Cooking Safety

Over half of accidental fires in the home start in the kitchen.

To help keep you and your family safe, follow our top cooking safety tips:

  • Chuck out your chip pan – it could save your life. Every year they cause over 8000 fires, 3000 injuries and 30 deaths nationally – there is simply no need for it. Find out more about deep frying safety
  • Stand by your pan – take pans off the heat and turn off the hob and/or grill if you have to leave the kitchen while cooking
  • Don’t drink and fry – fires start when you fall asleep whilst cooking food
  • Keep your cooker and grill pan clean – burnt food and fat can and does cause fires
  • Ensure pan handles don’t stick out – so they don’t get knocked off the stove
  • Turn pan handles to the back of the hob, away from other gas burners/electric rings
  • Never leave children alone in the kitchen and fit a child safety catch to the oven door
  • Don’t wear loose clothing when cooking – they can easily catch fire
  • Use a spark device to light gas cookers as this is safer than using matches or lighters
  • Keep tea towels and cloths away from your cooker and hob
  • Make sure the oven, hob and grill is turned off when you have finished cooking

Maintenance Advice

  • Keep your oven, hob, grill and microwave clean – a build-up of fat and grease can easily catch fire.
  • Keep your toaster clean, free of crumbs and away from curtains, kitchen rolls and anything else that could catch fire.

Microwave Safety

  • Never put anything metallic inside your microwave.
  • Never attempt to sterilise dish cloths or sponges by heating them in the microwave.

If a pan catches fire in your kitchen

  • Don’t move it as it will be very hot.
  • Don’t take any risks. Turn off the heat if it’s safe to do so – don’t lean over the pan to reach the controls.
  • Don’t use a fire extinguisher on a pan of oil because the force of the extinguisher can spread the fire.
  • Never through water over it.
  • get out, stay out and call 999.

Useful Links

Kitchen Safety Week
Directgov Cooking Safety
Directgov Fire Emergency Equipment
Directgov Gas Safety