Turkey Tips For A Safe Thanksgiving
The first official Thanksgiving was celebrated in 1621 between the Plymouth colonists and the Wampanoag Indians. However, it wasn’t until 1863 during the Civil War, that President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed Thanksgiving Day to be held each November. A lot of things have changed since then including how we all prepare our Turkey's...
Enter the deep fryer! Obviously deep fryers had not been invented back in 1621 but they have now become one of the more popular ways of preparing your turkey for the holiday dinner. While they are fun to cook with and produce such a deliciously crispy turkey, they are not necessarily the safest method for cooking! Here are a few interesting tips to keep your turkey frying safe:
Turkey Frying Tips:
- Never overfill the oil in the turkey fryer
- Make sure the turkey is properly and thoroughly thawed
- Do not stuff a turkey that is intended for deep frying
- Never use a turkey fryer indoors
- Never fry a turkey on a deck or patio, which can easily catch fryer
- Wear protective gear, such as goggles and heavy-duty mitts
- Keep a proper fire extinguisher handy
Personally, this is my favorite kind of Thanksgiving turkey. Add some squash, mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie… I am in heaven! But I can’t stress enough that safety is a key factor in using a turkey fryer.
According to the National Fire Protection Association, an estimated $15 million in property damage, 60 injuries and five deaths occurred between the years of 2003 and 2006. These are significant losses in a small time span, and these numbers have only increased over the years.
We want you to have a safe and happy Thanksgiving. That means, putting the safety of yourself and those around you, first. Turkey fryers are a beast to fight with in the event of a fire. It is good to be prepared with tools to help keep everyone safe. This also may be a great time to give your insurance agent a call to make sure your homeowners insurance coverages are where they need to be to leave you with peace of mind on a this upcoming holiday.