Turkey Day Warning for Cooks

Thanks for the tip! I actually was thinking of doing the self cleaning thing on the stove. But, I'll skip it now! Not worth it!

And I was thinking after I saw the title of this post about deep frying turkeys. So many ppl do that around here (in the south) and many, many of them end up with fires b/c of the grease.

My Turkey tip for the day.

I agree don't use the selfcleaning feature, or the oven either, in fact don't ever turn the stove oven on. Also consider never using the stove on Thanks day. Just be Thankful someone will invite you to eat at their house, and when you come home you can jam the reefer full of left-overs. So it may be a small effort but this year I ate at a friends, stocked my reefer full and was green all day. If we all did that then next year we could reverse the order and use half the energy. Hey, every little bit helps.

Anyone want some Pumkin pie?

Michele,

Nice summary. I'm just happy they both worked up to spec!

And if you're frying the turkey - DON'T do it in the house! I know it's common sense, but I have read news stories where people have.

Kirk,

I've never had a fried turkey but it sure does sound good to me! I've seen the cookers but don't think I want to tackle one. Guess I'll stick to the old fashioned way of roasting it.

Kirk,
I heard this about Turkey cookiong.
Daughter insisted she was going to cook Turkey for parents and sibs. Mother goes over early and unstuffs some of the turkey and stuffs cavity with two cornish hens. At the dinner table mother digs at cornish hens and exclaims, "Good god Shirley this turkey was pregnant and with twins." Took 30 minutes to convince daughter Turkeys laid eggs.

DahDah!

Personally, I put the bird on a spit and BBQ it rotisserie style. Comes out nice and juicy instead of baked dry.

Two stories to add to the fire"

Hercules Condo Fire Started By Thanksgiving Turkey
HERCULES (BCN) ― A fire that significantly damaged a four-unit residential complex in Hercules Wednesday night appears to have been accidentally started as a resident prepared a turkey on his porch, a Rodeo-Hercules Fire Protection District battalion chief said Thursday.

The fire was reported at about 9:15 p.m. at 241 Florence Court.
Battalion Chief Alan Biagi said the blaze significantly damaged
two condominiums in the building and the other two sustained some fire and water damage.

About two-thirds of the building was destroyed and the blaze caused at least $1 million of damage to the structure, Biagi said.

Crews from several regional fire departments assisted in combating the blaze, which was declared under control at 9:54 p.m., a Contra Costa Fire Protection District dispatcher said.

Firefighters remained at the building this morning conducting an overhaul.

Biagi said three families were displaced by the blaze. The fourth condominium, which was recently purchased, was unoccupied, he said.

The fire appears to have been accidentally started by a turkey cooker on the porch, Biagi said. A resident was in the process of smoking the turkey when the fire began, he said.

Firefighters found two barbecues on the porch, according to Biagi.

There was no report of injuries due to the fire.

and:

From the Napa Valley Register:

My wife and I were invited to her sister's house for Thanksgiving. The brother in law wanted to use his new oil turkey cooker. We set it up in the backyard, away from the house, on the patio.

We started the propane burner and after 20 minutes the oil was hot. He drops the turkey in the hot oil. Then suddenly the hot oil flows over the top, catches on fire and heads towards the fence. We were shocked.
Instantly the grass catches on fire, then the fence goes up in flames. Not, just one section the hole side goes up in matter of minutes. In the meantime, the turkey is frying real good. We could not pull the turkey out due to the raging fire around it.

The neighbor's calls the Air Force base Fire Department as they lived on base. They arrive in mass. Not one Fire truck but several. Shortly, after the fire department arrive, the police and the Wing Commander shows up.
Besides burning the turkey to a crisp, my brother in law had to report to the Wing Commander office, Monday morning in full blues, along with his First Sergeant, his Commander, his section's Officer in Charge and his immediate supervisor. This was to explain "How he had a fire in Base Housing.

Prior to the meeting, he read the instructions "Do NOT fill (oil) pass this line. We still laugh to this day about it. I usually bring a fire extinguisher with me and stand guard."

Hope everyone else had a safe Turkey Day.

Joe