Press Release - 11/21/2013 - HFD Holiday Cooking Tips
Lee Woodward
From:Kristin Edwards
Sent:Thursday, November 21, 2013 1:31 PM
Subject:Huntsville Fire Department offers holiday cooking safety tips - 11-21-13 - press
release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -
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Thanks,
Kristin Edwards, TRMC
Deputy City Secretary
The City of Huntsville has safety tips to those residents who choose to deep-fry their turkeys this holiday season for preparation
and grease disposal.
According to Fire Chief Tom Grisham, there are several key points to remember when frying a turkey in grease, and keeping
them in mind may help prevent dangerous accidents.
“Before you even start cooking, you must properly thaw your turkey, keeping in mind the weight of the meat and the risk of
bacterial exposure,” Grisham said. “Turkey should be thawed in the refrigerator, not just set on the counter. A good rule of
thumb for the amount of time to thaw a turkey is 24 hours for every five pounds of weight.
“Remember, a turkey can look thawed on the outside but still be frozen on the inside, and if you put a wet or partially thawed
turkey into 350 degree grease, it will boil over. Make sure your turkey is completely thawed and dry, and make sure to keep
children and pets away from the fryer just in case.”
When it comes time to fry the turkey, read through the manufacturer’s warnings and make sure all who are assisting have read
them, as well.
“Every turkey fryer comes with instructions, and it’s very important to read those completely before commencing your cooking,”
Grisham said. “Also, make sure when you do begin cooking that your turkey fryer is not in a garage or under any kind of
structure. Many calls we have had have been the result of grease boiling over onto a deck and setting the wood on fire.
“Also, make sure you have the correct level of grease. This can be tested by placing a turkey in an empty fryer, filling the fryer
with water to cover the turkey, removing the turkey, then pouring out the water and filling the fryer with grease to the previous
water line. Make sure the pot is thoroughly dry before adding grease.”
Finally, both when placing a turkey in grease and removing the turkey, use caution and move the turkey 1 to 1½ inches at a
time.
“When putting the turkey in or removing the turkey from the fryer, use caution,” Grisham said. “Wear gloves, a long sleeved shirt
and closed-toe shoes. Also, have a fire extinguisher available that has a Class B rating, an ABC or BC, for flammable liquids.
For more information, contact the Fire Department at (936) 291-3047. Also, check out the November 15 issue of “This Week in
Huntsville” for more information on proper grease disposal.
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