Prepare Meals without Burns, House Fires and Other Accidents
July 15, 2010 – 1:27 pm
Cooking is a dangerous job, but someone has to do it. Along with whipping up delicious and nutritious meals that will satisfy everyone, you also have to mind your safety. To get your noggin on the right track, what is wrong in the picture on the left? Give yourself a few minutes to analyze the image and consider what is a potential safety issue…
First, the handles of pans should always be moved to the inside of the stove and not hanging over the edge. This just increases the potential for someone—yourself or a child—to walk past, bump the pan and get burned. Second, it’s best to save an alcoholic beverage for after the meal is prepared. Depending on the cook’s alcohol tolerance, one or two drinks might create a clumsy chef. If you caught these safety concerns in the picture, pat yourself on the back. However, keep in mind the following oven safety tips too.
- For gas stoves, it’s wise to keep the gas on medium or low. You don’t want the flames outside of the pan. It’s also beneficial to ensure that you know how to use the stove properly. After a few clicks, the burner should light…if you let it continue to click, the gas will build up and cause the flame to combust outside of the burner, which can be scary.
- Remove all unnecessary items from the stove. Using the stove range for storage is dangerous, because plastic wrap or paper boxes can catch on fire.
- Always keep an eye on the food that you’re cooking, especially when it comes to oil. Obviously, you don’t want to burn your food, but an even worse situation is causing a house fire.
- Store a UL-rated fire extinguisher in the kitchen and make sure there is a working smoke detector nearby. This will enable you to prevent a house fire in case an accident does happen.
- Practice safety every time you cook by using potholders and wearing oven mitts. This will prevent those minor and severe burns.
- Keep children, loose clothing and hair away from the stove when it’s on. It’s a good idea to talk to your child about the stove and what can happen if they touch it while it’s on.
- Double check that the stove and burners are turned off after you’re done cooking.
Stoves whether gas or electric can be the cause of house fires, so it’s in your best interest to use them with caution at all times. You can never be too careful, and if you notice that the stove isn’t working properly, it’s better to call a professional or the manufacturer.
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Tags: cooking safety precautions, gas stove safety, oven safety tips