Never Leave The Stove Unattended

Never Leave The Stove Unattended
By The Righteous Kitchen

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Never leave the stove unattended. And this is the same for the oven, or any cooking appliance.  

Did you know that grease fires, are the number one cause of kitchen fires? They can be prevented, if we slow down, and focus on the task at hand. Cooking!

Fires can be prevented, by limiting distractions:

Don’t accept phone calls.

Don’t answer the front door.

Don’t take a restroom break.

Don’t start a new activity.

Don’t leave the room.

Don’t take a nap.

Don’t rely on someone else to finish your project.

Don’t cook if you are inebriated.

Don't let children cook, unsupervised.

Fires can be prevented, by setting up a safe cooking space:

Have everything in place, so you don’t need to leave the stove.

Keep your work area clean, and free of clutter.

Turn the pan handle inwards and back. This prevents the pan from being knocked over.

Stay focused on your cooking.

If you need to step away from the stove, TURN IT OFF!

Fires can be extinguished, by using these techniques:

A tight fitting METAL lid, placed on the pot, will smother the flames. Don't use a glass lid. It will explode from thermal shock.

A metal baking tray, placed on top of the pot will smother the flames.

Douse the fire with a good amount of baking soda, or salt.

A fiberglass fire blanket, at least 40" X 40" (ASTM F1989-05).

A fire extinguisher for kitchens (Class B:C) This rating handles grease, oil, and electrical fires.

Don’t use water, to put out a grease or electrical fire. It will spread the flames, or cause electrocution. 

A fire safety guide can be found here: https://www.usfa.fema.gov/downloads/pdf/publications/kitchen_fires_poster.pdf

Be sure to check out my Tips-Techniques page, for more common sense advice, to help you in the kitchen.

This message is more important than ever. We live in a world of distractions. Throw in our shortened attention spans, ADHD, personal problems, busy schedules, etc. it’s a disaster waiting to happen.
Focus! You have a task that needs 100% of your attention. Don’t get so comfortable, in your home, that you lose sight of the risks involved in making a simple meal. 

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Disclaimer: The information provided in this post is for general educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute professional safety, fire prevention, or legal advice. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy based on official guidelines, fire safety risks vary by situation. Always prioritize your personal safety; if a kitchen fire cannot be extinguished immediately and safely, evacuate the premises and call emergency services (911) right away. The Righteous Kitchen assumes no liability for any actions taken based on the contents of this post.