6 tips for safe holiday cooking

When the holiday season is in full swing, your kitchen becomes a central hub for everyone to gather. Whether you're baking small treats to surprise your friends or cooking a full meal for a big family dinner, it's important to remember these 6 tips for safe holiday cooking.

1. Keep children safe

From pots of boiling water on hot stoves to knives resting on cutting boards, the kitchen can quickly become a chaotic and dangerous place. Protect children from potential cuts and burns by enforcing kid-free zones. You can either make the entire kitchen a kid-free zone or designate a specific area in front of the stove.

2. Watch what you’re cooking

According to the U.S. Fire Administration, the leading cause of fires in the kitchen is unattended cooking. When you're grilling, frying, or preparing food, remain in the area and never leave the kitchen. If a fire does start, be sure to have a working extinguisher close by and know how to use it.

READ: Fire prevention month: 5 safety tips.

3. Choose the right cooking equipment

Before you start, read instructions so you’ll understand how to properly and safely use all cooking equipment. Make sure everything you plan to use is working like it should, and safely plug appliances directly into the outlet — and remember to unplug them, too.

4. Keep your cooking area clean

Keep your space uncluttered by putting away items when you're done with them or setting them down in a specific space far away from the hot stovetop—because having a towel, potholder or other cloth make its way onto your stove and go up in flames is the last thing you’ll want.

5. Be wary of hot oil turkey fryers

Deep-fried turkey can be as dangerous as it is delicious if precautions aren’t taken when frying. If you plan to use a turkey fryer this holiday season, position the fryer a safe distance away from your home and be sure to not overfill it with oil. Always keep a close eye on the fryer when in use. Many fryers don’t have thermostat controls and, if you don’t watch it carefully, the oil will continue to heat until it eventually catches fire. Yikes!

6. Double-check your homeowners insurance

You’ll want your home to be protected just in case the unthinkable happens. Keep yourself safe from potential holiday disasters by making sure your home is covered. 

READ: How to conduct a year-end insurance review in 3 steps.

Everyone at UFG Insurance wishes you a very happy holiday season! If you ever have any questions about your UFG insurance policy, or need an insurance quote, contact us today!

Disclaimer: Subject to applicable legal requirements, United Fire & Casualty Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates (UFG Insurance) are no longer renewing or writing new personal lines coverage for current or potential policyholders in most states. To accommodate obtaining replacement coverage, we have entered into a renewal rights agreement for most of our personal lines business. Read more here.