CT Home Insurance: Thanksgiving Day Safety Tips

CT Home Insurance: Thanksgiving Day Safety Tips

The kitchen is the heart of your home. This is especially true at Thanksgiving, when there is likely to be more people and more activity than normal.  According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) cooking fires are the number one cause of home fires and related injuries. In addition to injuries, another safety factor you’ll want to keep in mind for your family or Thanksgiving guests, is keeping them safe from harmful bacteria or foodborne illness when it comes to turkey preparation.

With these factors in mind, here are some Thanksgiving Day Safety Tips:

• Defrost a frozen turkey in the refrigerator, in a cold water bath, or in a microwave oven. Defrosting a turkey on the counter at room temperature allows bacteria to grow.
• Allow one day of thawing for every 4-5 lbs. of turkey. If using a cold water bath, change the water every 30 minutes. Do not refreeze an already thawing turkey!
• Keep utensils, dishes, kitchen equipment, and work surfaces clean. Don’t use cutting boards or knives that have touched raw meat or other food without washing them first.
• Turkey fryers are a longtime favorite in the southern U.S. If you are thinking of using one, follow all appropriate safety precautions, including using the fryer outdoors a safe distance from buildings and any flammable materials.
• Stay in the kitchen when you are cooking on the stovetop so you can keep an eye on the food, and stay in your home while the turkey is cooking so you can check on it frequently.
• Be sure that all kitchen equipment is out of the reach of children, including electric cords. Also be sure that kids stay away from hot food and liquids while you are cooking. The steam or splash from vegetables, gravy, or coffee could cause serious burns.

These are just a few tips to make sure you, your family, and guests stay safe this holiday. Ensuring that you have the right Ledyard CT Home Insurance coverage will also help you with finances should an incident occur. Homeowners throughout Connecticut and Southern New England look to the Byrnes Agency to protect their home in the event of damage or liability. For more information, please contact us at one of our various locations.