions, you too can fry your very own thanksgiving centerpiece in the comfort of your own yard. Consumnes Fire Department has the following suggestions:
Do not overfill the fryer. An overfilled cooking pot will cause cooking oil to spill when the turkey is inserted.
The fryer should be used outdoors on a solid, level surface away from buildings and flammable materials. Never use a fryer on a wooden deck, under a patio cover, in a garage or enclosed space. Without thermostat controls, deep fryers have the potential to overheat the oil to the point of combustion.
Keep an all-purpose fire extinguisher nearby. Even a small amount of cooking oil coming in contact with the burner can cause a large fire.
Make sure the turkey is completely thawed before it is placed in a fryer. Otherwise, the turkey may not be cooked to the proper temperature, and the meat could be dried out.
Never leave the fryer unattended. Without thermostat controls, the oil will continue to heat until it catches fire. Plus, the fryers can easily tip over, spilling hot cooking oil over a large area.
Never let children or pets near the fryer when in use or after use as the oil can remain hot for hours.
Use well-insulated potholders or oven mitts and wear long sleeves and safety goggles to protect yourself from oil splatter. The sides of the cooking pot, lid and pot handles can get dangerously hot, creating severe burn hazards.
Keep these points in mind to keep Thanksgiving fun and save yourself a trip to the emergency room (or from having to call the fire department). The team here at STEP wishes everyone a safe and Happy Thanksgiving!
Comments