Cooking Safety

In U.S. Households, Cooking fires continue to be the most common type of fire, and the leading cause fo civiliam fire injuries in residences.

These fires are preventable by simply being more attentive to the use of cooking materials and equipment

Safe Cooking Tips

Never leave boiling, frying, or broiling food unattended. Stay in the kitchen! If you leave the kitchen for even a short period of time, turn off the stove.

Check food that is cooking regularly; 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.

Keep the stovetop, burners, and oven clean.

Wear short, close-fitting, or tightly rolled sleeves when cooking. Loose clothing can dangle onto stove burners and can catch fire if it comes in contact with a gas flame or electric burner.

Have a “kid-free zone” of at least 3 feet around the stove and areas where hot food or drink is prepared or carried.

Always use cooking equipment that has the label of a recognized testing laboratory, such as Underwriters Laboratories.

Follow manufacturer’s instructions and code requirements when installing, cleaning, and operating cooking equipment.

Plug microwave ovens or other cooking appliances directly into an outlet. Never use an extension cord for cooking appliances as it can overload the circuit and cause a fire.

Check electrical cords for cracks, breaks, or damage

Source: National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Cooking Safety Tips

If You Have a Cooking Fire

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 after you leave.

If you do try to fight the fire, be sure others are already getting out and you have a clear path to the exit.

Always keep a lid nearby when you’re cooking. If a small grease fire starts in a pan, smother the flames by carefully sliding the lid over the pan. Turn off the burner. Do not move the pan. To keep the fire from restarting, leave the lid on until the pan is completely cool.

In case of an oven fire, turn off the heat and keep the door closed. After a fire, the oven should be checked and/or serviced before being used again.

Source: NFPA Cooking Safety Tips

 

Barbecue Grills

As the Florida weather warms, more people will began to use barbecue grills. Many of the safety tips are similar to indoor cooking, but there are special concerns with barbecue grills.

Position the grill well away from siding and deck railings and out from under eaves and overhanging branches.

Place the grill a safe distance from lawn games, play areas, and foot traffic.

Keep children and pets away from the grill area by declaring a 3-foot “kid-free zone” around the grill.

Put out several long-handled grilling tools to give the chef plenty of clearance from heat and flames when cooking food.

Periodically remove grease and fat buildup in trays below the grill so it cannot be ignited by a hot grill.

Use only outdoors! If used indoors, or in any enclosed spaces such as tents, barbecue grills pose both fire and carbon monoxide hazards.