Cooking Safety Tips

Kitchen fires are some of the most common house fires in the United States, based on data from the National Fire Prevention Association, with two-thirds of home fires started with the ignition of food or cooking materials. Frying with oil is one of the top causes of these fires.

 

Our friend, Foolhardy Marty, learned that oil and water don’t mix – especially when it comes to putting out a cooking fire on his stove.

Here are some important safety tips for cooking with oil from the NFPA:

• 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 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.

You can also watch this video from the NFPA for more cooking safety tips!