Between trying not to burn the chicken and making sure the rice isn’t sticking to the bottom of the pot, cooking can be a stressful activity! While trying to manage several things at once, it’s easy to put a hand towel or food too close to the stove and not even realize what you’ve done. The next thing you know the smoke alarm is going off and your stove-top is on fire.
While accidents do happen, there are several things to be mindful while cooking to prevent kitchen fires.
How to Prevent Kitchen Fires
Stay in the Kitchen
According to the National Fire Protection Association, unattended cooking is the number one cause of cooking fires. If you have to leave the kitchen for whatever reason, turn the stove off and move any pots and pans to a cool burner.
Keep the Stove Top Clear
Move anything that can catch fire away from the stove top. That means oven mitts, towels, napkins, dry pasta, and other dry food items.
Put on Your Cooking Clothes
Okay, not really, but make sure you’re wearing close-fitting clothes and roll up your sleeves. Loose clothing can come into contact with burners and open flames easier than you think. If you have long hair put it in a pony tail or up in a bun.
Wipe up Spills
Grease fires are incredibly common and hard to control! Clean your stove every time you cook and wipe up any spills as soon as possible.
Don’t Overheat Oil
Oil that is too hot can start to smoke and bubble up, causing it to spill out of the pan and ignite. As a quick reference, butter has a smoke point of 350 degrees F, canola at 400 F, olive oil at 410 F, and peanut oil at 450 F. Want to know more? Check out this
helpful guide.
Wait for Grease to Cool
Pouring hot grease into your trashcan can quickly become a disaster. Wait for it to cool before tossing it in the garbage. You can also pour it in an old food can or container and harden it in the freezer.
Keep Your Smoke Detector Working
If a kitchen fire does occur, a smoke detector is your first line of defense. At Partridge Hill, we recommend testing the smoke detectors twice a year to make sure they’re functioning properly. If your smoke detector is not working properly, call the maintenance staff to schedule an appointment for service.
Dreaming of a new kitchen to cook in? Our apartments feature large kitchens perfect for cooking up your favorite meal or baking a delicious dessert. Contact us today to schedule your tour.
