With most of us preparing an array of home cooked specialties on Thanksgiving Day, it’s no surprise that there are more cooking fires on the holiday than any other day of the year. Deep frying has become a popular choice for preparing the Thanksgiving turkey, but this method has the potential for being more hazardous than roasting. Here are a few tips for deep frying your bird more safely:

• Be careful not to overfill the cooking pot with oil
  
• Fully defrost the turkey before placing in oil; for every five pounds of weight, the bird will need to defrost for 24 hours
  
• Keep turkey fryers away from buildings, garages, decks and other flammable materials
  
• Never leave a turkey fryer unattended
  
• Keep pets and children away from the cooking vessel
  
• Use insulated potholders or oven mitts for handling the pot and safety goggles to protect your eyes from oil splatter 
  
• Keep a fire extinguisher specifically made for grease fires nearby
  
• Have a phone handy in case you need to call for help
  

*The information in this article was compiled from variety of sources and is not intended to replace manuals or instructions provided by the manufacturer.