MONDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2013
Fry the Turkey, Not the House!
While fried turkey has become popular over the past few years as an alternative to the traditional baked version at Thanksgiving, the danger of frying at home may outweigh the delight. Each year, deep fryer fires cause an average of three times the damage of other forms of cooking, including five deaths, 60 injuries, and more than $15 million in property damage, according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). And every year, there are more homes burned and people harmed when large, wet birds meet a fryer full of hot oil.
In fact, the process has proven so dangerous, experts at NFPA and Underwriters Laboratories (UL) recommend that you “just say no” to home turkey fryers. Consider this:
Many fryers are prone to easy tipping, spilling hot oil on surrounding property—and people
Fryers are often overfilled with oil and when a turkey is added, the oil spills, hitting burners or flames and potentially setting fire to the entire unit, decking and other nearby property
If no thermostat is on the unit, oil may overheat and combust into flames
Lid and handles on pots can become extremely hot, creating severe burn risk even when handled with otherwise heat-resistant utensils or gloves
If you do decide to fry a turkey, UL suggests the following precautions:
Always use the fryer outdoors, at a safe distance from buildings or other flammable property
Never use a fryer in a garage or on a wooden deck
Be sure the fryer is on a flat surface to minimize tipping
Never leave the fryer unattended, especially if there is no thermostat
Keep children and pets away from the fryer. Remember that even after use, oil can stay dangerously hot for hours
Never overfill your pot with oil
Wear well-insulated oven mitts and safety goggles
Be certain turkey is completely thawed and patted dry. Mixing hot oil and water can be explosive
Always keep an all-purpose fire extinguisher at hand. Water will not extinguish an oil fire — in fact, it will increase the danger of explosion and injury
We at R Hobbs Insurance Agency wish you and your family a safe and wonderful Thanksgiving! Please contact us at (847) 680-0888 or chris@rhobbsinsurance.com if you have any questions or if you'd like additional information.
Contact Us!
Illinois and Wisconsin residents, at R Hobbs Insurance Agency, we can work with you to make sure you've got the coverage you need, while at the same time using all possible credits and discounts to make that coverage affordable. Just give us a call at (847) 680-0888 or send us a note at chris@rhobbsinsurance.com. We want to help you meet your goals, and make sure what's important to you is protected!
Article Source: Kemper Preferred
Posted 11:00 AM
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