Thanksgiving Cooking Safety and Grease Disposal with SRFD and SRW

As we prepare for a fun and safe Thanksgiving holiday, the Santa Rosa Fire Department and Santa Rosa Water are here with some friendly reminders to keep cooking safety and safe grease disposal at the forefront of your festivities. With a list of recipes to complete and loved ones filling the house, it can be chaotic, but ending the day with a dangerous cooking disaster or a sanitary sewer overflow is the last thing you want.

Cooking Safety Tips

Thanksgiving is the peak day for home cooking fires, with more than three times the daily average for such incidents. While the aroma of roasting turkeys and the sizzle of savory side dishes fill the air, it's crucial to navigate the kitchen with caution. Here are some quick Thanksgiving cooking safety tips to ensure your celebration remains a fire-free feast. From stove-top, to ovens, to the proper handling of deep fryers, we've got you covered!

Top safety tips from our friends at the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA):

• Stay in the kitchen when you are cooking on the stovetop so you can keep an eye on the food.
• Stay in the home when cooking your turkey and check on it frequently.
• Keep children away from the stove. The stove will be hot, and kids should stay three feet away.
• Be sure electric cords from electric kitchen appliances or warming appliances, are not dangling off the counter within easy reach of a child.
• Make sure your smoke alarms are working. Test them by pushing the test button.
• If you have a small (grease) cooking fire on the stovetop, smother the flames by sliding a lid over the pan and turning off the burner. Leave the pan covered until it is completely cooled.
• For an oven fire, turn off the heat and keep the door closed.

Plan to use a Turkey Fryer?

Santa Rosa Water encourages residents to plan for proper disposal of a lot of cooking oil. Whatever you do, don't pour that leftover cooking oil or any fats, oils, or grease (FOG) down the drain this holiday season. To properly dispose of FOG, wipe up small amounts with a paper towel and place in your green curbside compost bin along with napkins and food scraps. If the amount of oil is too much to be wiped up with a paper towel, but it is less than 2 cups, allow the oil to cool before discarding it into your garbage in a sealed container. For proper disposal of cooking oil, small and large quantities, see resources from Zero Waste Sonoma.

Keep safe with these safety guidelines:

• Always use the fryer outdoors on a flat surface, safely away from structures, wooden decks, and covered patios. No matter what, DO NOT be tempted to use the fryer in a garage.
• Keep a fire extinguisher specifically made for grease fires nearby and do not ‌extinguish grease fires with water.
• To ensure you are using the right amount of oil, place a thawed turkey in the fry pot and add enough water to cover the bird by ½". Remove the turkey and mark the water level. Dump the water and thoroughly dry the pot and turkey. Fill the pot with oil to the marked level.
• Do not leave the fryer unattended. Monitor the temperature of the oil with a thermometer to prevent the oil from overheating and catching fire. If the oil begins to smoke, immediately turn the gas off.
• Ensure the turkey is COMPLETELY THAWED to prevent a fire or explosion hazard.
• Raise and lower the turkey slowly to prevent oil splatter, burns, and fire.
• Keep children and pets away from the fryer to prevent tipping, even after the turkey is done. The oil is dangerously hot for hours.
• Use your safety tools: Oven mitts, gloves, and safety goggles.

For more information on Thanksgiving Cooking Safety, please view a safety tip sheet HERE.

Fats, Oils, and Grease Disposal Tips

You've been cooking all day, the meal is finally coming together, and you've got a pan full of grease - your first instinct might be to pour it down the sink and throw the pan in the dishwasher. But pouring fats, oils, and grease (FOG) down the sink can result in clogged pipes as the materials cool and harden. A clogged pipe can be costly to fix and lead to a sewer overflow that will certainly put a damper on your holiday.

Instead, follow these handy tips from Santa Rosa Water and Zero Waste Sonoma :

• Meat, butter, margarine, lard, greasy food scraps, sauces, salad dressings, dairy products, and cooking oil can all contribute to FOG blockages in your pipes.
• If there's residual grease or oil on dishes, wipe them down with paper towels.
• Greasy paper towels, napkins, and food scraps can be placed in your compost.
• If you have too much FOG to wipe up, but it's less than 2 cups, collect it in a sealable container. Let it cool on the counter, then refrigerate it or put it in the freezer until it hardens completely. Finally, make sure the container is sealed tightly and place it in the trash.
• If you have more than two cups of FOG, such as from a deep fryer, transfer it to a sturdy container and drop it off at a registered disposal location. You can find local disposal locations HERE.
• Scrape all food scraps off dishes into the compost. Then, rinse them with cold water before putting them in the dishwasher.

If you follow these easy tips, you can keep your pipes clear and avoid contributing to backups in the larger sewer system. And once those fats, oils, and greases are disposed of, you've got a day of eating delicious food, connecting with loved ones, and lounging on the couch to look forward to!

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