With more time to experiment in the kitchen this year, and you might be planning on diving into the world of deep-fried turkey this year instead of the usual oven baked. While this is a great idea for added flavor, frying a turkey is a risky business and needs to be done carefully to avoid a trip to the hospital or firefighters paying your house an unexpected visit. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, Thanksgiving has more reported home cooking fires than any other day of the year. We don’t want any of our residents to become part of this statistic, so please use caution during all of your food preparation ESPECIALLY if you plan to fry a turkey. If you plan to prepare and enjoy a fried turkey, please follow these steps in addition to the manufacturer’s recommendations. For all steps involving the fryer preparation, USE PROTECTIVE GLOVES AND GLASSES.

  1. Thaw your turkey overnight and ensure it is completely thawed before beginning preparation.
  2. Dry your thawed turkey completely with paper towels so that no water remains anywhere on the bird.
  3. Place the fryer on a sturdy, level surface free of any wood, leaves and/or dried grass.
  4. With the flame OFF, pour the manufacturer’s recommended amount of oil into the pot. DO NOT OVERFILL.
  5. Turn on the flame and heat your oil to the manufacturer’s recommended temperature. Overheated oil will cause smoke and fire.
  6. When the oil reaches the desired temperature, turn the flame OFF.
  7. Ensure your turkey is completely thawed and free of any ice or water by drying it with paper towels. Any water will cause hot oil to splatter upon contact.
  8. SLOWLY lower the turkey into the oil, being careful not to spill any oil.
  9. Ensure no oil spilled out of the pot, turn the flame back on and cook the turkey.
  10. Continue to monitor the oil temperature and NEVER LEAVE THE FRYER ALONE. Keep children and pets away.
  11. When you’re ready, turn OFF the flame, CAREFULLY remove the turkey and place it onto a rack to cool and drip dry.
  12. Allow oil to cool completely (overnight is recommended) and dispose of the oil properly.

courtesy Neptune OEM