Louisville, KY – As Thanksgiving approaches, Kentucky fire officials are reminding residents to be cautious when deep-frying turkeys — a holiday tradition that remains one of the top causes of cooking-related fires across the nation.
The U.S. Fire Administration reports that Thanksgiving Day is the leading day for home cooking fires, with more than 2,300 incidents reported annually. Newsweek data shows that deep-fryer accidents cause five deaths, 60 injuries, and roughly $15 million in property losses every year.
The danger arises when frozen or damp turkeys are placed into oil heated to 350 degrees. The trapped moisture rapidly vaporizes, expanding 1,700 times in volume, which can send boiling oil over the fryer’s rim and onto nearby flames or flammable materials.
The National Fire Protection Association recommends using air fryers, infrared cookers, or store-bought fried turkeys instead of traditional oil fryers. For those who still plan to fry, officials stress setting up outdoors on flat concrete, ensuring the bird is fully thawed and dry, and keeping a fire extinguisher close by in case of emergencies.
