Tips for Reducing Fire Hazards When Cooking
Many of us enjoy being in the kitchen, especially when surrounded by family and cooking dinner together. However, bad things can happen if you’re not careful, such as accidental fires. As much as you love to cook, even as an amateur chef, it’s essential to know these tips for reducing fire hazards when cooking.
Stay in the Kitchen When Cooking
It’s easy to become distracted—it happens to everyone, nonetheless. It’s possible to minimize those interruptions, especially when you need to cook more than one thing at once.
Staying in the kitchen while cooking can diminish the potential of starting a fire or burning your food. The best way to help yourself stay on top of things while cooking and not leave the room is to set a timer, so you don’t lose track of time.
De-Clutter Your Kitchen Before Cooking
Clutter can cause more harm than good. Actually, having piles of anything is never great. If you have random stacks of items scattered in every room, you increase the risk of starting a fire or something falling onto the stove and catching fire.
If nothing’s cleared out, condensed, and organized, you won’t have a suitable place to prepare your favorite meals. So, keep everything organized by buying bowls for utensils and organizers for your drawers, as well as by keeping spices in a separate cabinet away from open flames.
Turn Off Your Appliances When Not in Use
When you’re not using appliances, such as your food processor or coffeemaker, keep them unplugged and turned off. Unplugging and shutting down kitchen devices not only saves on electricity and energy but also keeps the plugs from overheating and starting a fire.
While the appliances are off, go in and inspect them for any leftover coffee grounds, breadcrumbs, pieces of meat or vegetables, and clean them out. By cleaning your machines out, you lessen the risk of burning and starting a fire.
Install Protective Gear
Having additional security can help alert you when there’s a fire. For instance, installing a ductless range hood can help break down smoke buildup to help prevent flames from blazing out of control.
Items like the range hood create a better environment while also cleaning the air of toxins emitted from the food. Additional items you need to consider having with you are smoke detectors and fire extinguishers.
Keeping everyone safe in the kitchen is the most important thing to do when preparing and cooking dishes. Before making your next meal, utilize these safety tips to decrease fire hazards when cooking so everyone stays safe and alert.
