Maybe you've heard that if you're planning on deep-frying a turkey for Thanksgiving, you should make sure the bird is completely thawed first. Maybe you heard it, but you're pressed for time. (After all, it takes four days to thaw a 16-pound turkey in your refrigerator.) So maybe you're thinking of cutting some corners. What's the worst that can happen?
The Consumer Product Safety Commission wants to show you the worst-case scenario and they staged a fairly elaborate demonstration Tuesday to highlight the hazards of deep-frying a bird that is not completely thawed.
First, a firefighter starts to lower the frozen turkey into the deep-fryer.
Some pretty serious splattering occurs as the frozen turkey meets the hot oil.
And then there's a huge fireball.
Thanksgiving is the peak day for home cooking fires, followed by Christmas Day and Christmas Eve.