Turkey Fryers – Not Worth the Risk

Outdoor gas-fueled turkey fryers cook up juicy turkeys in a fraction of the time it takes to roast one in an indoor oven. However, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) discourages the residential use of turkey fryers because they pose an enormous risk of injury.

Outdoor fryers heat gallons of cooking oil to very high temperatures to cook the turkey. The risk of this oil being spilled is significant, and the injuries resulting can be severe.

• The fryers are often bumped or tipped over when the turkey is put in or taken out, presenting a greater risk for the oil to splash or spill. Outdoor fryers that come with a stand pose the greatest risk of tipping.
• The oil is heated to such a high temperature for frying that the vapors could ignite, resulting in a fire.
• Numerous fires have ignited when fryers were moved indoors or into a garage to keep the appliance out of the rain.
• Moving the turkey from the fryer to a serving plate presents another chance of contact with hot oil.
• Overfilling the cooking pot could cause oil to spill onto the burner causing a fire.
•   Partially frozen turkeys placed in the cooking pot can cause spillover.
• The cooking pot, lid and handles get dangerously hot posing severe burn hazards

Pinellas Park Fire Department's Fire and Life Safety Educators want residents of Pinellas Park to be aware of the risk of injury associated with turkey fryers. For your own safety, use the oil-free models or refrain from using them altogether.  However, if you just can't live without that tasty treat, please follow these safety rules to make sure only the turkey gets fried, not you.

• Keep the fryer outdoors, away from buildings and other material that can burn.
• Never use turkey fryers on wooden decks, inside garages or under overhangs.
• Make sure the fryer is used on a flat surface so it does not tip over.
• Never leave the fryer unattended.  Since most units do not have thermostats, the oil can overheat and catch fire.
• Do not overfill the fryer with oil.   Make sure it is big enough to hold the oil and the turkey with a little extra room at the top.
• Keep an all-purpose extinguisher nearby.  Never use water on a grease fire.
• Keep children and pets away from the fryer at all times.  Even after cooking, the pot remains dangerously hot for several hours. 

Information from Underwriters Laboratories

Cooking Safety from NFPA