Boise Fire Thanksgiving cooking safety tips

Gregory said even though there are a lot of rules to follow, these are the best way to ensure that your Thanksgiving is a safe one. On Thanksgiving Day, there were 22 cooking fires.

U.S. Fire Administration reports indicate most of the Thanksgiving Day fires occurred between noon and 3 p.m.

According to the National Fire Prevention Association, there were almost four times as many cooking fires on Thanksgiving than on any other typical day in 2014.

Nationwide, home fires involving cooking equipment are three times more likely on Thanksgiving than the average day, Jennie Purcell, director of fire prevention for the 8th Utilities District, said. A turkey should never be cooked in an oven less than 325 degrees Fahrenheit. Turkey’s are so big and have so many pockets that you want to make sure that every part is cooked through.

“Have a friend come over and help you do the cooking”, he said. If you’re in the kitchen, it’s easier to catch spills or hazardous conditions before they become a fire.

Also, always use the fryer outdoors. If that person leaves the kitchen, then the stove should be turned off until someone comes back. Regularly check on food that is simmering, baking or roasting, and use a timer to remind you that you’re cooking. That way, little ones aren’t tempted to pull the pots off the stove.

Secure cords from electric knives, coffee makers, plate warmers, mixers and other cooking equipment far from the counter edge and away from children. The USDA does not recommend washing raw meat and poultry before cooking because doing so can cause bacteria to spread up to three feet away.

Specialists in the food protection program that is part of the Sacramento County Environmental Management Department are experts in making sure restaurants are clean through careful on-site inspections. The steam or splash from vegetables, gravy or coffee could cause serious burns.

“We over-filled the oil, let it get too hot, and we used a frozen turkey”, Ric Dokter, the Grand Rapids Fire marshal explained.