6 Tips for Kitchen Safety this Holiday

6 tips for kitchen safety during the holidays

presented by Denlar Hoods

Keep your home and community spaces safe with Denlar Hoods’ fire safety education and products Denlar Fire Protection (DFP) invented the fully integrated, pre-engineered fire suppression range hood system. Our technology put the UL300A product category on the map.

The holidays are a time for enjoying family and friends – a time of reflecting on the year gone by and looking forward with excitement to the new year. Friends and loved ones gather to eat, drink, and be merry.

But nothing can ruin a holiday gathering faster than the ravages of smoke and flames.

Whether you’re celebrating in your home, your local church, synagogue, community hall, or senior living facility, the risks are the same; distracted holiday cooking can increase your risk of a kitchen fire, resulting in possible property damage, injuries, and even casualties.

The NFPA states that Christmas Day is one of the leading days of the year for cooking fires, surpassed only by Thanksgiving1. Unfortunately, no matter the time of year, cooking activities are consistently the leading cause of home fires. It only takes a moment of distraction for it all to go wrong.

Keep reading for six easy tips for kitchen fire safety during the holidays.

avoid disastrous distractions

Keep an eye on your food while it’s cooking. Don’t leave the stove unattended. If you must leave the kitchen, ask someone to watch the food or turn the stove or oven off. It only takes a moment for a pan to flare up, especially when cooking with grease or oil. The NFPA has found that “Unattended cooking was the leading factor contributing to cooking fires and casualties” 2

keep your children safe

Keep a lid for your pots and pans close by. You can use this to smother flames in the case of a fire. For an added safety measure, always turn pot handles away from you and toward the back of the stove. This prevents them from being knocked into or grabbed by a child, preventing possible burns.

detectors are not just for the holidays

Routinely check your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors – especially before the holidays! Change batteries where needed and test systems to ensure they function correctly. If you forget and leave a burner on after a hard night of cooking and eggnog, this could save your life!

it could save your life!

We mean a pre-engineered fire suppression range hood with a fail-safe mechanism that automatically extinguishes unattended cooktop fires! Not only can one of these hoods save you from a smoke-damaged kitchen, but it can also save your life. The 2021 national estimate for residential building cooking fire deaths was 135 for the year. That’s a death every two days! Denlar Fire Protection can help you find the right solution.

avoid clutter to avoid fire

Cooktops, stoves, and ovens are known for developing grease buildup. Keep your surfaces clean and dry to avoid additional flare-ups from overheated pans. Also, avoid clutter in your kitchen, especially around your stove, to ensure combustible items don’t ignite.

and know how to use it!

If you don’t have a fire suppression hood installed in your kitchen, the next best thing is a properly maintained fire extinguisher. Keep them clean and dry and be aware that they do expire. Ensure you know how to use it, following the Pull, Aim, Squeeze, and Sweep process.

These are six easy ways that you can help ensure your holiday gatherings are safe and enjoyable. While kitchen fire risks increase during the holiday season, we at Denlar Fire Protection want to ensure you and your family stay safe all year round. At Denlar, we are committed to our fire education and safety mission. We specialize in fire suppression range hoods designed to UL 300A specifications. Unlike most fire suppression hoods (which are intended for commercial cooking applications), our hoods are pre-engineered for use over residential-grade cooktops and ranges, with no risky on-site fabrication needed. Benefit from our plug-and-play style application and preserve all your cabinet space with no need for additional external units. Let us help keep your loved ones safe and your property preserved. Learn more about how we can help. * having a fire suppression hood does not remove the need for an extinguisher.

Sources:

“Thanksgiving Fire Safety Information.” Nfpa.Org, NFPA, www.nfpa.org/education-and research/home-fire-safety/thanksgiving. Accessed 4 Dec. 2023.
“U.S. Fire Problem – Home Cooking Fires.” Nfpa.Org, NFPA, 1 Sept. 2023, www.nfpa.org/education-and-research/research/nfpa-research/fire-statistical-reports/home-cooking-fires.