As the holiday season approaches, Fire Chief Brad Hutton of Redvers is urging residents to take extra precautions in the kitchen to prevent accidents, especially when deep frying and cooking. From preventing flare-ups to ensuring safety around young children, Hutton offers vital reminders to keep your holiday meals safe and festive.
Hutton reminded people to be cautious when deep frying food. "If you’re deep frying anything, don’t overfill the oil. When you submerge a turkey or anything in hot oil, it can overflow," he said. He also warned that dipping anything with moisture into hot oil could cause a flare-up. For general kitchen safety, Hutton recommended keeping pot handles turned inward on the stove.
"If you’ve got young kids, make sure they can’t reach the stove or set up a barrier to prevent them from spilling hot liquids," he said. Hutton also pointed out that while most ovens stay cool to the touch from the outside, the gap at the top can become extremely hot.
"If you stick your finger in there, you’ll feel there’s an excessive amount of heat that can come out of the seals," he said. "It’s always best to keep young children away from the stove to prevent burns."
By staying mindful of these simple safety tips, you can enjoy a festive and accident-free holiday season in the kitchen.