Did you know? Cooking fires are the leading cause of home fires and home fire injuries. Unattended cooking is the leading cause of cooking fires and deaths. The good news is you can prevent most cooking fires and burns. Help keep your family safe with some simple but effective tips:
- 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 even a short period 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 you are cooking.
- Keep anything that can catch fire like oven mitts, wooden utensils, food packaging, towels or curtains away from your stovetop.
If you have a small (grease) cooking fire, here are some tips to keep yourself safe:
- On the stovetop if you are able, turn off the burner and smother the flames by sliding a lid over the pan. Leave the pan covered until it is completely cooled.
- For an oven fire, turn off the heat and keep the door closed.
- If you have any doubt, just get out!
- When you leave, close the door behind you to help contain the fire.
- Call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number from outside the home
Cooking and Kids
Have a “kid-free zone” of at least 3 feet (1 metre) around the stove and areas where hot food or drink is prepared or carried.
Electrical Cooking Appliance Safety
When we think of cooking appliances in the kitchen, we often think of the stovetop, oven, and microwave. However, more and more people are often turning to electrical appliances like air fryers and slow cookers for the convenience of cooking meals quickly. Using these appliances properly is key to keeping safe in the kitchen.
Key Safety Tips
- Always use cooking equipment—air fryers, slow cookers, electric skillets, hot plates, griddles, etc.—that are listed by a qualified testing laboratory.
- Follow the manufacturer’s instructions on where and how to use appliances.
- Remember to unplug all appliances when not in use.
- Check cords regularly for damage. Do not use any appliance with a damaged cord.
Slow Cooker
- Keep things that could catch fire away from the slow cooker.
- Make sure the slow cooker is in a place where it won’t get bumped. If the lid gets dislodged,the liquid could boil away, which could cause the appliance to overheat and create a fire.
Pressure Cooker
- Place the cooker in an open space to give enough room for the steam to ventilate.
- Never cover the steam release valve on the pressure cooker.
- Do not leave the home when using a pressure cooker.
Air Fryers
- Give your air fryer enough space. The air vents release heat and need airflow.
- Do not leave the home when using the air fryer.
- Make sure you clean grease and food debris after every use. Unplug and allow to cool completely before cleaning.
Hot Plate, Griddle and Electric Skillet
- Stay with the hot plate, griddle, or electric skillet when cooking.
- Do not touch the surface of a hot plate, griddle, or electric skillet, as it could burn you.
- Unplug a hot plate, griddle, or electric skillet when not in use and before cleaning.
- Allow the appliance to cool before cleaning it.
Microwave Oven Safety
With busy lives, families rely on the microwave oven as a quick way to heat up a meal, warm up a drink or defrost dinner. While the convenience of the microwave oven is something we take for granted, safety should not be. By following a few simple safety tips, you can prevent painful burns and possible fires.
Safety Tips
- Purchase a microwave oven that is listed by a qualified testing laboratory. Make sure to complete and return the product registration card. This way the manufacturer can reach you if there is a recall on the product.
- Plug the microwave oven directly into the wall outlet — never use an extension cord.
- Make sure the microwave oven is at a safe height, within easy reach of all users.
- Open food slowly, away from the face. Hot steam or the food itself can cause burns.
- Food heats unevenly in microwave ovens. Stir and test before eating or giving to children.
- Never heat a baby bottle in the microwave. Since a microwave oven heats unevenly, it can create hot pockets, leading to burns. Warm a bottle in a bowl of warm — not hot or boiling —water, or by running it under the tap.
- Use only microwave-safe food containers or dishes. Never use aluminum foil or metal in a microwave oven.
- If you have a fire in the microwave, leave the door closed, turn the oven off and unplug it from the wall. If the fire does not go out, get outside and call 911.
Grilling Safety
There’s nothing like outdoor grilling. It’s one of the most popular ways to cook food. But, a grill placed too close to anything that can burn is a fire hazard. They can be very hot, causing burn injuries. Follow these simple tips and you will be on the way to safe grilling.
- Propane and charcoal BBQ grills should only be used outdoors.
- The grill should be placed well away from the home, deck railings and out from under eaves and overhanging branches.
- Keep children and pets at least three feet away from the grill area.
- Keep your grill clean by removing grease or fat buildup from the grills and in trays below the grill.
- Never leave your grill unattended.
- Always make sure your gas grill lid is open before lighting it.
Charcoal Grills
- There are several ways to get the charcoal ready to use. Charcoal chimney starters allow you to start the charcoal using newspaper as a fuel.
- If you use a starter fluid, use only charcoal starter fluid. Never add charcoal fluid or any other flammable liquids to the fire.
- Keep charcoal fluid out of the reach of children and away from heat sources.
- There are also electric charcoal starters, which do not use fire. Be sure to use an extension cord for outdoor use.
- When you are finished grilling, let the coals completely cool before disposing in a metal container.\
Propane Grills
- Check the gas tank hose for leaks before using it for the first time each year.
- Apply a light soap and water solution to the hose. A propane leak will release bubbles.
- If your grill has a gas leak, by smell or the soapy bubble test, and there is no flame, turn off both the gas tank and the grill. If the leak stops, get the grill serviced by a professional before using it again. If the leak does not stop, call the fire department.
- If you smell gas while cooking, immediately get away from the grill and call the fire department. Do not move the grill.
- If the flame goes out, turn the grill and gas off and wait at least 5 minutes before re-lighting it.