Stop and be safe

Fire Safety

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Introduction > Take the Test > Fire Prevention > Be Prepared > Special Considerations > Smoking and Fires > Fire Safety Quick List

Kitchen > Cooking > Household > Electricity > Outdoors > Kids

Fire Prevention: Cooking

If you haven't already, please be sure to read the Kitchen Safety tips. Poor cooking habits can cause fires as well as personal injury such as burns from steam, water and grease.

Here are some quick tips to help keep yourself and your kitchen a safe place.

Pots, pans and cooking utensials

Always check pots and pans for loose or damaged handles.
Make sure lids fit securely on pots and pans when cooking, especially with hot liquid or grease.
Avoid storing everyday cooking items above the stove.
Use strainer/pot combinations, the strainer can fit neatly in the pot while boiling or deep-frying to avoid carrying hot liquids to dispose of or strain. These combination pots allow liquid to cool and still prepare food properly.
Avoid using a spoon rest near or on stove-tops. These items can heat up and cause contact burns.
Avoid using wooden plastic cooking utensils and if using these items, avoid storing open flames.
When using throwaway aluminum pans for cooking or baking, place a baking sheet or double the pans to avoid spilling hot items such as grease or sauces. Doubling the pans will also allow for your cooking base to be stronger. This could protect from burns in the case the pan was to disintegrate or break.
Keep potholders, oven mitts, wooden utensils, paper and plastic bags, towels, and anything else that can burn away from your stovetop.
When you cook, wear clothing with tight-fitting sleeves.

Extinguish a cooking/grease fire

Know how to safely extinguish a grease fire in a pan. NEVER try to move the pan. Instead, turn off the burner, slide a lid over the pan from the side (to avoid burns), and let the pan cool down on its own.

Prevent a cooking fire

Clean up food and grease from burners and stovetops.

Stay in the kitchen

Stay in the kitchen when you are frying, grilling, broiling, or boiling food.
If you must leave the room, even for a short period of time, turn off the stove.
When you are simmering, baking, or roasting food, check it regularly, stay in the home, and use a timer to remind you.

Children

If you have young children, use the stove's back burners whenever possible. Keep children and pets at least three feet away from the stove.
Make sure older children know how to safely use the stove and microwave, and that they understand what to do in case of fire.
As always, it's the adult's primary responsibility to keep family members safe from fire. This means teaching everyone-including young children--about fire prevention, making and practicing a home escape plan, and keeping smoke detectors in good working order!

Next: Fire Prevention: Household