Don't Get Burned in the Kitchen this Thanksgiving

With Thanksgiving very near, we here at Kingston Brass would like to not only wish everyone a happiest of holidays, but to also encourage families to practice safety and exercise caution while preparing your feasts in the kitchen.

As families and close friends gather to break bread, the kitchen is where most of the action is taking place throughout the day. While you want to prepare a successful meal, you should also want to avoid any mishaps, such as fire hazards, which are all too common on Thanksgiving Day.

It’s probably no shock to learn that an estimated 2,000 fires occur annually in residential buildings on Thanksgiving Day, according to the U.S. Fire Administration. And recent data from the USFA found that the roughly 2,400 residential building fires reported between 2014 and 2016 resulted in $19 million of property loss.

The leading cause – or 76.5 percent – of these Thanksgiving Day fires occurred from cooking. Heating issues in these reported fires made up about 7 percent while 16.4 percent of the Thanksgiving fires from 2014 to 2016 were from other causes.

As a leading provider of kitchen appliances and fixtures, we’ve compiled a list of some safety tips and measures to help you avoid any misfortunes in the kitchen this Thanksgiving.

Cooking and Preparing the Bird

• FoodSafety.gov advises that you read all cooking labels carefully. This especially includes labels regarding temperature and whether the turkey is frozen or fresh.
• Like most Americans, you would have already purchased your turkey long before Thanksgiving Day. Be sure to store that bird at 40°F or slightly below.
• When thawing a frozen turkey, the U.S. Department of Agriculture recommends that you use what’s called the “refrigerator method.” This method requires that you allow about 24 hours for each 4 to 5 pounds in in a refrigerator set at 40°F or below.” Be sure to use a container when storing the turkey so its juices don’t drip on any other foods.
• To avoid any cross contamination, be sure to use different cutting boards and utensils such as knives when handling the raw turkey.
• Make sure the turkey is fully cooked, which is when it reaches 165°F. To ensure that the bird is safe to serve to your guests, use a thermometer, inserting it three places: “the thickest part of the breast, the innermost part of the thigh, and the innermost part of the wing.”

Preventing Household Fires

• According to the safety training company, Atlantic, food that’s being fried or grilled should never be left unattended.
• Have a fire extinguisher in the kitchen or nearby and be sure to familiarize yourself on how to use it.
• Make sure all of your smoke alarms are working.
• Use a timer when cooking.
• Glass casseroles or lids shouldn’t be used on the stove or burner as it could explode from the heat.
• Pot holders and food wrappers should be kept away from warmed surfaces like the stove.
• If a grease fire occurs, never try putting it out by dousing it with water because the fire can spread. First, turn off the burner, put on an oven mitt and smother the flames with a lid, or use baking soda to douse it. If the fire starts to get out of hand, use a fire extinguisher.

The Deep Fryer

Deep frying has become a popular method to cook Thanksgiving turkeys. Although there have been many reports of deep-frying fails over the years, it has not deterred individuals from employing this process. So if you’re one of those people who would still prefer to deep fry your bird this year, here are some additional safety tips regarding deep frying.

• The insurance company, Allstate, advises that the deep fryer should always be used outside and kept way from building walls, decks and anything else that can catch fire. “Never use the turkey fryer in the garage or indoors.”
• The fryer should be placed on a level surface to prevent any accidental tipping.
• Children and pets should be kept away from the fryer.
• Like any other cooking method, fryers should never be left unattended.
• Before placing the turkey in the deep fryer, make sure it is fully defrosted. Even a partially frozen turkey should never be put into hot oil as it could spill over and catch fire from any ice and water.
• And as previously mentioned, have a fire extinguisher nearby and don’t use water on a grease fire.

Have a happy Thanksgiving and we hope these tips help you have a safe and wonderful day with loved ones.