Burnt turkey? Charred-to-perfection sweet potatoes? Small blaze result in a run to Best Buy on Black Friday?
You’re not alone: “In the U.S., Thanksgiving is the peak day for cooking fires, 90 percent of which are caused by unattended cooking,” writes the American Red Cross Metro NY North in a release.
But the organization is here to help. They offer the following tips for staying safe on Thanksgiving:
- Stay in the kitchen when you are frying, grilling or broiling food. If you leave the kitchen even for a short period of time, turn off the stove.
- Keep anything that can catch fire—potholders, wooden utensils, food wrappers or towels away from your stovetop.
- Have a “kid- and pet-free zone” of at least 3 feet around the stove.
- Turn the handles of pots and pans on the stove inward to avoid accidents.
Click here for more general tips, too.
And let’s have some fun before the serious holiday prep begins: What was your worst cooking mishap on Thanksgiving? Let us know in the comments!
