Watch What Happens When You Improperly Deep Fry a Turkey

LONG ISLAND, NY — Just in time for Thanksgiving, officials gave a dramatic demonstration recently on the dangers of deep frying turkey.

Brookhaven Town Supervisor Ed Romaine and Town Chief Fire Marshal Chris Mehrman were joined by Councilmen Dan Panico and Michael Loguercio to demonstrate the "explosive fire danger" associated with improperly deep frying a turkey in hot oil, and to provide information on the best ways to stop a stove top and oven fire, a release said.

The deep fryer method of cooking "is a growing trend, especially during the holidays, and has become popular in recent years with the availability of inexpensive, portable oil deep fryers," the release from Romaine said.

According to the National Fire Prevention Association, deep-fryer fires are responsible for five deaths, 60 injuries, the destruction of 900 homes, and more than $15-million in property damage each year, Romaine said.

“Deep frying turkey has become very popular in recent years, but the associated hazards make it a very dangerous alternative to roasting in the oven. The fire marshal’s demonstration shows clearly that improper use can lead to personal injury and the destruction of property. People should follow the manufacturer’s safety instructions and keep a fire extinguisher handy. We want to make sure that everyone has a safe and happy holiday season," Romaine said.

The NFPA, he added, "discourages" the use of outdoor gas-fueled turkey fryers that cook the turkey in hot oil and has issued the following turkey fryer safety tips:

• Hot oil may splash or spill during the cooking. Contact between hot oil and skin could result in serious injury.
• A hot oil spill can happen with fryers designed for outdoor use using a stand. The fryer could tip over or collapse causing the hot oil to spill. Newer countertop units using a solid base appear to reduce this risk. NFPA does not believe the risks of either type of turkey fryer to be acceptable because of the large amount of hot oil involved and the speed and severity of burns.
• In deep frying, oil is heated to temperatures of 350° Fahrenheit or more. Cooking oil is combustible. If it is heated above its cooking temperature, its vapors can ignite.
• Propane-fired turkey fryers must be used outdoors. They are very popular for Thanksgiving. Many parts of the country may have rain or snow at this time of year. If rain or snow hits the hot cooking oil, the oil may splatter or turn to steam, leading to burns.
• Turkeys must be completely thawed before placing in the fryer because a partially thawed turkey will cause the oil to splatter causing serious burns.
• The fryers use a lot of oil, about five gallons. Considering the size and weight of the turkey, extreme caution must be taken when placing and removing the turkey from the fryer to be sure it is not dropped back into the fryer, splattering the oil on the chef.

Patch photo courtesy Brookhaven Town Supervisor Ed Romaine.