Cooking Fire Safety Tips You Can Be Thankful For

12/6/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Upper Darby can make your holiday cooking fire "Like it never even happened."

Thanksgiving is the nation’s leading day for cooking fires. According to the National Fire Protection Association, the number of cooking fires on Thanksgiving is three times as high as on any other day of the year.

In addition to the hazards posed by stovetops, turkey fryers contribute to the elevated fire risk on. When following a few basic precautions, preventing a cooking fires is simple. Remember, while you should always have a fire-extinguisher nearby and know how to use it, don’t delay calling 9-1-1. Ideally, use the extinguisher immediately, as someone else calls 9-1-1.

Turkey Fryers

Turkey fryers should never be used indoors, in the garage or on a covered patio because of the fire hazard. Many turkey fires occur while the oil is being heated. Since most fryers do not have automatic thermostatic controls, oil may heat until it catches fire. Fryers can easily tip over, spilling scalding hot oil, leading to fires, burns or other injuries. The sides, lids, and handles get extremely hot and may cause burns.

Turkey Frying Safety Tips:

• Read and follow the manufacturer’s guidelines.
• Never leave the fryer unattended.
• Do not overfill the fryer with oil. Before filling the fryer with oil, test it out with water. Place the turkey inside and then fill it with water until the bird is submerged. Mark the water line on the fryer so you will know how much oil to put in the fryer.
• Completely thaw the turkey.
• Only use the oil recommended by the manufacturer.
• Allow at least two feet of space between the liquid propane tank and the fryer burner.
• Potholders or oven mitts should be well-insulated; wear safety goggles to protect eyes from oil splatter.
• If oil begins to smoke, immediately turn OFF the gas supply.
• Keep children and pets away from the fryer.
• Keep an all-purpose fire extinguisher nearby. Never use water to extinguish a grease fire.

Stovetops and Ovens

It’s easy to become distracted when preparing several dishes at once while also trying to entertain guests. Cooking fires can easily be prevented by following a few simple precautions:

• Clean your stove and oven. Remove food and grease buildup from burners, stovetop and oven.
• Stay in the kitchen when cooking on the stovetop.
• Stay in the home when cooking a turkey, set a timer, and check on it frequently.
• Have a flame-resistant oven mitt, potholder or lid nearby to smother any flames.
• If you have an oven fire, turn off the heat and keep the oven door closed.

Cooking Fire Putting A Damper on Your Holiday Fun? Call SERVPRO of Upper Darby – (610) 352-0700

Why Choose SERVPRO of Upper Darby

After the fire trucks leave, your home likely suffers from fire and smoke damage and extensive water damage from firefighting efforts. SERVPRO of Upper Darby has the specialized fire restoration training needed to restore your home to pre-fire condition. SERVPRO of Upper Darby is dedicated to responding immediately, which helps to prevent secondary damage and to reduce the cost of restoration.