Do's and Don't For Frying Your Turkey

All the TV comedies are being creative with this year's Thanksgiving episodes. I like my comedies without laugh tracks because I don't like being told when to laugh. One of the funniest and most creative Thanksgiving episodes aired last night (November 16) on ABC's 80's-infused comedy, 'The Goldbergs'. If you missed it, do yourself a favor and watch it on your DVR, Hulu or abc.com. Funny stuff!

What I've learned from this particular episode is to never place a frozen turkey quickly in a turkey fryer as it will shoot out like a cannon and do damage to a (stolen) Trans Am.

Here are some more serious tips for frying your turkey from the New York Propane Gas Association that urges the chef to proceed with caution:

Stay Away from The House – Set up the turkey fryer more than 10 feet away from your home and keep children and pets away. Never leave it unattended.
Find Flat Ground – The oil must be even and steady at all times to ensure safety. Place the fryer on a flat, level surface and carefully gauge the amount of oil needed.
Use a Thawed and Dry Turkey – Make sure your Thanksgiving turkey is completely thawed and dry. Extra water will cause the oil to bubble furiously and spill over. If oil spills from the fryer onto the burner, it can cause a fire.
Monitor the Temp – Use caution when touching the turkey fryer. The lid and handle can become very hot and could cause burns. Also be sure to keep track of the oil's temperature as many fryers do not have their own thermostats.
Be Prepared – Have a fire extinguisher (multipurpose, dry-powder) ready at all times in the event that the oil ignites.

[via New York Propane Gas Association]