VICENZA, Italy -- When thinking about the holiday season, eating immediately comes to mind. And a lot of it.
So often, in our fast-paced, travel-filled lives, forgetting to take the time to honor the tradition of cooking a family meal can be lost. When rushing to put a meal together or multitasking while cooking, the result could end up not being edible.
Take time when cooking meals, even if it's for one. Pay attention not only to food preparation, but to how you heat/cook the meal.
When it comes to heating food, watching and listening are key. Whether it is in a stove or microwave, on a stovetop or hotplate, cooking safety is vital.
According to the latest National Fire Protection Association and U.S. Army research, cooking is the leading cause of home fires. Fire departments in the United States respond to an average of 162,400 home structure fires involving cooking equipment per year.
Because of this, safety advocates and U.S. Army Garrison Fire & Emergency Services suggest the following safety tips:
Stay in the kitchen when frying, grilling, broiling, microwaving or boiling food.
Never leave the stove unattended, even for a minute.
When simmering, baking or roasting food, keep an eye on it regularly. Stay
home and use a timer. DO NOT take a nap. Stay nearby.
Those with children should always use the stove's back burners when possible.
Keep young children, anyone who has consumed alcohol and pets at least three feet away from the stove.
When cooking, wear appropriate clothing.
Avoid flowing garments, synthetic materials and wearing a lot of jewelry,
because all catch on fire easily.
Keep potholders, oven mitts, wooden utensils, paper and plastic bags, towels,
and anything else that can burn, away from the stovetop.
Clean up food and grease that may collect around burners or stovetops.
If, despite taking these precautions, a fire occurs, get out, close doors behind you, ensure everyone is out and accounted for, and call the fire department.
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