The kitchen is the heart of the home, especially during the holidays. However, cooking fires are the number one cause of home fires and injuries.
- 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, boiling, grilling or broiling food. If you leave the kitchen for any amount of time, turn off the stove.
- If you are simmering, baking or roasting food, check it regularly. Remain in the home while food is cooking, and use a timer to remind you that food is cooking.
- Keep anything that can catch fire – oven mitts, wooden utensils, food packaging, towels or curtains – away from your stovetop.
- Turkey fryers that use cooking oil are not safe. These fryers use large amounts of oil at high temperatures, which can cause devastating burns.
- Be sure electric cords from an electric knife, coffee maker, plate warmer or mixer are not dangling off the counter within easy reach of a child.