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Fire-Safe Cooking Tips for the Holiday Season | SERVPRO of Barron, Dunn & Rusk Counties
11/17/2023 (Permalink)
Fire damage in your home? Not for long with SERVPRO of Barron, Dunn & Rusk Counties on the case!
The temperature outside has dropped, the leaves have changed and fallen and the holidays are right around the corner! It’s officially fall here in the Barron County area, and we are excited about it.
While you are busy making your holiday plans and pulling out your decorations, you will most likely be diving into the kitchen to whip up your favorite holiday treats and dishes.
Delicious food is part of what makes this time of year so great, but it is also the time of year when house fires (and kitchen fires in particular) spike. We want you to stay safe while making your famous pies or while trying your hand at a new turkey hot dish, so read on to learn some fire-safe tips for your kitchen.
Preparing your space before you even turn on the stove or preheat your oven is always recommended. Keep your kids and pets out of the kitchen, and remove as much clutter as possible from the ground and countertops.
Flammable materials should be put away or moved far away from your burners. Pot holders, oven mitts, holiday decorations and even wooden utensils can catch fire if left too close to the flames or heat.
We also want you to dress safely before you get started! Loose clothing or apron strings from a seasonal holiday apron can become fire hazards in the blink of an eye, so keep loose clothing to a minimum and always roll up your sleeves.
Don’t leave the kitchen while your food is cooking, even if it is just in the baking stage or doesn’t need your immediate attention. Leaving for any period of time is enough to allow a wandering spark or flame to catch and spread. It might be too late to save your kitchen by the time you get back.
If your holiday traditions this year include deep-frying a turkey, extra precautions and safety measures need to be taken. Choose a flat, non-flammable surface for the fryer, and follow all instructions when it comes to pouring in the oil.
Set out your turkey to thaw completely a few days in advance, as even a partially frozen turkey can react with the oil and cause it to splatter and pop.
While kitchen fires aren’t completely preventable, these strategies can keep you safer while you are cooking. You should also make sure that your smoke alarms are installed and working properly.
Each level of your home should have one, and ideally, there should be one directly in your kitchen. Test them monthly to ensure the batteries don’t need to be replaced.
You will also need to keep a fire extinguisher nearby. Having an extinguisher dedicated to staying in your kitchen can help you knock down a few wandering flames quickly before it turns into a large blaze.
We hope you have a safe and enjoyable holiday season! Remember that we are always here for you if you do suffer from some sort of fire damage. Our restoration team will be there right away to clean, sanitize and restore your home from top to bottom.
House fires can happen in the blink of an eye. Contact us for a quick restoration day or night!