Firefighters demonstrate the dangers of deep-frying a turkey

The risk of cooking accidents often increases during the holiday season, and several fire departments have demonstrated the common mistakes and catastrophic results that can come from deep frying a turkey.

Community awareness about the do’s and don’ts of cooking during the holidays can play a part in preventing fires and injuries, and social media is a useful tool for spreading this safety message. Here are five fire departments that demonstrated the mishaps to avoid on Thanksgiving this year; be sure to share these videos and consider how you can spread awareness to your community.

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1. Colorado Springs Fire Department

Firefighters with the Colorado Springs Fire Department shared a turkey frying demonstration along with some expert tips:

1. If your turkey isn’t thawing yet, it’s probably too late to fry it (trust us).
2. If your turkey is out and thawing great job you can move onto the next step: never fry a turkey in a covered area and always place the fryer away from any combustibles, keep it clear of children and pets, too.
3. Do not over fill your turkey fryer.
4. Water and hot oil don’t mix, if a fire breaks out on the stove or in the oven smother the fire with a lid or cookie sheet instead of trying to put it out with water.
5. Have a fire extinguisher handy.
6. When using the stove make sure to turn all pots/pans handles in to refrain from hot food spilling or pots/pans getting bumped
7. Keep the kitchen clear of combustibles, people and pets.
8. Stay in the kitchen while cooking.
9. As always, ensure you have working CO and smoke alarms in your home.
10. In the event a fire breaks out always call 911.

2. Richmond County (Ga.) Fire Department

Are you planning to deep fry your turkey this holiday season? Richmond County firefighters offer safety tips and a reminder of the dangers of frying a frozen turkey.

3. Savannah (Ga.) Fire Department

Firefighters with the Savannah Fire Department in Georgia demonstrated the importance of using a completely thawed turkey when deep frying, or dinner guests may get a meal that’s too crispy.

4. Palm Beach County (Fla.) Fire Rescue

Palm Beach County Fire Rescue demonstrated how hot the oil in a turkey fryer can get, and how quickly things can get out of control, with its video using thermal imaging.

“See that RED glow? That’s a turkey fryer with SCALDING hot oil filled dangerously high. It’s over 300 degrees Fahrenheit! This infrared camera footage shows how easily you can get BURNED,” the department wrote on Instagram. “For your SAFETY, fully defrost & dry the turkey, fill to proper oil level, wear closed toed-shoes, pants & long flame-retardant gloves. Use outside at least 10 ft. away from the home. WATCH it while it’s HOT. Keep KIDS and PETS AWAY.”

4. Phoenix Fire Department

This slow-motion video on Instagram from the Phoenix Fire Department shows how an overfilled turkey fryer can quickly overflow, and the tower of flame that can result from overheating oil. The department reminded Turkey Day revelers to make sure they use the appropriate amount of oil, use a thermometer to ensure proper cooking temperature, and properly thaw and dry a turkey before frying.

5. Franklin (Tenn.) Fire Department

The Franklin Fire Department put out a comprehensive video on YouTube not only addressing the common mistakes made while frying turkeys, but also how to extinguish a grease fire if one does occur. Firefighters also demonstrate how placing a partially-frozen turkey into a fryer causes the ice to turn to steam and expand, causing oil to boil over.

6. Johnston-Grimes (Iowa) Metropolitan Fire Department

The Johnston-Grimes Fire Department showed the dangers of injuring oneself while improperly frying a turkey, with a manikin standing by as a frozen turkey is dropped into a fryer. Firefighters show how the manikin’s clothes was burned off by the resulting flames.

“Placing a frozen turkey into hot grease can cause fire and serious injuries,” the department wrote on Facebook. “Please DO NOT try this at home!”

7. Knox County (Tenn.) Fire Prevention Bureau

Knox County firefighters and Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs demonstrated the do’s and dont’s of preparing a deep-fried Thanksgiving feast without starting a fire, including placing the fryer on a steady surface away from kids, pets and structures, monitoring the oil’s temperature using a thermometer and, of course, properly thawing a turkey before placing it in the fryer. The video also demonstrates a helpful method for determining how much oil you should use to make sure the fryer doesn’t overflow. Knox County’s tweet points out that Thanksgiving is a peak day for home cooking fires, according to the National Fire Protection Association.

This article, originally published in November 2020, has been updated.