Cooking Safety

Cooking safely at home

From ovens and grills to hobs and microwaves, many of the appliances in our kitchens can cause fires. One of the major risks is leaving frying pans or grilling food unattended. Distractions such as the doorbell or your children/pets can take your mind off your cooking. Don’t forget that fires can start in a flash.

There are a few simple things you can do to make cooking as safe as possible:

• Avoid leaving saucepan handles sticking out – children can grab them, or you might knock it off the hob.

• Be wary of loose-fitting clothing when cooking.

• Keep tea towels and dishcloths away from any heat sources.

• Make sure the oven or hob is off when you’re done.

• Do not leave cooking unattended. If you must leave the room, turn the hob off.

• Keep all cooking appliances clean and in good working order.

• Do not use grills or ovens as storage space when not cooking.

• If you’ve been drinking or using drugs, order a takeaway rather than cooking.

• Use a timer while cooking to alert you when a set time is up. This can help remind you to turn off the heat.

Deep fat frying

The tips we have already looked at can help to reduce the chances of fire or injury.

If you deep fry food, there are a few extra things to remember:

• Do not overfill pans or fryers with oil – keep it to 1/3 full.

• Pat food dry before dropping it in the oil to reduce splashing.

• If your oil begins to smoke, turn down the heat and wait for it to cool.

• Thermostat-controlled fryers are safer because they cannot overheat.

• Never throw water onto an oil fire. This is hazardous.

• Never attempt to extinguish a pan fire. Get to safety and call 999.

Cooking using deep oil can be more hazardous than other methods of cooking. Take extra care with loose-fitting clothing which can catch fire.

If your clothing does catch on fire, remember to Stop, Drop, and Roll. This will help extinguish the fire quickly, reducing burns.