First responders tend to see an uptick in kitchen accidents and fires around the holidays due in part to cooking mishaps.

Every year, deep-fryer fires are responsible for five deaths, 60 injuries, 900 home fires, and more than $15 million in property damage, according to the National Fire Protection Association.

Follow these 13 turkey frying safety tips if you’re planning to prepare a turkey for Thanksgiving:

  • Never leave the fryer unattended.
  • Keep children and pets away from the fryer at all times.
  • Wear protective equipment – eye protection and good grill mitts.
  • Defrost your turkey COMPLETELY and dry it before immersing it in hot oil.
  • Keep a grease-rated fire extinguisher within arms reach of your work area.
  • Never operate a fryer outdoors in the rain or snow.
  • Keep outdoor fryers away from combustible structures or trees – that means off the deck, too!
  • Place the fryer on a level surface and do not move it around once heating.
  • Leave two feet between the tank and the burner when using a propane-powered fryer – consider wrapping hose in aluminum foil to prevent hot oil that may splatter from touching it.
  • Do not overfill the fryer.
  • Turn off the burner if oil is smoking. Use a fryer with a temperature gauge and keep a sharp eye on it.
  • Turn off the burner before lowering the turkey into the oil. Once the turkey is submerged, turn the burner on.
  • Once finished, carefully remove the pot from the burner, place it on a level surface and cover to let the oil cool overnight before disposing.

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