Essential Kitchen Fire Safety Tips Every Parent Should Know

Earlier this week, I broke my own kitchen rule: never leave the kitchen when something is on the stove. Within minutes, my smoke detector was blaring.

After 30 years teaching cooking to 50,000+ students,

I've taught kitchen safety countless times - and I still made this mistake. 

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Kitchen fires happen fast, and knowing what to do - and what NOT to do - can make all the difference. Here's what every parent needs to know.

This isn’t my regular newsletter - it’s a quick PSA. My regular cadence will be every other Saturday (you’ll get the next one next weekend). But I didn't want to wait to share this story.

Earlier this week, I broke my own kitchen rule: never leave the kitchen when something is on the stove. I stepped away while making caramel, and within minutes my smoke detector was blaring. I immediately knew and ran into the kitchen - it was filled with thick white smoke - my pan was not, thankfully, on fire.

The one thing I always tell students not to do, I did myself.

It reminded me of two conversations I’ve had in class recently. One of my students’ dads poured water on a grease fire - and their kitchen burned down. Another student told me her dad said water can put out any fire. That might work on some, but not on grease or electrical fires. These are dangerous situations. Sometimes it’s panic, sometimes it’s misinformation being passed down - either way, the result can be the same.

With Fire Prevention Week kicking off Sunday, October 5th, it's the perfect time reminder how quickly things can happen in the kitchen - and how important it is to know what to do. If your kids are in my after-school cooking classes, we’ll be covering age appropriate fire safety in more depth this week.

Essential Kitchen Fire Safety Tips

Cooking fires are among the most common household accidents. Here are some important safety measures to incorporate into your kitchen routine:

Never leave cooking food unattended. Stay in the kitchen while cooking.

• Keep flammable items away from the stovetop. Oven mitts, wooden utensils, towels, and food packaging can all ignite quickly.

• Never use water on grease or electrical fires. Smother grease fires with a lid, use a fire blanket, or use an extinguisher.

• Have a fire extinguisher (or fire spray/blanket) accessible - and know how to use them. I have all three in my kitchen.

• Install smoke alarms near your kitchen and test them monthly.

• Don’t panic. Pause, remember what kind of fire you’re dealing with, and act accordingly.

• Create and practice a fire escape plan with everyone in your household—kids included.

• If you want a downloadable kitchen safety checklist, here’s one from the U.S. Fire Administration you can save or print: Cooking Fire Safety - USFA.

  
  

Fire safety is about protecting your home and the people you love. Nourishment is about protecting your energy and health. Both matter - and both happen in the kitchen.

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