Current:Home > MarketsGoing to deep fry a turkey this Thanksgiving? Be sure you don't make these mistakes.-LoTradeCoin
Going to deep fry a turkey this Thanksgiving? Be sure you don't make these mistakes.
View Date:2024-12-23 23:30:07
Thanksgiving is here, and families across the country will be returning to long-held traditions.
When it comes to food, some families will enjoy apple pie, while others may opt for pumpkin or pecan. And some families will deep-fry their turkey instead of roasting it all day.
Meredith Carothers, a food safety expert with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, called the cooking method a “cool way” of preparing a Thanksgiving classic that “has gained a lot of popularity over the years.”
But she warned that, if your family wants to deep-fry a turkey, there are some important safety tips you should know to avoid a holiday disaster.
First, people who deep-fry a turkey should make sure it reaches a safe internal temperature of 165 degrees, measured with a food thermometer in the thickest part of the breast, the innermost part of the wing and the innermost part of the thigh.
Carothers also said deep-frying a turkey can cause fire risks, burns from hot oil and more. She urged people celebrating Thanksgiving to only deep-fry a fully thawed turkey.
“Any kind of extra frozen crystals or ice or anything on that turkey that goes into that fryer will immediately interact with the hot oil and vaporize and turn into super-hot steam. That then can expand quite quickly and cause the oil to overflow or splatter,” Carothers said.
And that spattering can cause burns or major fires when the oil comes into contact with a flame. For years, dramatic videos have circulated on social media of fires erupting from dangerous frying setups.
Hitting the road for Thanksgiving?:Here's where cold weather, snow are in forecast.
Where should you deep-fry your turkey?
State Farm also advises placing a fryer outdoors and far away from any structures, like houses, decks, and even trees. A fryer should also never be used inside a garage.
The weather is another factor to be mindful of. Fryers should not be operated in the rain or snow.
In an effort to limit moving the fryer once it is on, it should be placed on a level surface.
A fryer with temperature controls is best. The oil temperature should be check continuously to make sure it doesn't over heat. Overheated oil can lead to a fire. If the oil is smoking, turn off the fryer to avoid a blaze.
Additionally, the burner should be turned off when lowering the turkey into the oil. Once the turkey is submerged, then the burner can be turned back on.
Thanksgiving meals to-go:Where to pre-order your family dinner if you don't want to cook
How long to deep-fry a turkey?
No matter the recipe, you should set a timer for three to four minutes per pound when deep-frying a turkey, according to expert tips and advice fromHome Depot.
So, if you have a 20-pound turkey, it should cook for at least 50 to 60 minutes.
A 10-pound turkey should cook for less time at 30 to 40 minutes.
Thanksgiving 2023:Why is Thanksgiving on the fourth Thursday of November?
Other safety tips for deep-frying and roasting a turkey
Here are some other safety tips for cooking your turkey, whether you’re deep-frying or roasting this year
- Have a fire extinguisher nearby.
- Wear protective gear.
- Keep kids and pets away from the fryer.
- Turn it off when you're done.
- Purchase a 8 to 10 inch turkey.
- Check the owners manual to avoid overfilling.
- Avoid deep-frying a turkey with stuffing inside, which can "too variable on it fully cooking all the way," Carothers explained.
- Take regular precautions when handling raw meat, such as washing your hands after handling it.
- Don’t let your cooked turkey sit at room temperature for more than two hours.
- Check out other safety tips from the Department of Agriculture and State Farm
Average cost of a Thanksgiving:We're breaking down what you need to know
Thanksgiving cost:Is it cheaper to go to a restaurant? Maybe not this year.
veryGood! (1)
Related
- Democrat George Whitesides wins election to US House, beating incumbent Mike Garcia
- Ohio primary will set up a fall election that could flip partisan control of the state supreme court
- Horoscopes Today, March 16, 2024
- Oregon county plants trees to honor victims of killer 2021 heat wave
- Angels sign Travis d'Arnaud: Former All-Star catcher gets multiyear contract in LA
- Overnight shooting kills 2 and wounds 5 in Washington, D.C., police say
- Lucky Day: Jerome Bettis Jr. follows in father's footsteps, verbally commits to Notre Dame
- Lucky Day: Jerome Bettis Jr. follows in father's footsteps, verbally commits to Notre Dame
- 'Survivor' 47, Episode 9: Jeff Probst gave players another shocking twist. Who went home?
- Cherry blossom super fan never misses peak bloom in Washington, DC
Ranking
- Stock market today: Asian shares mostly decline, shrugging off Wall Street’s overnight rally
- Stock market today: Asian stocks gain ahead of US and Japan rate decisions
- United Airlines CEO tries to reassure customers that the airline is safe despite recent incidents
- 2024 NCAA women's basketball tournament bracket breakdown: Best games, players to watch
- Traveling to Las Vegas? Here Are the Best Black Friday Hotel Deals
- What to know about Zach Edey, Purdue's star big man
- Scottie Scheffler becomes first golfer to win back-to-back Players Championships
- U.S. government charter flight to evacuate Americans from Haiti, as hunger soars: There are a lot of desperate people
Recommendation
-
Top Federal Reserve official defends central bank’s independence in wake of Trump win
-
Lionel Messi could miss March Argentina friendlies because of hamstring injury, per report
-
Kent State coach Rob Senderoff rallies around player who made costly foul in loss to Akron
-
Workers at Tennessee Volkswagen factory ask for vote on representation by United Auto Workers union
-
Full House's John Stamos Shares Message to Costar Dave Coulier Amid Cancer Battle
-
Netanyahu snaps back against growing US criticism after being accused of losing his way on Gaza
-
Dollar stores are hitting hard times, faced with shoplifting and inflation-weary shoppers
-
Celine Dion opens up about stiff person syndrome diagnosis following Grammys appearance