Many people swear by deep-frying as the optimal way to cook a turkey, but it’s also a common way for people to land themselves in the ER. It’s dangerous enough that many fire departments and the National Fire Protection Association advise you just to not even try it and purchase a fried turkey from a store or restaurant instead. If you are going to deep-fry your turkey, making sure you have the right amount of oil to prevent overflow is extremely important for preventing a fire. Other safety tips include always using your fryer outdoors in an open area away from buildings, people (children especially), and pets; always watching your fryer while it’s in use; keeping a fire extinguisher ready; and wearing proper clothing, face protection, and oven mitts to prevent burns from splashes of hot oil. 

Finally, never, ever put a frozen turkey in the deep fryer — this is how turkeys explode. The scientific reason why frozen turkeys blow up in a deep fryer has to do with steam and density. Frozen turkeys contain a lot of water, and these water molecules, being denser than oil, fall to the bottom of the pot. From there, the water quickly changes into steam, which, as a gas, rises rapidly to the top. This, combined with the hot oil spilling onto the flames from the burner, causes an incredible explosion — with potentially devasting consequences if a person or dwelling is nearby.