Cooking

Cooking Safety Tips

• Kitchen Safety
  

  Across the United States, fire departments respond to more than 470 residential cooking fires each day, according to a July 2020 report by the NFPA. Before you begin to fix a meal in the kitchen, always make sure to:

  • Use a timer as a reminder to check on cooking food.
  • Regularly check simmering, baking, roasting or boiling food.
  • Remain at home and turn off the stove or other appliances when leaving is necessary.
  • Keep children and pets at least three feet away from the stove.
  • Never operate an oven or stovetop when drowsy or after consuming alcohol.
  • Move flammable items, such as oven mitts, cooking utensils and food packaging, away from the stovetop.
  • Regularly clean food and grease residue from the stovetop and oven.
• Deep Frying Safety
  

  According to the United States Department of Agriculture, deep frying oil can reach temperatures of over 400°F, is highly flammable and can cause severe bodily injury when it comes into contact with water. Avoid the extreme dangers and fire risks of deep frying by:

  • Using deep fryers outdoors at a safe distance from buildings and any other flammable materials
  • Never using deep fryers on wooden decks or inside garages
  • Never leaving a deep fryer unattended
  • Completely thawing meat before placing it inside a deep fryer
  • Following the manufacturer’s instructions to determine the proper amount of deep fryer oil to use
  • Making sure deep fryers are used on a flat surface to reduce accidental tipping
  • Covering bare skin when adding or removing food in a deep fryer
  • Immediately turning off the gas supply if the deep fryer oil begins to smoke
• Outdoor Cooking
  

  More than 10,500 home fires were started by a grill between 2014 and 2018, according to the NFPA. Before firing up the barbecue, always make sure to:

  • Clean the grill by removing any grease or fat buildup.
  • Never leave an outdoor charcoal or gas grill unattended.
  • Place the grill away from the home, deck railings and out from under overhanging branches.
  • Regularly check propane grills for gas leaks. If one is found, have a professional service the grill before using it again.
  • Step away and immediately call the fire department if gas can be smelled during cooking.
  • Avoid placing the grill on dry grass or leaves.
  • Never add charcoal starter fluid to the flame of a grill.
  • Finish your grilling session by letting the coals cool completely and disposing them in a metal container.
• Extinguishing Cooking Fires
  

  According to the NFPA, 55 percent of cooking fire-related injuries occur when residents attempt to extinguish the fire themselves. When it comes to extinguishing cooking fires, always remember to:

  • Keep an all-purpose fire extinguisher in or near your kitchen.
  • Never try using water to douse a grease fire. Smother small grease fires by sliding a lid over the pan and turning off the stovetop.
  • Extinguish an oven fire by turning off the heat and keeping the oven door closed.
  • Evacuate the home and call 911 if the cooking fire becomes too large to address safely.

  Learn more about using fire extinguishers on the Fire Extinguishers page.