Thanksgiving is one of the biggest cooking holidays of the year. But if you aren’t careful, it’s a day when many people suffer accidents or injuries due to careless cooking practices or activities.
In fact, the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) estimated in 2015 that it responded to 1,760 cooking fires alone! That led them to release a list of cooking tips that can keep you and your family safe.
In this article, we’ll take a look at 5 of our own Thanksgiving safety tips. Keep these in mind as you prepare for the big holiday, so you can spend your time where it’s meant to be spent, with loved ones.
1. Thaw Your Turkey
While your mind is set on the staggering number of blazes occurring in houses across the country, the first Thanksgiving cooking tip is to make sure you adequately thaw out your turkey.
Why? Because if you leave it at the wrong temperature for too long, bacteria can grow inside of it. Forget fires for a second– you don’t want to make all of your guests sick.
It should be thawed in the refrigerator, in the sink soaking in water (with the water changed every 30 minutes), or in the microwave. Then get that bird in the oven!
2. Care If You… Deep Fry?
In recent years, it’s become more popular to deep fry a Thanksgiving turkey, either as a side turkey or for the main dish.
However, there is an increased risk of danger if you do. Many fires start because the fryers don’t follow the directions carefully. Use these safety tips for deep frying a turkey guide to help you.
3. Pay Attention
Hey, we know it’s a day for family. We want you to spend time with your loved ones. But possibly the biggest safety tip we can give (and often most overlooked) is to keep an eye on the food.
Thanksgiving cooking requires attention all throughout the day, so don’t wander too far from what’s on the stove. If you need to leave the room, ask someone trustworthy to keep an eye on the food.
4. Consider Your Setup
Depending on your kitchen and the size of your house, you can smartly set things up to decrease the risk of an accident in your home during Thanksgiving.
For example, don’t set up any trays of food in the “access lanes” you need to stay open during the cooking process. Instead, set up a separate table in the next room so people aren’t in your way, which frees you up to continue cooking.
5. Make Sure You Cook It Through
When it comes to turkey safety, your bird should reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees before it’s served to anyone. The risk of someone getting sick remains high if it’s any lower than this. Any higher, though, and your turkey will be dry.
Thanksgiving Safety Tips- Wrap-Up
You want to enjoy the holiday and spend time with loved ones, so consider these Thanksgiving safety tips:
Thaw your turkey and cook it well. If you get fancy and go for the deep fry method, be diligent in your setup, pay attention even when it’s tempting to spend time with family, and make the kitchen a spot where no one but the cooks can get to it.
Check out our blog or contact us with questions. Happy Turkey Day from Centro Insurance!