Kitchen safety
How to cook safely
Avoid leaving children in the kitchen alone when cooking on the hob. Keep matches and sauce pan handles out of their reach to keep them safe.
- Take extra care if you need to leave the kitchen whilst cooking, take pans off the heat or turn them down to avoid risk.
- Make sure saucepan handles don't stick out - so they don't get knocked off the stove.
- Take care if you're wearing loose clothing - it can easily catch fire.
- Keep tea towels and cloths away from the cooker and hob.
- Spark devices are safer than matches or lighters to light gas cookers, because they don't have a naked flame.
- Double check the cooker is off when you've finished cooking.
Deep fat frying
- Take care when cooking with hot oil - it sets alight easily.
- Make sure food is dry before putting it in hot oil so it doesn't splash.
- If the oil starts to smoke - it's too hot. Turn off the heat and leave it to cool.
- Use a thermostatically controlled electric deep fat fryer. They can't overheat.
Air fryers
- Buy your air fryer from a reputable supplier and make sure to read reviews before you buy.
- Register your appliance's guarantee if it has one to make sure you receive recall notifications.
- Follow the manufacturer’s guidance and only use your air fryer as directed. This means using it on a hard surface, and NEVER putting oil or other prohibited substances in the fryer.
- Clean your air fryer regularly to avoid dangerous fat, grease or oils building up.
- Never leave it on when you go out or go to sleep.
- Always check that it's off when you're finished.
What to do if a pan catches fire
- Don't take any risks. Turn off the heat if it's safe to do so. Never throw water over it.
- Don't tackle the fire yourself.
- Get out, stay out, and call 999.
Take care with electrics
Don't put anything metal in the microwave
- Keep electrics (leads and appliances) away from water.
- Check toasters are clean and placed away from curtains and kitchen rolls.
- Keep the oven, hob and grill clean and in good working order. A build up of fat and grease can ignite a fire.
- Don't put anything metal in the microwave.