Ahhh, Thanksgiving.  A whole day to count your blessings, celebrate your loved ones, and eat until you have to put on stretchy pants and take a nap.  Of course, all of this is centered around the real M.V.P. of the day…the Thanksgiving turkey!  Many people have perfected their own method of roasting their bird every year.  Still, others swear that the only true path to turkey bliss is paved with the boiling hot oil of a deep fryer.  So what does your insurance agent recommend when it comes to deep frying a turkey?

Don’t.  Just don’t.  Brine it, bake it, roast it, put in on a rotisserie spit; find another way.  Seriously, on the record as trusted agents, it is our ethical obligation to look out for the best interest of you and your homeowners insurance by suggesting that you don’t.  It can be extremely dangerous and contributes to Thanksgiving being one of the days associated with the highest rate of home fires caused by cooking.  In fact, frying a turkey doubles those stats, bringing the average to a whopping $28,000,000 in property damage each year.  All of those zeros mean an enormous number of homeowners insurance claims.

Still not convinced?  Are those deep fried dreams just too strong to ignore?  If so, we’re still here for you.  Here are some safety tips to ensure your Thanksgiving goes off with a bang, figuratively, but not literally.

  1. Make sure your turkey is 100% thawed.  Oil and water is an explosive mix.  Boiling hot oil and water can be a disaster.
  2. Make sure the size of your turkey and the amount of oil in your fryer are in balance.  Going with a smaller turkey and measuring the oil volume in advance can help avoid hot oil spilling over and causing a fire.
  3. Cook with your fryer well away from your house.  Also your garage.  As well as your deck.  In fact, keep it away from anything that could catch fire and spread fire, including your dog.
  4. Don’t use a fryer in the rain or snow.  See tip #1.
  5. Never leave the fryer unattended.  A sober adult should attend the fryer and remain vigilant to monitor the oil temperature and prevent accidents.
  6. Keep the propane a safe distance away from the burner.  Preferably at your neighbor’s house, but at least two feet away.
  7. Read all of your fryer manual instructions before getting started.  You do not want to be learning on the fly after the oil has already reached a dangerous temperature.
  8. Be prepared.  Have a fire extinguisher and the number for pizza delivery available.

For more in-depth instructions, give Alton Brown’s fryer method a look here

No matter how you decide to enjoy your turkey, we wish you, your homeowners insurance, and your deductible, a safe holiday!

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