Safety
None of this is expert advice. It's what people worked out for themselves, usually the hard way — what actually helped, and what they'd tell someone standing where you are. Take what fits and leave the rest.
If you only read a few
Test eggs older than two months by placing them in water; discard any that float.
Fresh eggs sink because they have little gas inside, while decomposing eggs release gases that make them float.
one person who lived it
- Test egg freshness by placing them in water: discard those that float, use upright ones for baking or cooking, and eat those lying flat on the bottom.2
Do not place flammable materials like cotton sheets under the fryer to protect pavers.
Cotton sheets can ignite from the open flame of the propane deep fryer.
one person who lived it
Fill the fryer with oil to a level 1-2 inches below the water displacement mark.
Oil expands when heated to cooking temperature, so filling to the line results in too much oil.
one person who lived it
Use a completely dry towel to handle hot metal pans.
Damp towels heat up quickly and can burn your hand.
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Use a metal stand with an eye loop and an appropriate tool like a crane or engine hoist to lower and lift the turkey safely from a distance.
This allows you to lower the bird slowly from a safe distance.
2 people, independently
Avoid cooking bacon shirtless to prevent oil burns on skin.
A tiny dot of oil can cause immediate pain.
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Use parchment paper instead of wax paper when baking bacon to prevent melting or fire.
Wax paper is not oven safe and can ignite at high temperatures like 400 degrees.
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Do not place the fryer under an open garage door or near any structure that could catch fire from splashes.
To prevent structure fires caused by grease splashes igniting nearby structures.
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Consider using an electric turkey fryer instead of gas to reduce the risk of house fires.
Gas fryers cause many house fires.
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Discard food from kids' classroom parties due to hygiene concerns.
There are too many boogers there.
one person who lived it
Use a pot large enough to accommodate both the turkey and the significant bubble-up of oil during cooking.
To allow for oil displacement when submerging the turkey and for bubbling when the oil boils.
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Eat eggs with red spots despite their unappealing appearance.
They are caused by stress during formation and are safe to eat.
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Place an egg in water; if it sinks to the bottom, it is fresh.
4 people, independently
Use a meat thermometer and take multiple readings to ensure you are cooking to the correct internal temperature.
Cooking to temp is a game changer for safety and quality; taking multiple readings ensures you find the thickest part.
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Add fresh baking powder to slightly expired pancake mix to help it rise.
The original leavening agent degrades over time and things won't rise otherwise.
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Defrost meat in the refrigerator rather than at room temperature before aging or brining.
Thawing at room temperature is considered unsafe.
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