Farm Bureau Insurance Safety Alert: Turkey Fryer Safety

Richmond, VA, November 25, 2008 --(PR.com)-- Note: For additional tips and information, please click here.

Southern cooks have been deep frying turkey for years. Thanks to some popular celebrity chefs, juicy deep fried turkey is now a popular tradition across America, especially at Thanksgiving. Recipes have even gone as far as the famed Turducken, which is a chicken wrapped in a duck, stuffed in a turkey. Whatever your taste, if a tasty deep fried holiday bird is in your plans, keep in mind that while it can be a very social and fun time with friends and family, it can also be very dangerous.

“The cardinal rule with turkey fryers is to never leave it unattended,” says Jimmy Maass, safety coordinator at Virginia Farm Bureau. “Many dangers associated with turkey fryers are due to consumer misuse or inattentiveness, and really, it is a two-person job. To prevent the risk of a tip over, overheating, or spilling hot oil that could lead to fire and severe burns, it’s important that turkey fryers be used under close supervision and with extreme caution.”

Farm Bureau Insurance urges anyone planning to use a turkey fryer this holiday season to keep in mind the following safety tips provided by Underwriting Laboratories, (UL):

--Turkey fryers should be used outdoors a safe distance from buildings and other material that can burn.
--Make sure the fryers are used on a flat surface to reduce accidental tipping.
--Never let children or pets near the fryer when in use. Even after use, never allow them near the turkey fryer. The oil inside can remain dangerously hot, hours after use.
--To avoid oil spillover, do not overfill the fryer.
--Be careful with marinades. Oil and water don’t mix, and water causes oil to spill over, causing fire or even an explosion hazard.
--Keep an all-purpose fire extinguisher nearby. Never use water to extinguish a grease fire.

Finally, keep in mind that while using a turkey fryer can be a fun and tasty way to prepare your holiday meal, safety organizations including the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the American Burn Association (ABA) discourage the use of turkey fryers, along with Underwriting Laboratories (UL). Don’t be mislead by some packaging, there may be parts to a turkey fryer that are UL certified, but not the entire appliance.

“Based on our test findings, the fryers used to produce those great tasting birds are not worth the risks. And, as a result of these tests, UL has decided not to certify any turkey fryers with our trusted UL Mark,” said John Drengenberg, Consumer Affairs Manager with UL.

Note: For additional tips and information, please click here.

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