ROANOKE, Va. – Cooking fires are three times more likely to happen on Thanksgiving Day, so Roanoke Fire-EMS has some tips before you hit the kitchen, especially if you plan to fry your turkey this year.
If you’re frying a turkey, thaw it completely first, and pat it dry. Pre-measure how much oil you need to slightly cover the turkey once it’s in the pot.
When the oil is hot, very slowly place the turkey in the pot while wearing protective gloves.
The biggest mistakes you can make are putting in too much oil, putting the turkey in frozen or putting the turkey in too quickly. Also make sure you fry it outside, far away from anything flammable.
“During this time, especially, people are distracted. So if you’re mindful of your cooking, hopefully, we can continue to prevent fires in this area,” said Kristen Perdue, the community risk reduction specialist for Roanoke Fire-EMS.
Also, don’t leave your food unattended in the kitchen. Keep kids and pets at least three feet away from all cooking areas.