The latest trend in preparing a Turkey is Deep Frying. However, if you don't take precautions, you may
end up with an injury or fire. Deep Fryers can be dangerous because: Many units easily tip over,
spilling the five gallons of hot oil within the cooking pot. If the cooking pot is overfilled with oil, the oil
may spill out of the unit when the turkey is placed into the cooking pot. Oil may hit the burner/flames
causing a fire to engulf the entire unit.
Partially frozen turkeys placed into the fryer can cause a spillover effect. This too, may result in an
extensive fire.
With no thermostat controls, the units also have the potential to overheat the oil to the point of
combustion.
The sides of the cooking pot, lid and pot handles get dangerously hot, posing severe burn hazards.
The instructions provided with the cooking pot should be read carefully before attempting to deep-fry a
turkey. This is critical in order to prevent a serious fire or burn injury.
And no matter how hard it's raining, don't bring this cooking operation into the garage, onto the wood
deck or near anything that burns!
Here are more basic safety tips from the Summit Fire District to help keep you and your family safe:
1. Prepare in advance, and use proper equipment
Use a specially designed outdoor cooker/deep fryer with a perforated basket insert. The cooking pot
should be 10 gallon or more capacity and stand three feet high, hooked up to a propane gas cylinder.
The propane cylinder must be separated by a minimum of two feet from the fryer. Read and follow the
manufacturer’s directions and safety instructions. Place the fryer on a flat and level surface.
Be aware of your clothing around the hot oil, which can spatter, and the open flame, which could ignite
clothing. Roll sleeves up and tuck away loose clothing. Be sure you are strong enough to lower the
turkey into, and lift it from, the 350-degree oil safely.
2. Keep heated items (hot oil and propane cooker) away from anything that can burn
The entire area for at least 10 feet in all directions must be fireproof. Never deep fry a turkey indoors,
in a garage, on a porch, on a deck, or in any other structure attached to a building. Keep children and
pets away from the cooking area. Never leave the hot oil unattended. The deep-fryer unit should be
positioned so wind will direct the heat away from the gas cylinder, people, and structures.
3. Watch what you heat and cook
Deep fryers must always be attended during cooking. Never use a frozen turkey because the ice
crystals can cause it to “explode” when it comes in contact with hot oil. Oil should not be allowed to go
over 350 degrees; oil can ignite at 375 degrees. Keep an all-purpose fire extinguisher nearby. Never
use water to extinguish a grease fire. Remember to use your best judgment when attempting to fight a
fire. Allow oil to cool completely before disposing or storing. Never cover the deep fryer because this
could cause overheating, or boiling over of the hot oil. Should a fire start, clear all people from the
area and call 911
Even after use, never allow children or pets near the turkey fryer. The oil inside the cooking pots
remains dangerously hot, hours after use
end up with an injury or fire. Deep Fryers can be dangerous because: Many units easily tip over,
spilling the five gallons of hot oil within the cooking pot. If the cooking pot is overfilled with oil, the oil
may spill out of the unit when the turkey is placed into the cooking pot. Oil may hit the burner/flames
causing a fire to engulf the entire unit.
Partially frozen turkeys placed into the fryer can cause a spillover effect. This too, may result in an
extensive fire.
With no thermostat controls, the units also have the potential to overheat the oil to the point of
combustion.
The sides of the cooking pot, lid and pot handles get dangerously hot, posing severe burn hazards.
The instructions provided with the cooking pot should be read carefully before attempting to deep-fry a
turkey. This is critical in order to prevent a serious fire or burn injury.
And no matter how hard it's raining, don't bring this cooking operation into the garage, onto the wood
deck or near anything that burns!
Here are more basic safety tips from the Summit Fire District to help keep you and your family safe:
1. Prepare in advance, and use proper equipment
Use a specially designed outdoor cooker/deep fryer with a perforated basket insert. The cooking pot
should be 10 gallon or more capacity and stand three feet high, hooked up to a propane gas cylinder.
The propane cylinder must be separated by a minimum of two feet from the fryer. Read and follow the
manufacturer’s directions and safety instructions. Place the fryer on a flat and level surface.
Be aware of your clothing around the hot oil, which can spatter, and the open flame, which could ignite
clothing. Roll sleeves up and tuck away loose clothing. Be sure you are strong enough to lower the
turkey into, and lift it from, the 350-degree oil safely.
2. Keep heated items (hot oil and propane cooker) away from anything that can burn
The entire area for at least 10 feet in all directions must be fireproof. Never deep fry a turkey indoors,
in a garage, on a porch, on a deck, or in any other structure attached to a building. Keep children and
pets away from the cooking area. Never leave the hot oil unattended. The deep-fryer unit should be
positioned so wind will direct the heat away from the gas cylinder, people, and structures.
3. Watch what you heat and cook
Deep fryers must always be attended during cooking. Never use a frozen turkey because the ice
crystals can cause it to “explode” when it comes in contact with hot oil. Oil should not be allowed to go
over 350 degrees; oil can ignite at 375 degrees. Keep an all-purpose fire extinguisher nearby. Never
use water to extinguish a grease fire. Remember to use your best judgment when attempting to fight a
fire. Allow oil to cool completely before disposing or storing. Never cover the deep fryer because this
could cause overheating, or boiling over of the hot oil. Should a fire start, clear all people from the
area and call 911
Even after use, never allow children or pets near the turkey fryer. The oil inside the cooking pots
remains dangerously hot, hours after use
Deep Fry Your Turkey
Summit Fire District
| Fire Departments don't succeed, people do. |
8905 N. Koch Field Road, Flagstaff, AZ 86004, 928-526-9537 Office, 928-526-2750 Fax, sfd@summitfiredepartment.org
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |