Turkey Fryers: Not Certified By UL
Each year, Americans prepare a whopping 45 million turkeys for the traditional Thanksgiving Day feast. However, for those who decide to center their meal around a fried turkey, the potential hazards of cooking that dinner in the turkey fryer can be far worse than putting on a few extra pounds. UL is urging consumers to take extra caution if they are going to use turkey fryers this holiday season.
Manufacturers have made strides toward enhancing product features in an attempt to make turkey fryers safer for consumers. These new features include designing non-heat conducting handles and sturdier stands; but, based on continued observation, turkey fryers still pose a considerable risk if not used correctly. UL remains firm in its decision not to certify any turkey fryers with its trusted UL Mark.
“We’re worried by the increasing reports of fires related to turkey fryer use,” said John Drengenberg, UL consumer affairs manager. “Based on our test findings, the fryers used to produce those great-tasting birds are not worth the risks.”
Potential Hazards
Here’s why using a turkey fryer can be dangerous:
- Although some manufacturers have improved the stability of their fryers, some units could tip over, spilling as much as five gallons of hot oil out of the cooking pot.
- If the cooking pot is overfilled with oil, the oil may spill out of the unit when the turkey is placed into the cooking pot. Oil may hit the burner/flames, causing fire to engulf the entire unit.
- Partially frozen turkeys placed into the fryer can also cause a spillover effect, resulting in an extensive fire.
- Most turkey fryers have no thermostat controls, increasing their potential to overheat cooking oil to the point of combustion.
- The sides of the cooking pot, lid and pot handles get dangerously hot, posing severe burn hazards.
Safety Tips
Use extreme caution when using turkey fryers. If you absolutely must use a turkey fryer, here are some tips for safer use:
- Turkey fryers should always be used outdoors, located a safe distance from buildings and any other flammable materials.
- Never use turkey fryers on wooden decks or in garages.
- Make sure the fryers are used on a flat surface to reduce accidental tipping.
- Never leave the fryer unattended. Most units do not have thermostat controls. If you don’t watch the fryer carefully, the oil will continue to heat until it catches fire.
- Never let children or pets near the fryer when in use. After use, continue to exercise extreme caution as the oil inside the cooking pot can remain dangerously hot for hours.
- To avoid oil spillover, do not overfill the fryer.
- Use well-insulated potholders or oven mitts when touching pot or lid handles. If possible, wear safety goggles to protect your eyes from oil splatter.
- Make sure the turkey is completely thawed and be careful with marinades. Oil and water don’t mix and water can cause oil to spill over, starting a fire or even an explosion hazard.
- The National Turkey Federation recommends refrigerator thawing and to allow approximately 24 hours for every five pounds of bird thawed in the refrigerator.
- Never use water to extinguish a grease fire. Remember to use your best judgment when attempting to fight a fire. If the fire is manageable, use an all-purpose fire extinguisher. If the fire increases, immediately call 9-1-1 for help.
Again, because this product still poses a number of distinct safety concerns, including significant burn and fire hazards, UL has not certified any turkey fryers with its trusted UL Mark.
8 Responses to “Turkey Fryers: Not Certified By UL”
[...] for a delicious bird, they also present several dangers. For a list of turkey fryer safety tips, click here. Print Share [...]
[...] turkey on Thanksgiving may be tasty, but it’s not worth burning down the house, Underwriters Laboratories [...]
Like most lists for safety you left off the best one. the one that should be at the top of the list.
TURN OFF THE FLAME BEFORE YOU PUT THE TURKEY IN.
if there is no flame then the oil has nothing to catch on.
you then relight once it stopped splashing over.
There is an indoor one now …
Another thing to consider is before unwraping the bird from the plastic, fill the fryer pot with water, then put the bird in so the water runs over the sides and mark the level on the outside at a lower level than the water. That way you will have a good estimate of how deep to later fill the oil, based on the volume size of the bird.
I always put an unfrozen / unwrapped turkey in an emtpy cooking pot. I then add water so that the turkey is covered and there is approximately 4-6 inches from the top of the pot. I then take the turkey out and see where the water line is and mark it off on the inside of the pot. I empty the water, dry the pot and add oil to where the mark is. After the oil is at the proper tempature I will shut of the gas and put the turkey in the pot. Once the turkey is submerged in the oil I will re-light the cooking unit.
I always have a themometer in the oil, wear gloves when moving the pot, and have a fire extinguisher nearby. As a back up, I keep a garden hose close by.
A note to Mark above, you should not ever use water to extinguish a grease/oil fire. The water will cause the volume of the fire to increase. Always use a fire extinguisher designed to hadndle oil/grease fires.
I have been frying 40 to 60 turkeys every yearbird cause the oil to flow out of my fryers for the past 10 years. I charge $50 and you furnish the bird. And thet cheap because the oil you by is $50 by itself.
#1 Oil exspands so deduct a ittle for that. I have MANY MANY over flows and afterover 650 Birds I have NEVER had a fire at all…………I not sure what people are doing wrong. But the must be to stupid to read the directions………
I really dislike some of the hyperbole surrounding Turkey Fryers. 1. The oil is HOT, so use common sense. 2.Following the instructions in the pamphlet that comes with the fryer is not optional. 3.Drunk people should not use any flammable substance near a fire. The biggest safety device anyone has is between their own ears, failure to use it or to learn on their part does not justify intervention on the part of mostly self appointed, (so-called) experts.
UL is Underwriters Laboratories, they test mainly, Household Electrical Devices for insurance companies. to rate them. BBQ in your back yard is not approved by UL because it is for use outside the home. Turkey fryers are the same, and UL certification never made anything safer. It just gives Insurance Companies the a statical failure rate so they know how often the device will cause a house fire making it easier to know when to pay and when to push an arson investigation.
Foolish or Drunk people are dangerous no matter what they operate.
Finally, I am very worried by people who want to make me “safe,” which usually means that I have to give up something. One of these days they will protect us all right out of existence.
Anyway that is my take for what it’s worth.
DWD