Dover, DE – Fire officials across Delaware are issuing a Thanksgiving safety alert after a nationwide rise in deep-fried turkey fires and injuries. The popular cooking shortcut — often seen as a quick way to a crispy bird — remains one of the most hazardous holiday traditions.
According to the U.S. Fire Administration, cooking fires peak each Thanksgiving, with more than 2,300 incidents reported annually. Newsweek data shows that deep-fryer accidents alone cause an average of five deaths, 60 injuries, and $15 million in property losses every year.
Experts say the biggest danger comes when home cooks drop a frozen or wet turkey into 350-degree oil. The water rapidly turns to steam, expanding 1,700 times its volume, forcing hot oil to overflow and often ignite nearby surfaces.
The National Fire Protection Association discourages the use of outdoor oil fryers, instead recommending air fryers, infrared fryers, or store-bought fried turkeys. For those determined to fry, officials urge keeping the fryer outside and away from homes, ensuring the bird is fully thawed, and never leaving the fryer unattended.
