Thanksgiving cooking safety tips

In recent years deep frying of Thanksgiving turkeys has become very popular. These fires can be prevented by using oil-less fryers, and people can protect themselves by wearing proper clothing when cooking, such as long sleeves and gloves, Santillan said.

The National Fire Protection Association says Thanksgiving is the peak day for home cooking fire in the United States. According to the US Fire Administration, the number of residential fires on Thanksgiving Day was more than double the average number of fires on all other days. If you have to leave the kitchen for even a short time, turn off the stove.

→When cooking a turkey using a disposable aluminum pan, consider doubling up and using two pans to avoid a puncture, because dripping turkey juices can cause an oven fire. Other fryers overheat easily, splattering hot oil outside the fryer.

You’re reminded to keep anything that could catch on fire such as oven mitts, wooden utensils, food packaging, towels and curtains, away from the stove top.

Unattended cooking is a major reason these fires occur.

Turkey frying is one of the biggest contributors to fires on Thanksgiving. Be sure to keep an eye on children in the kitchen so they are kept away from the stove, oven, chords, and handles. Regularly check on food that is simmering, baking or roasting, and use a timer.

Never leave children alone in room with a lit a candle.

“They want to make sure they measure their level before they heat their oil”. Here are tips: * Set up the fryer or grill outside on a flat, level surface that is several feet from any building. “Stay in the kitchen as most cooking fires start because cooking food has been left unattended”.

“A lot of the times what happens, they will take a turkey that is not completely thawed and immerse it into the hot oil”, Mckenna said.

Never fry a frozen turkey.