Safety Tips for frying a Thanksgiving turkey

If you’ve never had a deep-fried turkey, then you are missing out. The meat is so moist and juicy, and the crispy, crackly skin is to-die-for.

In addition to crispy fried goodness, there are many reasons to fry versus roast your Thanksgiving turkey.

“By frying your turkey instead of roasting it, you’ll save your oven space for all those amazing side dishes and desserts. Plus, no need to set an early-morning alarm. You can have a deep-fried turkey in less than an hour,” explained John McLemore, president & CEO of Masterbuilt. 

McLemore is pretty much the expert on frying turkeys, as his company specializes in electric turkey fryers. The tagline for his company's holiday campaign is #freetheoven by frying instead of roasting your holiday bird.

Frying a whole turkey is very easy, but often gets a bad reputation due to the fact that the cooking process can be a dangerous affair.

Safety first

There are several tips and tricks to frying a turkey safely.

First and foremost, have the right safety gear on hand. For example, heat-proof gloves are essential.

“It’s also important to have a fire extinguisher on hand just in case,” recommended Jody Dwyer, City of Germantown fire marshal, as he offered his advice on how to safely fry a turkey. “Every home should have one at all times.”

When placing the turkey into the oil, always lower the turkey very slowly. This will help keep the oil from boiling over.

Either propane gas fryers or electric fryers can be used to perfectly fry a turkey.  Whereas most of the safety concerns are the same, they do a vary a bit between the two types of fryers.

Safety tips for propane gas fryers

If using a propane gas turkey fryer, always use your fryer in an open area several feet away from the house. Dwyer recommends having a clearance of at least 10 feet on all sides and 25 feet between the fryer and other fuel sources. The driveway is the perfect place as you want a flame-proof surface; just be sure to have your cars at least 25 feet away.

“Never use a fryer on a wooden deck,” he added.

To make sure you have the correct amount of oil in the pot, do a displacement test with water first. Put the turkey in the empty fryer and cover with cold water. Remove the turkey and mark the line where the water is in the pot. Then, empty the water and dry the fryer and turkey completely before adding the oil. Too much oil could cause the pot to overflow and start a fire.

Also, position the gas tank at least 2 or 3 feet from the fryer, preferably more. If windy, make sure the wind is not blowing in the direction of the tank. You don’t want any sparks flying toward the tank.

“Since propane gas fryers do not have thermostat controls, these deep fryers can overheat the oil to the point of starting a fire," Dwyer explained.

To keep the oil at a safe consistent 350 degrees, attach a cooking thermometer to the pot to monitor the oil temperature.

Once finished, cool the oil completely before moving the pot. Hot grease can cause serious burns.

Safety tips for electric fryers

Using an electric fryer made for frying a turkey helps take the guesswork out of the process.

“With an electric fryer like our Butterball Electric Fryer by Masterbuilt, preparing your Thanksgiving turkey is hassle-free,” McLemore explained. “Special features like basket drain clips, a magnetic breakaway power cord and dishwasher-safe components give you a safe and easy experience.”

As part of the built-in safety features, electric fryers have a maximum fill line marked in the inside. Be sure to never fill above that line. Even though they are safer than propane gas fryers, electric fryers can still overflow if not used as per the manufacturer’s instructions.

Electric fryers also have the added benefit of thermostat controls that prevent the oil from overheating.

Electric fryers are designed to be safely used indoors, but most people prefer to use them outdoors or in a garage because of the smell of the grease. 

A turkey fryer is an investment, but many models can be used year-round to fry other items or as a steamer.

“Once you’ve fried your turkey, you can use your fryer for other dishes, too. Replace the oil with water to steam veggies or to make a low country seafood boil,” McLemore added.

And don't forget!

The number one key to safely frying a turkey is to use common sense.

“And never leave the fryer unattended,” Dwyer added. “This is for two reasons. If a fire does happens, you want to be able to put it out quickly. Also, you need to make sure children and pets don’t get too close.”

Turkey doesn't taste good in a hospital room, so be safe when frying your holiday bird.