Deep fryers are extremely dangerous, especially when it comes to frying turkeys. Most accidents happen during holidays and can cause significant harm.

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Top 10 Useful Deep-Frying Turkey Accidents Statistics

Here are our top deep-frying turkey-related accident statistics:

22% of turkey fryer fires occur due to the fryer being misused.
Serious fryer accidents cause an average of 60 injuries each year.
Deep-frying is the leading cause of cooking fires on Thanksgiving Day
The average cost of damage from a turkey fryer fire is $15,000.
Deep fryer fires cause an average of 5 deaths each year.
Deep fryer fires cause an average of $15 million in property damage yearly.
Texas ranks number one in deep fryer accidents on Thanksgiving day.
Michigan experienced an 11% increase in annual fatalities related to deep-frying turkey accidents from 2017 to 2021
64% of those fatalities occurred between 6 pm and 9 am
Smoking is the leading cause of deep fryer fires.

1. 22% of turkey fryer fires occur due to the fryer being misused (Oakland Press)

Most turkey fryer fires occur because people drop frozen turkeys into the hot oil. According to the Oakland fire marshal, this often results in deep fryer fires, easily preventable by thawing or drying the turkey beforehand.

2. Deep fryer accidents cause an average of 60 injuries each year (FDNY)

Serious fryer accidents are dangerous and generate an average of 60 injuries per year every year.

3. Deep frying is the leading cause of cooking fires on Thanksgiving day (FDNY)

According to New York’s finest, deep frying and grill fires are the leading cause of cooking fires on Thanksgiving day.

4. The average cost of damage from a turkey fryer fire is $15,000 (The Atlantic)

Turkey fryer fires can be expensive, costing around $15,000 per fire. These fires can damage property and lead to high costs in medical bills.

5. Deep fryer fires cause an average of 5 deaths each year (FDNY)

Each year, five people die due to a deep fryer fire on Thanksgiving. The majority of these fatalities, according to the NYPD, are preventable.

6. Deep fryer fires cause an average of $15 million in property damage every year (FDNY)

According to the FDNY, deep fryer fires cost an average of $15 million annually.

7. Texas ranks number one in grease and cooking fires on Thanksgiving Day, with 38 fires on average (Texas Gov)

Most deep fryer fires occur in Texas, which has an average of 38 fires per year. The following states include Florida and New York.

8. Michigan experienced an 11% increase in annual fatalities related to deep-frying turkey accidents from 2017 to 2021 (Oakland Press)

According to the Oakland fire marshal, fatalities from Thanksgiving grease fires have risen nearly 11% year-on-year since 2017. Out of those 93 fires, most did not have working smoke alarms.

9. 64% of those fatalities occurred between 6 pm and 9 am (Oakland Press)

The Oakland fire marshal maintains that most fires occurred between 6 pm and 9 am. During those times, people were more likely to leave their fryers unattended, resulting in accidents.

10. Smoking is the leading cause of deep fryer fires (Oakland Press)

Smoking while handling a deep fryer can be pretty dangerous. Smoking was Michigan’s leading cause of deep fryer fires that provoked fatalities.

11. People between the ages of 40 and 79 are at the highest risk of fatal residential fires (Oakland Press)

According to the Oakland Press, those at the highest risk for injury from deep fryer fires are between 40 and 79 years old. Such persons are more likely to be cooking on Thanksgiving day.

12. Cooking fire claims declined by 66% in 2010 to 29% in 2012 (State Farm)

According to State Farm, cooking fire claims fell earlier in the decade but have risen.

13. Deep fryer fires occur most commonly in Texas (38), Illinois (27), Pennsylvania (23), Ohio (23), and New York (22) (The Atlantic)

According to a report from The Atlantic and State Farm, Texas, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and New York have the highest prevalence of deep frier fires on Thanksgiving.

14. More cooking fires occur on Thanksgiving than on other days (State Farm).

People are far more likely to use deep fryers with frozen turkeys on Thanksgiving, leading to fires. Such fires are easily preventable by allowing the turkey to defrost first.

