With Thanksgiving just a few days away, it’s time for a quick review about cooking frying your turkey on Thursday. These tips may seem like common sense rules, but every year I get at least one customer calling the office on Friday to report a claim. This year I am going to visit my grand dog and am trying to be proactive.

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.