Cooking Safety Tips for Thanksgiving

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, CA — On Tuesday, the Orange County Fire Authority set up a demonstration to show the dangers that can take place in any kitchen across the nation.

"Cooking fires triple around thanksgiving," OCFA Capt. Larry Kurtz said. "Not because people are 'bad cooks,' but because they are unfamiliar with how to properly cook a turkey."

According to Kurtz, there are hundreds of different ways to cook a turkey.

Frying is just one method, but improperly frying a turkey can result in catastrophic consequences to your home, or family members who could be severely burned, Kurtz said.

"If you try and drop a frozen turkey into boiling oil, the water inside will flash boil and create a vapor cloud with the oil," Kurtz said. "It's like a gasoline explosion."

If you are going to deep fry your turkey, be sure and do so at least 10 feet away from flammable substances, patio covers.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates an average of about 1,400 cooking fires on Thanksgiving Day each year, they said in recent release.

"This is more than three times the average number of cooking fires each day throughout the rest of the year," they said. "Cooks across the country need to not only ensure your Thanksgiving dinner is delicious but also make sure you don’t burn down the house in the process."

How do you properly cook a turkey? The experts at Butterball have shared an informational video on exactly how to cook your Thanksgiving meal.

Don’t be a statistic, keep safety on the menu this holiday season by following these smart CPSC tips:

• Never leave food on the stove or in the oven unattended.
• Avoid wearing loose-fitting clothing and long sleeves that can easily catch fire while cooking.
• Keep children away from the cooking area or watch them closely if they insist on being mini chefs.
• Clean and keep surface areas free from grease build-up.
• Keep flammable items like potholders and paper or plastic bags away from the stove and oven.
• Turn pan handles toward the back of the stove to prevent accidental knock-overs.
• Make sure you have a working smoke alarm in the kitchen as well as on each level of the home and inside and outside of bedrooms.
• Consider installing a photoelectric alarm because it is less likely to go off as a nuisance alarm during cooking.

Are you frying your Thanksgiving turkey? Here are some tips on turkey fryer safety:

Since 2004, CPSC is aware of 107 fire or burn incidents involving turkey fryers that have caused 47 injuries and $5.2 million in property loss. Still, many believe this is the best way to prepare your Thanksgiving main course.

If you must fry your turkey, please gobble up these tips:

• Use turkey fryers outside only and away from your home.
• Never use a turkey fryer in a garage or on a porch.
• Completely thaw and dry turkey before cooking.
• Do not overfill the oil in the turkey fryer.
• If oil begins to smoke, immediately turn gas supply OFF.
• Never leave the turkey fryer unattended.

"One last note, it’s important to remember that many families have three or more generations living together under the same roof," the CPSC said. "In these cases, additional attention needs to be given to fire safety planning."

For more on that, check out CPSC and the National Fire Protection Association’s joint multi-generational fire safety tool kit here.

Consumer Product Safety Commission photo