Safety tips for Thanksgiving cooking: How to prevent fires, spills & overheating appliances

Thanksgiving is all about gathering around the table for a delicious meal, but with a bustling kitchen, hot ovens, and full stovetops, it’s also one of the busiest cooking days of the year. With so many dishes in the works, a lot can happen. Keeping your kitchen safe doesn’t have to be complicated, though! With a few simple safety tips, you can keep everything running smoothly, prevent mishaps, and focus on what really matters: the food and the people you’re sharing it with. Ready to cook up a feast without the stress? Let’s cover the best ways to keep your kitchen safe this Thanksgiving!

Fire safety in the kitchen

Thanksgiving cooking often means every burner and oven rack in action, but with all that heat and activity, fire safety is key. Here are some simple steps to keep your kitchen safe and fire-free.

Keep flammable items away from heat sources

• Make sure oven mitts, dish towels, paper towels, and other flammable items are far from the stovetop and any open flames.
• Create a “no-kid” zone around the stove and oven so little ones stay safe and out of harm’s way.

Stay alert when using the stove and oven

• Don’t leave the kitchen unattended when frying, sautéing, or cooking with oil on the stovetop, unwatched oil can overheat quickly.
• Always keep lids nearby; a pan lid can help smother flames if a grease fire starts. Remember: never use water to extinguish a grease fire, as it can make the flames worse.
• Try not to overcrowd the oven with too many dishes at once; too much inside can cause uneven cooking, spills, and overheating.

Use heat-resistant tools

• Protect yourself with thick, dry oven mitts or potholders, using a dish towel may seem convenient, but it increases the chance of burns.
• Ensure mitts are completely dry, as damp ones can cause painful steam burns when handling hot dishes or pots.

Read more:  How to fix common appliance issues during Thanksgiving   

Preventing overheated appliances and burnouts

Thanksgiving dinner can put your appliances to the test. With ovens running nonstop and stovetops working overtime, it’s easy for things to get overheated. Here are some tips to keep your kitchen appliances running smoothly and avoid unexpected breakdowns on the big day.

Give the oven a break

• Running the oven continuously for hours can lead to overheating and even burnout. To avoid this, try to plan your cooking schedule in shifts, giving the oven a bit of downtime between dishes.
• Use other appliances like the slow cooker, toaster oven, or air fryer to share the workload. This way, each appliance has a specific task, and your oven doesn’t end up doing all the heavy lifting.

Practice stovetop safety

• Avoid placing large pots or heavy pans on smaller burners. It may lead to uneven heating, spills, and even damage the burner.
• Keep pot handles turned inward and away from the edge of the stove to prevent accidental bumps, especially in a bustling kitchen.

Check the oven temperature

• Prolonged high temperatures can cause internal components to overheat, so make sure to check the temperature with a thermometer periodically to prevent your oven from working harder than it needs to.
• Use timers and check dishes frequently. Burnt or overcooked food not only disrupts your meal but can also produce smoke and trigger alarms, adding extra stress.

Spills and splatters

With pots boiling, pans sizzling, and dishes moving in and out of the oven, spills and splatters are practically inevitable during Thanksgiving cooking. Staying on top of messes as they happen keeps your kitchen safe and slip-free and prevents accidents or burns. Here’s how to handle spills and splatters like a pro.

Prevent and control splatters

• Use lids or splatter guards on pans when frying or sautéing to keep grease and hot oil contained. Not only does this keep the stovetop cleaner, but it also reduces the chance of painful burns.
• Wear long sleeves and avoid loose clothing when cooking to protect yourself from unexpected splashes or spatters.

Clean up spills safely

• Keep a mop, cloth, or paper towels nearby to wipe up any spills right away, especially if they happen in high-traffic areas. This helps prevent slips, particularly as people are moving in and out of the kitchen.
• If there’s a spill near the stovetop, turn off the burner and allow it to cool before cleaning up. This reduces the risk of burns and avoids any electrical hazards if water or cleaner comes in contact with a hot burner.

Use the right cleaning supplies

• Use non-abrasive, non-flammable cleaning products to safely wipe up stovetops and counter spills. Avoid harsh chemicals or too much water around electrical outlets or control panels.
• When dealing with oil spills, sprinkle a bit of baking soda or cornstarch on the spot before wiping to absorb grease and prevent slippery surfaces.

Read more:    How to get your refrigerator ready for Thanksgiving

Safe kitchen organization

Thanksgiving cooking often means a full house and a bustling kitchen, which can lead to accidents if the space isn’t set up safely. Organizing your kitchen and keeping safety in mind will help you avoid bumps, burns, and other mishaps. Here’s how to keep things running smoothly, even with a crowd.

Keep traffic flow smooth

• Set up specific work zones for prep, cooking, and plating to keep the main cooking area less crowded. This way, people aren’t constantly reaching over hot surfaces or bumping into each other.
• Ask guests and family members to steer clear of the stove and oven areas if they’re not actively cooking. This reduces the chance of accidental burns, slips, or spills.

Stay aware of open flames and hot surfaces

• Use timers and set reminders for each dish so you don’t lose track of what’s on the stove or in the oven. A quick check-in every so often can prevent overcooking or burning.
• Keep flammable items, like oils, spices, and paper towels, far from the stove and oven to reduce the risk of accidental fires. Store these items at arm’s length but out of reach from any open flame.

Organize cooking tools 

• Place frequently used utensils, oven mitts, and prep tools within easy reach but out of the way of hot surfaces. This helps you avoid rushing and reduces the chance of reaching over burners or flames.
• Set up a small countertop area or cart to hold hot dishes or trays coming out of the oven, allowing you to safely transfer items without juggling too many at once.

Read more:    Thanksgiving appliance checklist: What to check and fix before the holiday

Additional information

Thank you for reading! We hope this guide helps you get ready to enjoy a Thanksgiving filled with good food, good company, and no kitchen surprises!

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