Deep-frying a Thanksgiving turkey has been a popular Southern tradition for decades and has gained widespread popularity in recent years – and if you’ve ever had a deep-fried turkey, it’s no surprise. The crispy, golden-brown skin combined with the savory, moist meat makes a Thanksgiving Day meal you won’t soon forget.
However, if not done correctly, this cooking method can create an equally unforgettable disaster resulting in property damage and burn injuries. This article will delve into the dangers of deep-frying turkeys, examine the associated risks, and discuss some southern-style safety tips for turkey frying.
Extremely Hot Handles and Lid
Even if the oil does not overflow, the deep fryer’s handles, lid, and sides can become extremely hot. Handling these fryer parts without pot holders can result in serious burns.
For deep-frying, cooking oil is heated to around 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 C). This is much hotter than the boiling point of water, which is 212 F (100 C). So when the ice in a frozen turkey comes in contact with the hot oil, the surface ice quickly turns to steam.Frozen turkeys – or any kind of frozen meats, for that matter – contain a lot of ice. Raw meat can be anywhere from 56% to 73% water. If you have ever thawed a frozen piece of meat, you have probably seen all the liquid that comes out.
Combine the fast change in density together with the expansion of volume and you get an explosion. The steam expands and rises, blowing the boiling oil out the pot. If that weren’t dangerous enough, as the displaced oil comes into contact with a burner or flame, it can catch fire. Once some droplets of oil catch on fire, the flames will quickly ignite nearby oil molecules, resulting in a fast-moving and often catastrophic fire.
The first important density difference when it comes to frying is that water is more dense than oil. This has to do with how tightly the molecules of each substance pack together and how heavy the atoms are that make up each liquid.
Deep-frying a turkey is a great way to get a delicious, moist meal for Thanksgiving. But this method of cooking can be a very dangerous undertaking.
This liquid water is more dense than the oil, so it falls the bottom of the pot. The water molecules continue to absorb heat and energy and eventually they change phases and become steam. The water molecules then rapidly spread far apart from one another and the volume expands by 1,700 times. This expansion causes the density of the water to drop to a fraction of a percent of the density of the oil, so the gas wants to quickly rise to the surface.
Never Deep-Fry A Frozen Turkey
Can a deep fryer explode?
Yes, a deep fryer can explode or lead to fires when used improperly. Without proper temperature control, the oil in these devices can reach the point of combustion. It can result in kitchen fires and serious accidents. However, accidents can be avoided by following the safety instructions properly.
What happens if oil spills in a fryer?
If the oil spills from the lid of the fryer and hits the flames below, it will combust. The flames will snake up the side of the fryer, igniting the rest of the oil as it goes. This chain reaction can result in the entire fryer catching on fire and exploding into large pillars of flame.
Can frying a Turkey explode?
Frying turkeys can explode. Here’s how to avoid that Deep-frying a turkey has become popular in recent decades — but the Consumer Product Safety Commission is reminding people of the risks of the technique, and how to safely fry a bird for Thanksgiving. “Cook the turkey, not your home.”
What happens if you put oil in a deep fryer?
These fumes are highly inflammable. If you do not turn down the heat at this stage, the oil will eventually burn and erupt into flames. Presence of water: When you directly add food from the freezer into a deep fryer, the ice in the food will react with the oil. Since oil and water do not mix, the oil will splutter and spit.