Thanksgiving should be a time for celebration with family and friends. However, a moment of carelessness while preparing
the holiday can put a damper on the festivities.
“We want everyone to have a wonderful Thanksgiving and celebrate all the things we have to be thankful for,” said Dr.
Derek Culnan, the Director of Mississippi Burn, Hand and Reconstruction Center at Baptist Medical Center in Jackson,
MS. “And we want to make sure Mississippians are doing it safely.”
Safety begins in the kitchen by clearly establishing a three-foot safety zone around all cooking appliances to keep children
away from hot surfaces. It is also important to make sure you are cooking on back the back burners and keeping the
handles of pots and pans turned inward on the stove.
“It is all about keeping those hot pots and pans away from curious little hands,” Dr. Culnan said.
In addition to keeping the pots and pans away from the edges of the stove, there are other ways to make sure your
Thanksgiving stays safe:
• Never, ever try to carry or walk with a burning pot or pan!
• Turn off all appliances if you leave the kitchen, even if you are leaving for just a few minutes.
• Use timers to track cooking times.
• If you do have a grease fire, smother or cover it. DO NOT use water to try to put it out!
“Deep-fried turkey is a beautiful Mississippi tradition that I enjoy too,” Dr. Culnan said. “It’s important to take some
commonsense safety steps so that you can enjoy it rather than be tube fed it.“
First, make sure the turkey is thoroughly thawed before you cook it. A frozen bird can release water into the hot oil and
cause it to splatter or overflow. It’s also important to check the level of the oil in the pot to eliminate overflow. There is a
fairly straightforward measuring process: Place the turkey in an empty pot and fill the pot with water until the level is about 2 inches above the turkey. Remove the bird, and mark the water level. Empty the pot, wipe it dry and refill with oil to the marked level. Heat the oil and slowly lower the bird into the pot when the oil reaches the desired temperature.
Other ways to make sure your turkey frying experience is safe include:
• Make sure the deep fryer has a thermostat to regulate the temperature of the oil
• Use care when touching the handles of the pot
• The fryer should be used on a well-ventilated, level, outdoor surface.
• Make sure the pot is never left unattended, and children and pets are kept at a safe distance
• Turkeys should be less than 12 lbs., and 8-10 lbs. turkeys are often the most appropriate size
• Use only peanut, canola or safflower oils in the fryer
• Remember that it may take several hours for the oil in a deep fryer to cool
• Make sure a fire extinguisher or bucket of water is nearby, just in case an accident occurs.
Water should never be used to try to extinguish a grease or oil fire. Always call 911 in the event of a fire.
Thanksgiving safety should be top of the menu.
