Holiday Kitchen Safety Tips

12/6/2017 (Permalink)

This is what your dinner table can look like if you make sure to follow important safety procedures when cooking!

If you're anything like us here at SERVPRO, the holidays can't come soon enough! With all this excitement, from gift giving to string lights and Christmas trees, it's important to remember to stay safe as you cook that holiday meal. With cooking being the number one cause of house fires, the American Red Cross provides a few tips on how to keep your home safe, so you can enjoy this wonderful time of year!

Ways to Stay Safe When You Cook Your Holiday Meal

1. When frying your holiday latkes, grilling, or broiling any food, don't leave it unattended! Make sure to stay in the kitchen or turn off the stove if you need to leave the room.
2. Use a timer to remind yourself of when to turn off the stove or oven. Sometimes it's too easy to get caught up in a big play while watching that Christmas Day football game and reminders are helpful!
3. Make sure to wear your hair up and don't wear loose sleeves or anything that can dangle when you're cooking. An ER visit is not the way to spend the holidays, for sure!
4. If you're simmering, baking, roasting, or broiling food, make sure to check it regularly. The only thing worse than burnt food is a house fire.
5. Clean cooking surfaces on a regular basis to prevent grease build up (and prevent your mother in law from nagging you about it).
6. Always, always check the kitchen before going to bed or leaving the house to make sure all your cooking appliances are turned off.
7. Keep kids and pets away from the cooking area! Its safer for them and less stressful for you!
8. Keep anything that can catch on fire (whether it be pot holders, oven mitts, wooden utensils, etc.) far away from any cooking appliances.
9. Install smoke alarms near your kitchen, on each level of your home, near sleeping areas, and in bedrooms. Make sure to test the smoke alarms each month and replace your batteries in the alarms every 6 months.
10. Consider installing a fire extinguisher in your house, and contact the local fire department for training on the proper uses of fire extinguishers.

Even if you follow all these tips, disasters are never planned. If you experience a disaster, give our professionals a call at 916-285-7257 and we will be more than happy to help.