In an attempt to make Inquiry heirloom tomatoes And feta Panzanella Salad Without a grill, I almost set my oven on fire.
Here’s what happened: I popped a tray. Under the broiler for a few minutes with the idea that it would warm up my bread and tomatoes—and possibly help put some spin on the food, too. My bread did a great job. It was dark, flavorful, and perfectly crunchy. My tomatoes… started to glow in the oven. Fortunately, I was quick enough to immediately turn off the oven, wait a moment, and remove the tray of olive oil-soaked tomatoes from under the broiler. Oops
This is just one example of a small slip-up that can have major safety implications. Although your oven is one of the most essential appliances in your kitchen, it’s important to remember that it’s also one of the most dangerous appliances in your home. So, to keep your cooking safe and your kitchen flame-free, here are some simple tips to follow—plus, what if Kitchen fire happens to you.
Mistakes That Can Cause Kitchen Fires
1. Keeping fatty foods too close to heat
Something you (or I, frankly) can’t figure out? Fat (ie Cooking oil) coming too close to a heat source can cause a flame. In my case, I put too much Olive oil on my tomatoes and placed them directly under the broiler. This caused the oil to splatter and sparkle when it came into direct contact with the broiler element. It’s a fire just waiting to happen. Instead, place generously oiled foods, especially those with a high moisture content, on the bottom rack of the oven when broiling.
2. Using wax paper instead of parchment paper
There is a big difference between using Wax paper and parchment paper when cooking. Wax paper is not heat resistant. Parchment paper is (key word here, folks: wax), so it will definitely melt when exposed to prolonged, intense heat, allowing the paper to easily catch fire. Instead, save your wax paper for this. Intended usesuch as wrapping cheese and making non-stick surfaces.
3. Dropping food in the oven
There are many reasons why you might want to keep one. Relatively clean oven. That is, leftover pieces can catch fire, or at least burn and smoke at the base of your oven. Large pieces of food are even worse (like if you’re toasting a baguette and a piece falls off). By drying in the oven, they become even more flammable and can catch fire instantly. Always keep loose food items on the baking sheet, and check your oven for spilled food before and after each use.
4. Forgetting to use a baking sheet
Oh Super A common mistake is to forget to put a. Baking sheet Under dishes that may drip under the oven. Pie, Cobblerand Pizza Should be baked either directly on the baking sheet or placed on a rack under the baking sheet. Capture any excess liquid which can spread. And if you forget, do it. Clean your oven properly. before the next use.
5. Using wrong settings
Always make sure you read a recipe carefully and know how to use the oven properly before cooking anything. Simple mistakes, like setting the oven to broil instead of baking or turning it off Self cleaning optioncan easily start a fire.
6. Leaving your food unattended
Unattended cooking accounts for 33 percent of home fires, according to Fire Department of New York. Anytime you leave food in the oven, you run the risk of burning it or forgetting how long it’s been cooking. Always keep an eye on the food you are cooking and set a timer as a reminder to remove the pan from the oven.
What to do if your oven catches fire
The most important thing to remember is if the oven catches fire. keep the door closed, Close the oven, and keep an eye on the flame. This will Control the fire (Remember in high school chemistry class, when we learned that fire needs oxygen to grow?), and it should be out in a few moments. After the fire is out, open all your windows, and open the oven door to let all the smoke out. If the fire does not go out, becomes too large to control, or spreads beyond the oven, get out of your home immediately and call 911.