FDNY: Don't Deep Fry Your Turkey Inside!

We love timely tips from the FDNY! The Fire Department is reminding New Yorkers that deep-frying turkeys is very, very dangerous. Why? Well, the fryers easily tip over and many fryers don't have automatic temperature control. Also, "oil may spill from the fryer onto the burner causing a fire." Underwriters Laboratories has a video of what can go wrong during turkey deep-frying and it is insane.

It does seem like there's at least one deep-fried turkey mishap in the area during Thanksgiving. And if you are going to dare dunk your bird in a boiling vat of oil, the FDNY (which calls deep-frying turkeys a "recipe for a holiday tragedy) recommends to do it outside. The FDNY also has other kitchen safety tips, such as making sure to "have a pot lid handy to smother a pan fire" and "wear short or tight fitting sleeves."

And did you know Jive Turkey in Brooklyn deep fries turkeys? We bet they will be pretty crowded today and tomorrow!

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in Food on November 21, 2007 12:28 PM

Comments [rss]

sandradayoconnor

It might be some coonass shit to fry a turkey, but at least us coonasses know why you shouldn't do it indoors, and it ain't got nothin' to do with dumping out boiling oil.

You don't fry the shit inside because it uses a gigantic fucking propane bottle the size of a man's torso.

HughGass

It is hillbilly shit. Alton Brown is from some backward-ass teabag town in Georgia. Atlanta maybe. Somewhere down south.

Spirit of 76

Wow, the arrogance of NYC residents instantly shows through again. If it didn't originate in NYC, it's "hillbilly shit," not suited for urban sophisticates. I'm surprised you didn't lambaste Tofurkey instead.

Alton Brown had a lot of great tips last year in his "Fry, Turkey, Fry" episode.

ed_Extinct

deep frying turkey's is a southern thing. it takes about 45 minutes to cook thru and is delicious!

i prefer the old-style of cooking in an oven...

JenChungsBaby

I like to deepfry my turkey in the baby's room while he's asleep. I can listen to the snap, crackle and pop in the other room on the baby monitor.

No, seriously -- I thought deepfrying turkeys was hillbilly shit. People in NYC actually do that?

lanciano

i like fried chicken. but i just don't understand this whole fried turkey phenom.

i was at a barbecue where the deep fried turkey was the guest of honor and just the smell of the thing sizzling in that tub of oil made me want to vomit.