Cook Your Turkey Safely This Thanksgiving Day

Thanksgiving is a wonderful time for family, friends, and feasts! While the kitchen is where the magic happens and memories are made, it can also be extremely dangerous without proper precaution. According to the National Fire Protection Association, more cooking fires take place on Thanksgiving day than any other day of the year. While you plan your menus it’s essential to plan to follow these do’s & don’ts to keep your loved ones safe:

DO:

• Inspect fire alarms before Thanksgiving

Batteries should be replaced once a year, and each fire alarm should be tested once a month to ensure it still works as intended. Before Thanksgiving Day, you should test your fire alarms to ensure they’ll alarm you prior to any holiday disaster.

• Stay in the kitchen while cooking

Unattended cooking is the leading contributor to cooking fires and fire deaths. Fires are commonly ignited from an accumulation of grease buildup. Checking on your food and observing the kitchen can prevent detrimental fires. 

• Use turkey fryers outdoors

Never use a turkey fryer inside, on a wooden deck, or in a garage. Turkey fryers should be used on a flat surface that cannot burn, such as concrete, and should be at least 10 feet away from anything flammable. Even the smallest amount of cooking oil spilling can cause a large fire so it’s important to make sure the fryer doesn’t tip over. Thaw the turkey completely before frying to keep ice crystals from splattering oil and use a thermostats to regulate the oil heat to prevent an outbreak of fire. 

• Remember to turn off appliances

Double check to ensure all cooking equipment is turned off at the end of the day - including stoves, ovens, fryers, and any other small appliances. 

• Be prepared for a fire

If you have a small (grease) cooking fire and decide to fight the fire, it’s important to be ready with the right tools and knowledge. You can stop a small stovetop fire by smothering the flames with a lid. Make sure to leave the lid on top of the pan until it is completely cooled. For an oven fire, turn off the heat and keep the door closed. Keeping a fire extinguisher nearby to contain the flames can save you from significant loss and destruction. 

DON’T:

• Leave children and pets unattended

Never leave your children or pets alone in the kitchen with hot food cooking. Both should be kept at least 3 feet away from the stove to prevent serious burns. It’s also critical to keep the floor clean from any tripping hazards, such as toys or shoes. 

• Wear loose clothing

Never wear loose clothing or have dangling sleeves while near the stove, oven, or any other heat-generating cooking appliance. 

• Keep flammable items by the stove

Put anything that can catch fire - oven mitts, wooden utensils, food packaging, towels, or curtains away from your stove top. 

• Hesitate to call 911 and leave

If you have any doubt about fighting a fire, you must immediately get out and contact emergency responders. When you leave, try to close the door behind to help contain the fire. 

If you or a loved one have already experienced a holiday fire, don’t hesitate to reach out to Giuliani Construction and Restoration, Inc to help guide you through the claim process. We can provide an estimate, regardless of the job size at no cost to you. We are proud to offer a variety of services, so even if you are not sure how your job fits, you can schedule us to come take a look anyway. We would love to share our experience, expertise and knowledge with you. We get the job done right the first time, on time, with customer satisfaction. Call (833)-3DRYOUT or email workorders@giulianiconstruction.com and we will promptly respond.

Have a safe Thanksgiving!  :)