Iowans Learn to Properly Deep Fry a Turkey and Not Burn the House Down

Another Thanksgiving is knocking on our door.  If your turkey is safe, Butterball Outrage 2024, that's good news.  How will you prep it for cooking?

If you've never cooked a bird before, it does take some planning.  For instance, if you're buying a frozen turkey, today, hmm, might be a little late but never say never. They do make a blow torch.

When to Say When?:

If you're planning on putting the bird through another cooking process other than the oven, you may be in for a treat.  If you've thought, deep frying is the way to go, most of the time I'm with ya. Let's try it, deep fry it, but sometimes you must know when to say when.

If you've not been swayed to say when and wish to proceed oh deepest of fryers, know that there could be consequences if you don't follow the good book of turkey deep frying.  It's actually more of a "don't do it this way or your house could blow up or end up in flames" you know, good times.

How Do You Properly Deep Fry a Turkey?

Of all organizations to know how to deep fry a turkey is the C.I.A.  Of course, the C.I.A. should know a thing or two about deep frying turkeys.  They are the C.I.A. ya know.  Not that C.I.A. the other C.I.A. (Culinary Institute of America).

They say To properly deep fry a turkey, ensure your turkey is fully thawed, pat it dry, then carefully lower it into a preheated pot of oil at 350°F using a dedicated turkey fryer, cook for roughly 3-4 minutes per pound, monitoring the internal temperature with a meat thermometer until it reaches 165°F for white meat and 175°F for dark meat, and always use a dedicated fryer in a safe outdoor area, never leaving it unattended while cooking; always use a high smoke point oil like peanut or canola oil for best results.

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The Fire Department and Red Cross Has a Few Words on the Subject

If you think I have an oven agenda when it comes to cooking turkeys, I don't.  I'm happy if you're deep frying event works out, I'd actually like to try it.  I just want to see it done safely and the statistics and youtube show us, that people still don't have a hold of this technology, just yet.

So, what more do you need to know?

We are a fan of first responders and Davenport's Fire Department shows us how not to burn our houses down.  Go Davenport!

Firefighters say the key is to move the fryer away from the house or structure and turn off the heat source as you slowly drop the dry, thawed turkey into the hot oil of the fryer.

The American Red Cross urges everyone to follow these safety tips:

1. Keep an eye on what you fry! Never leave cooking food unattended. If you must leave the kitchen, even for a short period of time, turn off the stove.
2. Move items that can burn away from the stove. This includes dishtowels, bags, boxes, paper and curtains. Also keep children and pets at least three feet away.
3. Avoid wearing loose clothing while cooking.
4. When frying food, turn the burner off if you see smoke or if the grease starts to boil. Carefully remove the pan from the burner.
5. Keep a pan lid or a cookie sheet nearby. Use it to cover the pan if it catches on fire. This will put out the fire. Leave the pan covered until it is completely cooled.

The Red Cross Says you can be safe on Thanksgiving but maybe you choose not to be ya rebel. Just in case you decide safety is okay,  here are some ways you can stay safe.  Check them out, it could save a life courtesy of the American Red Cross.