Portland, OR – Oregon fire officials are urging residents to use caution when preparing their Thanksgiving turkeys, warning that deep-frying frozen birds remains one of the leading causes of holiday cooking fires across the country.
The U.S. Fire Administration reports Thanksgiving Day as the top day for home cooking fires, with more than 2,300 incidents annually. Newsweek data shows deep-fryer accidents result in five deaths, 60 injuries, and approximately $15 million in property damage every year.
The risk occurs when frozen or wet turkeys are dropped into oil heated to 350 degrees. The trapped moisture turns to steam, expanding 1,700 times in volume, forcing boiling oil over the pot’s rim and onto flames or nearby materials — often igniting fires within seconds.
The National Fire Protection Association advises against using traditional outdoor oil fryers, suggesting air fryers, infrared cookers, or store-bought fried turkeys as safer alternatives. For those who still plan to fry, officials recommend cooking outdoors on level concrete, keeping children and pets at a distance, and ensuring the bird is completely thawed and dry before frying.