15. In 2017, State Farm paid more than $130 million for nearly 2,700 cooking fires (State Farm)

State Farm, the leading insurance agency in the United States, was responsible for over $130 million in damages in 2017 alone. This number has fluctuated since then,

16. One out of three fires begins in the kitchen (State Farm)

A third of all fires start in the kitchen, where families are most likely to use deep fryers. Others commonly occur outside on an open flame or in the kitchen.

17. Deep fryers are responsible for the destruction of 900 homes a year (Fox News)

According to Fox News, deep fryers destroy nearly a thousand homes yearly. Massive explosions from deep fryers can cause severe damage, setting an entire house on fire.

18. From 2020 to 2021, over 35,000 people suffered burn injuries from deep fryer fires (Fire Rescue)

Deep fryer fires can cause severe, painful, and preventable burn injuries. Using a fire extinguisher is an excellent way to prevent serious harm.

19. In 2021, deep fryer fires caused $19 million in property damages (Fire Rescue).

Deep fryer fires caused over $19 million in property damages in 2021. A deep fryer fire can damage your home and lead to heightened medical bills.

20. In 2021 alone, there were over 2,400 deep fryer fires (Fire Rescue)

According to a local fire rescue team, there were 2,400 deep fryer fires in 2021, as more people were cooking Thanksgiving dinner at home due to the Covid-19 pandemic,

21. Deep fryer fires can be prevented with a fire extinguisher—not a hose (CBS).

According to CBS, many people try to extinguish deep fryer fires with a hose. However, this only added to the danger. Use a fire extinguisher instead.

22. The National Fire Protection Association discourages the use of outdoor-gas field fryers as they are more dangerous than others (National Park Service)

The National Park Service and the National Fire Protection Association agree that outdoor, gas-powered fryers are more dangerous than traditional at-home systems.

23. Deep fryers have the highest death rate of any cooking apparatus (NFPA)

According to the NFPA, bottomless fryer fries have the highest death rate of any cooking appliance and can cause serious injuries.

24. Deep fryers cause 5.4 deaths per 1,000 fires (NFPA)

For every 1,000 fires, deep fryers cause an average of 5.4 deaths—far more than most other appliances.

25. Deep fryers cause 25.9 injuries per 1,000 fires (NFPA)

Deep fryers can be extremely dangerous and lead to 25.9 injuries per 1,000 fires.

26. Deep fryer fires cause an average of $27,500 in damages per fire (NFPA)

Although estimates vary, the NFPA argues that deep fryer fires caused an average of $27,500 in damages—including medical bills—per fire.

27. Deep fryers have the highest average loss per home structure fire (NFPA)

Deep fryers cause the most damage from any cooking appliance, contributing to higher costs per accident than any other type of fire.

28. Deep fryers cause 9% of cooking fires in restaurants (Emergency Management Agency)

Many fires started in restaurants arise from the incorrect use of deep fryers.

29. Thanksgiving Day fires caused 1.9 fatalities per 1,000 fires from 2017 to 2019 (FEMA)

From 2017 to 2019, the fatalities related to deep fryer fires were slightly lower than average, with 1.9 deaths per 1,000 fires.

30. From 2017 to 2019, Thanksgiving Day fires caused 11.1 injuries per 1,000 fires. (FEMA)

Thanksgiving Day has one of the highest accident and injury rates out of any day of the year.

31. From 2017 to 2019, Thanksgiving day fires caused $9,570 in property damage per fire compared to $18,770 for non-Thanksgiving day fires (FEMA)

According to FEMA, property damages were slightly lower from Thanksgiving day fires than from others.

32. For each year from 2016 to 2019, an estimated average of 2,3000 residential building fires were reported to fire departments in the US (FEMA)

While 2,300 fires were reported to fire departments from 2016 to 2019, a third of those fires began in the kitchen—and many started with air fryers.

33.54% of Thanksgiving Day fires in residential buildings occurred from 10 am to 5 pm (FEMA)

According to FEMA, homes are at the highest risk of deep fryer fires from 10 am to 5 pm.

Wrapping Up

Deep fryers are highly dangerous kitchen apparatuses, but they can be much safer when used correctly. Remember to defrost your turkey before dropping it in hot oil, and always keep a fire extinguisher at hand.