Orlando, FL – With Thanksgiving just around the corner, Florida’s fire officials are urging residents to think twice before deep-frying their holiday turkeys. The festive cooking trend, while popular for its flavor and speed, continues to spark fires, injuries, and costly property damage each year.
According to the U.S. Fire Administration, Thanksgiving Day sees more than 2,300 home cooking fires nationwide, making it the most fire-prone holiday in the country. Newsweek reports that deep-fryer accidents cause five deaths, 60 injuries, and roughly $15 million in property losses annually.
The danger stems from frozen or wet turkeys being lowered into oil heated to 350 degrees. As the ice instantly converts to steam — expanding about 1,700 times in volume — boiling oil is forced out of the pot, often igniting upon contact with open flames or nearby materials.
The National Fire Protection Association recommends safer alternatives such as air fryers, infrared fryers, or pre-fried turkeys. Those determined to deep-fry should cook outside, away from homes and trees, and never leave the fryer unattended.
