Fire Safety Tips for Your Thanksgiving Dinner Cooking

11/15/2019 (Permalink)

Did you know that fall and winter are the prime times for house fires? It’s these times of the year when people are blasting their furnace, constantly using their fireplace, and cooking large, elaborate meals. Thanksgiving dinner should be a time for bonding over a delicious holiday spread. No one wants to spend the holidays on fire damage clean up duty. Keep these fire safety tips in mind for your Thanksgiving dinner cooking. 

Be Proactive, not Reactive

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, especially when it comes to house fires. In preparation for your Thanksgiving meal, be sure to inspect the following items to prevent a house fire:

Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors

First, check your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Make sure they are working correctly and change the batteries, so they are ready to work alongside you as you cook for the holidays. 

Stoves, Ovens, and Cooking Equipment

A greasy, dusty, or otherwise dirty oven or stovetop can increase the chances of grease fires and other cooking hazards. Before you start meal prep, clean the appliances you’ll be using to cook. 

In the Kitchen? Pay Attention

U.S. fire departments respond to approximately 1,700 cooking fires on Thanksgiving Day alone. The most common cause of Thanksgiving fires? Unattended cooking and cooking equipment mishaps. Don’t become a statistic. While cooking Thanksgiving dinner, stay in the kitchen. Some people will run the risk of starting a house fire by leaving home while the turkey is in the oven. Don’t do this. Make sure someone is in the house if you need to run an errand while the turkey is roasting. 

It’s easy to get distracted by guests during Thanksgiving dinner cooking. Set a timer if you’ll be stepping away from the kitchen, or set an alarm on your phone. A crowded kitchen where children, pets, and guests will be congregating can create numerous fire hazards, but there are a few steps you can take to mitigate the risks. 

Turn handles inward

Pots and pans simmering on the stove can create a fire or burn hazard if the handles are pointing outward where guests can walk into them. Be careful to turn the handles inward, both to keep people safe from burns and to keep your culinary hard work safe from spills. 

Set rules

Communicate to parents and children that kids need to keep away from the stove. Food can bubble and splatter, creating a burn hazard if the kids are nearby. 

Be mindful of nearby items

Any items that can easily burn, such as oven mitts or wooden cooking utensils, should be kept away from the stovetop while cooking Thanksgiving dinner. Also, electrical cords should be kept far back on the counter, so they don’t dangle in the reach of curious children or mischievous pets. 

Be Careful with Open Flames

Candle fires result in an average of 150 deaths per year and over 500 million dollars in property damage. Candles can add to the ambiance of the home and make it smell like the holidays, but you must be careful when it comes to open flames, no matter how small they may be. 

• Make sure children don’t have access to lighters and matches. It’s a good idea to secure these items up on a high shelf or to lock them away. 
• Never leave children unattended in rooms where candles are lit. 

Sometimes, candles come with more risk than they are worth when guests and children will be in the house. If you are busy cooking or entertaining your relatives, you can’t always keep an eye on things. Consider using electronic candles instead if you’re going for a certain ambiance. Air fresheners that plug into the wall can be used if you want the house to smell like the holidays, and they are safer than candles, too. 

Deep-frying the Turkey? Maybe Not.

Fried food is comfort food, and deep-fried Thanksgiving turkey could (in theory) bring even more joy to your holiday festivities. However, it might not be worth the fire risk, and here’s why:

• The NFPA discourages deep-frying a turkey due to the dangers
• Hot grease can easily overflow when you submerge an entire bird into a vat of oil
• Even a small amount of cooking oil making contact with a burner can cause a massive and dangerous grease fire 
• Deep fryers without temperature controls can overheat the oil to the point that the deep fryer can combust
• Since 2002, deep-fried turkeys have been the cause of more than 8 million dollars in property damage

Insist on Deep-frying the Turkey? Be Extra Cautious

With all that said, you might think the deliciousness of a deep-fried turkey this Thanksgiving will be worth the risk. All right, that’s fair - but keep these tips in mind to ensure your holiday is a great-tasting and safe one, too.

• Turkeys must be completely thawed and dried before going into the deep fryer. De-thaw the turkey in the fridge, not on the counter. You’ll need about 24 hours of thawing time for every 5 pounds of turkey you want to cook. 
• Do not use the deep fryer on a wooden deck, under a patio cover, or inside the house or garage. Deep fry the turkey outside in an open area and on a sturdy, level surface clear from anything that could catch fire.
• Keep pets and people away from the deep fryer at a 3 foot radius.
• Wear long, insulated gloves when deep frying the turkey or interacting with the deep fryer in any capacity. Handles, lids, and the pot itself will all be very hot. 
• Protect your eyes. Wear safety goggles when you deep fry a turkey.
• Be prepared. Keep a fire extinguisher nearby, and never pour water on a grease fire. 

The holidays are hectic and stressful enough without worrying about fires and grease burns. If you’re hosting the holidays this year, keep these fire safety tips in mind for Thanksgiving dinner cooking. 

Has fire damaged your home? We can help. Contact the experienced fire damage cleanup and restoration pros at SERVPRO of Richardson today. Representatives are standing by to answer your questions about fire damage restoration to your property to pristine condition.