The wise old women in the community where I grew up would describe fire as: "a good servant but a bad master!" Simply put, its good when we use it for our needs but bad when it is out of control. Unfortunately, fire professionals underscore this as they point out that the leading cause of house fires is cooking left unattended. Here are some practical tips to help avoid them.
#1 - Never Cook When You're Tired - many people leave the pot on the stove and take a "5-minute rest" which ends up being longer and results in a burning pot.
#2 - Use "quick-cook" options when you are short on time and leave the longer, tasty gourmet choices for days when you have time to do them right.
#3 - Never put off stove repair. If the burners are crooked, have them replaced. If you smell gas from a specific burner, don't discontinue using it until you have time for someone to come and look at it; treat it as an emergency and have it fixed right away.
#4 - Know your pots and pans. Some pots burn quickly and need constant monitoring.
#5 - Shop wisely. Remember you want cooking aids to last as close to forever as possible.
#6 - Wear the right clothing. Even if you get hot in the kitchen, resist the urge to wear light airy clothing that blows outward as you move or which hangs down when you lean over.
#7 - Turn pot handles towards the middle of the stove. Handles left sticking out can be bumped; food can spill into the stove causing it to flare.
#8 - Plastic cooking utensils are flammable. Always place them on your counter-top, never on your stove-top.
#9 - Unplug kitchen aides that are not being used. Power surges can cause them to overheat, burn out and burn up.
#10 - Frying? Control your heat and attend your pan.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Share your comments with us