Tips to Safe Cooking

A majority of fires in the home start in the kitchen. It is in the kitchen where most electrical outlets are because of the cooking utensils and appliances. As a homeowner, you must be wary of the electrical wiring in order to avoid shortages from taking place.

1. Keep the electrical cords from trailing. A wire must be straight and never crooked. Once in a while check whether there are any damages.

2. Don’t hang towels or wet clothes near cookers.

3. Keep the grills and the oven clean. When cleaning the oven, don’t use a wet rag. Use a dry one instead. The build up of water in the oven might ignite with the gas in the range and could blow up the next time you turn it on.

4. Never put anything metallic in the microwave. Just make sure that whatever you put in it is microwave friendly. Cover the dish or the bowl with tissue paper or a paper towel in order to avoid splatter.

5. As lazy as you can get, never dry clothes in your microwave. Microwave is there to heat your food and not to serve as dryer.

6. Don’t put electrical cords near water, be it sink or drinking area. Don’t put plants or anything wet near an electric appliance.

7. The toaster must be kept away from the curtains.

8. Don’t overload your outlets. The general rule is one plug for each socket. This is for your safety. If you can hire a professional for a day, let him come to your house and check the wiring.

9. Extension cables shouldn’t run across the floor because they can get easily worn out. Electrical appliances like washing machines must be serviced once every couple of years.

10. Turn washing machines and dishwashers off at night. The only time these should be on is when you are using them.

11. Have a smoke alarm in your kitchen. Get one that has a hush button so if ever it goes off by accident, you can turn it off quickly.

12. Have a fire blanket and first aid kit in your kitchen just in case an accident happens while you are cooking.

13. When dip frying, don’t fill the chip pan up to the third of oil. You must always consider the thermostat in order to control the fryer.

Above all, don’t leave your cooking. You have to attend to it fully. The phone or the doorbell may ring, let some one else get it. Fire begins where attention ends.