Cooking & Stove Top Safety
Cooking fires are the number one cause of home fires and home injuries. But cooking is also the number one cause of home fires and home injuries. Being mindful while you cook, however, can go a long way to helping prevent these fires. The leading cause of fires in the kitchen is unattended cooking. It’s important to be alert to prevent cooking fires. Following these few safety tips can prevent the loss of life and property:
Cooking fires by the numbers (Based on 2007-2011 annual averages)
* Unattended cooking was by far the leading contributing factor in these fires.
* Two-thirds (67%) of home cooking fires started with the ignition of food or other cooking materials.
* Clothing was the item first ignited in less than 1% of these fires, but these incidents accounted for 15% of the cooking fire deaths.
* Ranges accounted for the largest share (57%) of home cooking fire incidents. Ovens accounted for 16%.
* More than half (55%) of reported non-fatal home cooking fire injuries occurred when the victims tried to fight the fire themselves.
* Frying poses the greatest risk of fire.
* Thanksgiving is the peak day for home cooking fires.
SAFETY MESSAGES
What you should know
* Be on alert! If you are sleepy or have consumed alcohol don’t use the stove or stovetop.
* Stay in the kitchen while you are frying, grilling, boiling or broiling food.
* If you are simmering, baking or roasting food, check it regularly, remain in the kitchen while food is cooking, and use a timer to remind you that you are cooking.
* Keep anything that can catch fire — oven mitts, wooden utensils, food packaging, towels or curtains — away from your stovetop.
If you have a cooking fire
* Just get out! When you leave, close the door behind you to help contain the fire.
* Call 911 or the local emergency number after you leave.
* If you try to fight the fire, be sure others are getting out and you have a clear way out.
* Keep a lid nearby when you’re cooking to smother small grease fires. Smother the fire by sliding the lid over the pan and turn off the stovetop. Leave the pan covered until it is completely cooled.
* For an oven fire turn off the heat and keep the door closed.
Safety considerations for cooking with oil
Oil is a key ingredient found in the majority of today’s kitchens. Whether a recipe calls for frying or sautéing, we include oil in almost all of our daily cooking. When using any of the many oils to prepare your meals like olive, canola, corn or soybean, consider the following safety tips when cooking:
* Always stay in the kitchen when frying on the stovetop.
* Keep an eye on what you fry. If you see wisps of smoke or the oil smells, immediately turn off the burner and/or carefully remove the pan from the burner. Smoke is a danger sign that the oil is too hot.
* Heat the oil slowly to the temperature you need for frying or sautéing.
* Add food gently to the pot or pan so the oil does not splatter.
* Always cook with a lid beside your pan. If you have a fire, slide the lid over the pan and turn off the burner. Do not remove the cover because the fire could start again. Let the pan cool for a long time. Never throw water or use a fire extinguisher on the fire.
* If the fire does not go out or you don’t feel comfortable sliding a lid over the pan, get everyone out of your home. Call the fire department from outside.
Cooking fires by the numbers (Based on 2007-2011 annual averages)
* Unattended cooking was by far the leading contributing factor in these fires.
* Two-thirds (67%) of home cooking fires started with the ignition of food or other cooking materials.
* Clothing was the item first ignited in less than 1% of these fires, but these incidents accounted for 15% of the cooking fire deaths.
* Ranges accounted for the largest share (57%) of home cooking fire incidents. Ovens accounted for 16%.
* More than half (55%) of reported non-fatal home cooking fire injuries occurred when the victims tried to fight the fire themselves.
* Frying poses the greatest risk of fire.
* Thanksgiving is the peak day for home cooking fires.
SAFETY MESSAGES
What you should know
* Be on alert! If you are sleepy or have consumed alcohol don’t use the stove or stovetop.
* Stay in the kitchen while you are frying, grilling, boiling or broiling food.
* If you are simmering, baking or roasting food, check it regularly, remain in the kitchen while food is cooking, and use a timer to remind you that you are cooking.
* Keep anything that can catch fire — oven mitts, wooden utensils, food packaging, towels or curtains — away from your stovetop.
If you have a cooking fire
* Just get out! When you leave, close the door behind you to help contain the fire.
* Call 911 or the local emergency number after you leave.
* If you try to fight the fire, be sure others are getting out and you have a clear way out.
* Keep a lid nearby when you’re cooking to smother small grease fires. Smother the fire by sliding the lid over the pan and turn off the stovetop. Leave the pan covered until it is completely cooled.
* For an oven fire turn off the heat and keep the door closed.
Safety considerations for cooking with oil
Oil is a key ingredient found in the majority of today’s kitchens. Whether a recipe calls for frying or sautéing, we include oil in almost all of our daily cooking. When using any of the many oils to prepare your meals like olive, canola, corn or soybean, consider the following safety tips when cooking:
* Always stay in the kitchen when frying on the stovetop.
* Keep an eye on what you fry. If you see wisps of smoke or the oil smells, immediately turn off the burner and/or carefully remove the pan from the burner. Smoke is a danger sign that the oil is too hot.
* Heat the oil slowly to the temperature you need for frying or sautéing.
* Add food gently to the pot or pan so the oil does not splatter.
* Always cook with a lid beside your pan. If you have a fire, slide the lid over the pan and turn off the burner. Do not remove the cover because the fire could start again. Let the pan cool for a long time. Never throw water or use a fire extinguisher on the fire.
* If the fire does not go out or you don’t feel comfortable sliding a lid over the pan, get everyone out of your home. Call the fire department from outside.
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