Thanksgiving safety tips for frying a turkey

With Thanksgiving on Monday, an estimated three million turkeys will be served on dinner tables throughout the country, according to the Turkey Farmers of Canada. Depending on the size, the main course may take up to 12 hours to cook.

To speed up the process, many Canadians are cooking their turkeys by frying them instead of baking, as what typically takes hours is ready in less than 60 minutes. But with the high temperatures and hot oil frying requires, the risk of fire is increased.

With this in mind, Canadian Standards Association International, a product testing and certification organization, is supplying Canadian homeowners with some cooking tips to ensure the process goes off without any fire hazards.

For example, before beginning, CSA recommends reviewing the manufacturer's instructions so that all warnings are heeded. In addition, CSA cautions homeowners to make sure the turkey fryer is situated outdoors and at least 10 feet from any structure, including homes, garages and overhangs.

Before starting the cooking process, CSA says to make sure the turkey has thawed completely. Because frozen or partially frozen turkeys can be hard, they can kick up oil when placed in the fryer, potentially leading to serious burns or sparking a fire. Turkeys should be thawed for at least 24 hours for every five pounds.

Before placing the turkey in the oil, CSA says the bird should be dried completely, particularly its cavity, as water or ice can accumulate there. When heating the fryer, the temperature should be kept right around 200 degrees Celsius. The turkey should then be lowered into the fryer gently, making sure oil doesn't overflow.

Because frying a turkey is much quicker than cooking one in the oven, CSA recommends remaining near the fryer and not leaving it unattended. Before, during and after use, pets and young children should be kept away from it.

The turkey will be ready when it's a golden brown and should be removed just as cautiously as it went in to prevent hot oil from splashing.

While these tips should help prevent fires from occurring, accidents still happen. In fact, according to Health Canada, deep fryers are a leading cause of house fires, many of which force policyholders to file home insurance claims. Homeowners may want to make sure their policies are current in addition to being safe while cooking.