Deep-fried turkey delicious — and dangerous

Deep-fried turkey has its benefits: It cooks quickly. It's non-greasy. And it's deliciously moist.

But getting that deep-fried bird on the Thanksgiving table today can be a dangerous task if the cook is careless.

County firefighters and safety experts are urging residents to oven-roast turkeys the traditional way and leave the deep-frying to Food Network pros.

Though the taste of a deep-fried turkey is sure to please the palate, officials at Underwriters Laboratories worry backyard chefs are sacrificing safety for a tasty dish. They say the increasing number of fires related to turkey fryers is a risk that outweighs the benefits of the appliance.

In fact, the product safety testing service has rated deep-frying a turkey as so risky, it will not certify any turkey fryers with the UL mark, said Division Chief Michael Cox, a county Fire Department spokesman.

"There are a few instances in the county each year where there have been fires or serious injuries as a direct result of people using turkey fryers," Cox said. "I wouldn't call it a big problem within the county, however the incidents that results from these tend to be very serious. These are fires that cause significant damage and very serious injuries."

Many units easily tip over, spilling gallons of hot oil, Cox said. If the pot is overfilled, the oil may spill out when the bird is placed inside. A splash of oil on the burner can quickly engulf the cooker in flames.

"People fail to measure the appropriate amount of oil and when they put that bird in, it boils over," Cox said. "Or, they put that bird in there that isn't completely thawed out. That puts water in there (the fryer). That can also cause it to boil over."

With no thermostat controls, turkey fryers can potentially overheat the oil to the point of combustion, fire officials said.

Deep-fryers also can present dangers to dogs, cats and small children.

"Not only do these pose a fire danger if used improperly, but they pose a danger for significant injury, especially to pets and children," Cox said."If those pots remain hot for a long time and if left unattended, a child or pet could be severely burned from the hot oil."

The sides of the cooking pot, lid

and handles also get dangerously hot and pose burn hazards.

Using a marinade to jazz up a turkey's taste creates more problems.

"If it's water-based, well, water and oil do not mix. Especially hot oil," Cox said.

With the National Weather Service predicting possible rain showers this afternoon and early evening, firefighters also worry cooks will take risks to stay dry.

"The weather is bad right now and they're calling for precipitation (on Thanksgiving)," Cox said. "Equipment needs to be used outside away from any buildings and other materials that can burn. Please do not use these (turkey fryers) on decks, garages or enclosed spaces" even if it's raining.