Cooking Safety

Cooking Safety...Don't let fire or injury put your holiday to a bad end.

We could all use a good reminder about fire safety in the kitchen. Especially us responders. The United States Fire Administration has a few good tips for use to keep in mind...at home and away.

According to the U.S. Fire Administration:

Watch What You Heat

• The leading cause of fires in the kitchen is unattended cooking.

• Stay in the kitchen when you are frying, grilling, or broiling food. If you leave the kitchen for even a short period of time, turn off the stove.

• If you are simmering, baking, roasting, or boiling food, check it regularly, remain in the home while food is cooking, and use a timer to remind you that you're cooking.

• Stay alert! To prevent cooking fires, you have to be alert. You won't be if you are sleepy, have been drinking alcohol, or have taken medicine that makes you drowsy.

• Plug microwave ovens and other cooking appliances directly into an outlet. Never use an extension cord for a cooking appliance, as it can overload the circuit and cause a fire.

Keep Things That Can Catch Fire and Heat Sources Apart

• Keep anything that can catch fire - potholders, oven mitts, wooden utensils, paper or plastic bags, food packaging, towels, or curtains - away from your stovetop.

• Keep the stovetop, burners, and oven clean.

• Keep pets off cooking surfaces and nearby countertops to prevent them from knocking things onto the burner.

• Wear short, close-fitting or tightly rolled sleeves when cooking. Loose clothing can dangle onto stove burners and catch fire if it comes into contact with a gas flame or electric burner.