Little Rock, AR – Arkansas fire officials are warning residents to take extra precautions when deep-frying turkeys this Thanksgiving, saying the cooking method continues to cause fires, injuries, and expensive home damage across the country each year.
The U.S. Fire Administration reports Thanksgiving Day is the most dangerous day of the year for home cooking fires, with more than 2,300 incidents annually. Newsweek data shows that deep-fryer accidents result in five deaths, 60 injuries, and about $15 million in property losses nationwide each year.
The risk occurs when frozen or damp turkeys are placed in oil heated to 350 degrees. The trapped moisture rapidly turns to steam, expanding 1,700 times its volume, forcing boiling oil over the fryer’s rim and into flames or nearby materials — often igniting fires almost instantly.
The National Fire Protection Association recommends avoiding traditional oil fryers altogether, suggesting air fryers, infrared models, or pre-fried turkeys instead. For those who still plan to fry, officials advise cooking outdoors on flat concrete, ensuring the bird is completely thawed and dry, and keeping a fire extinguisher nearby at all times.
