MY ACCOUNT AGENT LOGIN ABOUT CAREERS HOME INSURANCE BUSINESS INSURANCE CLAIMS RESOURCE CENTER CONTACT LOCATE AN AGENT Resource Center Categories 11 Cooking Safety Tips to Keep Your Feast Festive and Fire-Free By Franklin Mutual Insurance Posted in Home Tips On November 18, 2021 Share: Save your holiday feast (and home) from being overcooked with these essential holiday cooking safety tips! Cooking fires are the number one cause of home fires and home fire injuries in the United States. In a four-year period from 2014-2018, fire departments responded to over 170,000 cooking fires. Unsurprisingly, Thanksgiving and Christmas Day were the peak days fire departments were called to home fires. "On Thanksgiving Day you're cooking probably more than you normally do," says Andrea Vastis, Senior Director of Public Education for the National Fire Protection Association. "You have more going on around you. Sometimes more eyes mean less eyes on the cooking." Cooking fires led to 550 deaths, 5,000 injuries, and more than $1 billion in property damage nationwide from 2014-2018. Many of these home fires are preventable, so while you’re in the kitchen for the holidays, make sure to follow these essential cooking safety tips to keep your celebration festive and fire-free. 1. Clean your area before starting to cook "If you don't clean the stove top, there's a lot of residual grease and oil," says Andrea. "That can ignite and cause a fire." Two-thirds (66%) of home cooking fires start with the ignition of food or other cooking materials, and it can happen on the stove top or in the oven. Oil, juices, and other materials can fall out of the pan and lay on the bottom of your gas or electric oven. These can ignite, too, so clean your space before you begin preparation for the feast. 2. Beware of the range top The range top is where most home fires happen. "Electric stove tops are more likely to cause fires than gas stove tops," says Andrea. "It sounds counterintuitive because you think flame must equal fire, but the electric coil range tops can reach 1,000 degrees." In fact, range top fires account for 60% of the overall cooking fires, 87% of the deaths, and 78% of the injuries. This is why you should – 3. Never place kitchen towels or anything flammable near the range top Be mindful of oven mitts, wooden utensils, food wrappers, curtains, and anything that's flammable in your cooking area. This includes your clothes. Home chefs who wear bell sleeves or bathrobes can quickly find themselves in a dangerous and potentially deadly situation. "We're talking about burns and clothing that can catch fire," says Andrea. "Wear short or tight sleeves when you cook." 4. Keep an oversized lid near you Says Andrea, "If there's a flare up, quickly slide the lid on it, turn off the ignition, and step away until it dies out." Also, have an oven mitt nearby, so you don't burn your hand as you slide the lid over the flame. This is why you absolutely must - 5. Stand by your pan Thirty percent of cooking fires are due to unattended cooking. These fires occur when a home chef leaves a pot or pan on the stove for braising or frying, and gets distracted. Some home chefs even start cooking, forget they're cooking, and fall asleep. "We like to say, 'Stand by your pan. Keep an eye on what you fry,'" says Andrea. "Whatever you have to do - ban SnapChat from your kitchen cooking, so you're not constantly doing that." 6. Don't try to fight a fire yourself "Many cooking fire deaths occurred because people tried to fight the fire themselves," warns Andrea. Homeowners panic when a fire ignites, throw their pans in the sink, and do other reckless behaviors. Instead, Andrea stresses that homeowners need to get out, stay out, and call 9-1-1. "Let the professionals take care of the firefighting." 7. Have a hand-off station One of the best things you can do is designate a place – a counter, a table, etc. – where guests can drop off their Tupperware. This way people won't set something on the stove or an area where it can catch fire, and the home chef can be in control of the situation. Offers Andrea, "If you're hosting, think of other jobs you can give people, so you can keep them out of your cooking." 8. Create a "kid-free zone" of at least three feet around your cooking area "Pulling things on top of themselves and knocking into things are still sending so many kids to the emergency room and causing major burns," says Andrea. "The kitchen is not a place for kids." 9. Set a timer Timers are a great way to keep home chefs attentive. Of course, if you're grilling, boiling, braising, or frying, stay right there at all times. For longer cooking times, like simmering, baking or roasting food, you should set a timer on your phone or use the one on the oven. "When it's going to be two hours, set your timer for every 15 minutes to check on it," says Andrea. "People get distracted. They fall asleep. So many things can happen." 10. If you have to step away, turn it off Says Andrea, "You think, 'Oh, I have it here. It's fine. I'm going to step here to grab something.' But inevitably, something distracts you and it takes longer." Better to be safe than sorry, so if you ever have to leave a cooking pan or pot, just turn the range off. 11. Never cook without working smoke alarms You should absolutely have working smoke alarms in your home as they can mean the difference between life and death. "People are twice as likely to die in a fire where there isn't a working smoke alarm," says Andrea. The best protection is interconnected alarms that are installed by a licensed electrician. This way, if a fire breaks out on one side of the home, you'll be alerted quickly on your side of the house. If you don't have interconnected smoke alarms, then you need to make sure your smoke alarms have working batteries in them. Says Andrea, "Like you need your spacesuit to breathe on the moon, you need your smoke alarm to be safe in your house." Test your smoke alarms at least once a month, perhaps on "Smoke Alarm Saturday," or the first Saturday of the month. In the spirit of giving thanks At Franklin Mutual Insurance, we believe one of the most important things to be thankful for is a safe home. That’s why we are soon announcing a new offering for our policyholders that will simplify their homeownership, help them save money and time, and gain peace of mind when it comes to home maintenance and safety. We’re excited to announce our new partnership in the coming weeks, so stay tuned! In the meantime, we hope you have a safe and happy Thanksgiving! Homeowner Insurance For The Way You Live Franklin Mutual Insurance recognizes your home is more than an investment or a place to live. It’s a safe haven where friends and family gather, memories are made, and your most valued possessions reside. Give your home and loved ones the protection they deserve with extensive property and liability coverage that can be customized to meet your needs and budget. Learn more about our homeowners insurance policies now. FMI content is powered by vipHomeLink Share: Franklin Mutual Insurance YOU MAY ALSO BE INTERESTED IN... What To Do After a Storm A Safe Homeowner’s Summer Vacation Checklist DISCLAIMER: This web site provides general information only. Actual coverage is subject to the terms, conditions and exclusions stated in the policies. Coverage may be subject to certain limitations or modifications. Please consult the actual policy forms for complete details on coverages, conditions and exclusions. 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