Happy Thanksgiving! Remember… Thaw your turkey.

We all love a day off and hope you are able to enjoy time with friends and family tomorrow. This is just a quick post to remind you about turkey safety. More cooking fires happen on Thanksgiving than any other holiday in America according to the National Fire Protection Association.  With the popularity of turkey frying, people are at risk for fryer-related fires and injuries. Below is helpful information on turkey thawing times and turkey frying safety.

Remember these safety tips if frying a turkey:

•Cook outdoors at a safe distance from any structures or trees. Keep the fryer away from any wooden structures, such as a deck or patio. According to State Farm Insurance, more than one-third of fires involving a fryer start in a garage or on a patio, close to the house.

•Avoid a hot oil spill over by first filling the pot with cold oil and then lower the thawed turkey into the pot to determine how much oil should be either added or removed.

•Shut off the fuel source or flame when adding the turkey to the hot oil to prevent a dangerous flare-up if oil does spill over the rim.

•Make sure your turkey is properly thawed before lowering it slowly into the pot. Partially frozen turkeys can cause dangerous spillover.

•Do not use ice or water to cool down oil or extinguish an oil fire, let it cool off on its own.

•Keep an extinguisher approved for cooking or grease fire nearby.

•The lid and handles on the sides of the pot get dangerously hot, posing severe burn hazards. Use well-insulated potholders or oven mitts when touching pot or lid handles, and wear safety goggles to protect your eyes from oil splatter.

•One of the most important safety tips is to never leave a hot turkey fryer unattended. Most fryers do not have thermostat controls. If you do not watch the fryer carefully, the oil will continue to heat until it catches fire.