The kitchen is where most house fires start, thanks to the inherent dangers of flames, high heat and cooking. However, by taking the proper precautions, you can cook dinner for your family safely and prevent fires from using your stove or oven. Follow these tips to stay safe when you’re cooking and prevent damage from smoke and fire in Springfield Missouri.
Do Your Safety Homework Before Buying
It’s a good idea to make sure that any stove or oven that you’re considering buying has been thoroughly tested for safety. Choose one that has a label stating it was tested at an independent testing lab.
It’s also a good idea to register your stove or oven with the manufacturer. This allows them to contact you if there are any recalls or other issues with the item you purchased.
Have Your Oven Professionally Installed
It’s a good idea to have a professional handle the installation of a gas or electric oven. This way, you can be sure your oven and hood are installed properly.
If you have young kids, there is additional safety equipment that they can install to make sure your cooking equipment isn’t accidentally turned on by children. Look into locking straps, safety guards and knob stops for the stove.
Keep Yourself And Your Stovetop Neat and Tidy
A clean kitchen is less likely to catch on fire. Clean grease and food particles from the stovetop and oven to prevent them from starting a fire.
If you have long hair, you’ll want to keep it pulled back while you’re cooking, make sure any long sleeves are rolled up and wear the proper footwear to prevent slipping. This will help keep your hair and sleeves from catching fire or from a fire starting if you slip while holding pots and pans.
Always Supervise Food While Cooking
Never leave any food unattended on the stove, even if it’s just for a moment. When food is cooking on the stove, make sure you keep an eye on it in case a small fire starts. Don’t get distracted by your phone or the TV.
If you’re adding wine or alcohol to your dish, avoid the temptation to also add it to the person doing the cooking. It’s easier to end up making a mistake or forgetting to turn something off, which could lead to smoke and fire if you’re a little tipsy.
Check Your Oven Before Using
If you have a gas stove, always check the oven before it is used to make sure it doesn’t smell like gas. If you do smell gas, open a window in the room and call for a repair to avoid a possible explosion.
And even if you don’t cook very often, never store anything inside the oven. It’s too easy to forget it’s there when preheating the oven. Always check your oven first before turning it on, just to be safe.
Choose the Right Burners to Cook
If you have a smaller house with a busy kitchen, consider using the burners on the back of the stove top, so there’s less of a chance of anything being knocked off. Also, make sure the pot is not too small or too large for the burner you want to use.
Be Prepared for a Kitchen Fire
Always be prepared in case a kitchen fire happens. Fire extinguishers or baking soda can help stop small fires fast, as can putting a metal lid on a pot that has caught fire. Never pour water on a grease fire, as this causes the flaming oil to rapidly spread throughout the room.
If you follow these tips, the odds are that you can safely prepare meals for your family. But if you do ever need help with smoke and fire damage restoration following a fire in your kitchen, call the professionals at PuroClean Certified Restoration to do the job right.