Cooking is often a relaxing and fun task that brings family and friends together, but cooking is also the number one cause of home fires and home injuries. Being mindful while you cook, however, can go a long way to helping prevent these fires. Here is everything you need to know about cooking safely!

Cooking Fire Safety

• Unattended cooking is the leading factor in home cooking fires.
• Ranges accounted for the largest share of home cooking fire incidents.
• Frying poses the greatest risk of fire.
• Thanksgiving is the peak day for home cooking fires.
• Two-thirds of home cooking fires started when food or other cooking materials caught fire.

Cooking and Fire Safety- Tips

• Be on alert! If you are sleepy or have consumed alcohol don’t use the stove or stovetop.
• Stay in the kitchen while you are frying, grilling, boiling or broiling food.
• If you are simmering, baking or roasting food, check it regularly, remain in the kitchen while food is cooking, and use a timer to remind you that you are cooking.
• Keep anything that can catch fire — oven mitts, wooden utensils, food packaging, towels or curtains — away from your stovetop.

Downloadable Resources

Recipe for Fire-Safe CookingCook Safely: Prevent Kitchen Fires

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Source for Content: National Fire Protection Association and U.S. Fire Administration