Cooking Safety
Many home fires begin while cooking. By following some simple steps, you can help keep your family and home safe.
- Keep pan lids near your stove while cooking. If a fire starts, you can cover the flames and smother them out, and turn off the burner. Do not lift the lid until it has completely cooled. If you lift the lid before this, the oxygen will cause the fire to reignite.
- Never pour water on a grease fire or try to carry a pan outside or to the sink. This can cause serious burns or may cause the fire to spread.
- If a fire starts in your oven, close the oven door and turn the oven off.
- If a fire starts in a microwave oven, turn it off and leave the door closed until the fire goes out.
- Never leave cooking materials unattended. Keep pot holders, towels, and clutter away from the stove.
- Keep your stove and oven clean. Grease and other food residue can cause fire.
- Wear short, close fitting sleeves when cooking. Loose clothing can dangle near stove burners and can catch fire.
- Always use fire resistant oven mitts or pot holders. Never use a wet oven mitt, this can cause burns.
- Turn pot handles inward so pots can not be knocked off by small children.
- Keep pets and children away from the stove while cooking.
- Teach children to stay away from hot lids, stoves, and cooking materials.
- Never let children try to stir or help cook without proper supervision from an adult.
- Do not store paper products or other combustibles in the bottom of your oven. Store pots and pans there only.
- For additional safety information visit www.nfpa.org.