Thanksgiving turkey accidents top the list
According to insurance claims, more cooking-related fires are reported on Thanksgiving than any other time of year, and Texas ranks number one.
"I don't know if it means Texans are any more or less careless than other states, it may just mean that they like fried food," says State Farm spokesperson Gary Stephenson.
State Farm says claims more than double on Thanksgiving Day compared to an average day in November. One big reason is exploding turkey fryers. They result in more than $15 million in property damage each year.
Even William Shatner is not immune; the famous actor appears in State Farm’s PSA promoting fryer safety this holiday.
The biggest hazard is not thawing out the bird.
"Since the turkey is frozen and immersed in hot oil, it can explode," says Lorraine Carli with the National Fire Prevention Association.
Carli says too much oil also can spill over and catch fire or burn you. She also reminds chefs to keep that fryer outside, and well away from the house on a flat, concrete surface.
