Every Thanksgiving and Christmas, a few folks using deep fryers to cook their turkeys, end up with a cooked deck instead. Halco Fence, a deck builder in Vienna, VA advises residents not to fry turkeys on wood or composite decks.
Here are some additional safety tips when cooking that bird in a deep fryer:
- Follow manufacturer instructions exactly and pay special attention to oil displacement.
- Never bring the fryer inside.
- Turkey fryers should always be used outdoors, and at a safe distance from buildings and any other material that can burn.
- Never use turkey fryers in garages.
- Be sure the bird is fully thawed and dry, so oil does not splatter and burn.
- Do not fry in the rain or snow
- Make sure the fryers are used on a flat surface to reduce accidental tipping.
- Never leave the fryer unattended. Most units do not have thermostat controls. (The oil will continue to heat until it catches fire.)
- Never let children or pets near the fryer during or after use. The oil inside the cooking pot can remain dangerously hot long after it has been turned off.
- To avoid oil spillover, do not overfill the fryer.
- Use well-insulated potholders or oven mitts when touching pot or lid handles.
- Safety goggles will protect your eyes from oil splatter.
- You should be careful with marinades. Oil and water do not mix, and water causes oil to spill over potentially causing a fire or even an explosion.
- You should keep an all-purpose fire extinguisher nearby; never, ever use water to extinguish an oil fire.
- Please don’t move turkey fryer during operation or while oil is hot.
- Make certain that you let oil cool completely before removing it from fryer.
For more information on keeping your deck safe, please contact your deck builder in Vienna, Halco Fence. The experts at Halco Fence not only build beautiful and sturdy decks, but they can also provide you with the best information for safely maintaining your deck.