With the holidays quickly approaching, and festive dishes to prepare, your kitchen likely gets a lot of use during this time of year. For many families the kitchen is the heart of the home during the holidays, which can lead to stressful cooking conditions and increase the chances of an accident. Every year kitchen fire incidents spike during the holiday season, so before all the fun begins, it’s critical you take a moment to make sure your kitchen is safe and refresh on best cooking practices. Here are the top safety tips every chef should know to avoid a holiday cooking incident.

Clean your appliances.

Food splashes and spatters all the time, but don’t leave the mess. Keep all your appliances clean of grease and food debris that could potentially catch flame. Clear the toaster of crumbs and wipe down the stovetop as needed. Clean your oven before the holiday season, and at least every three to six months. In addition, if you notice any issues with an appliance, unplug the appliance and have it serviced by a professional before using it again.

Never leave cooking unattended.

According to the Council of Canadian Fire Marshals and Fire Commissioners, cooking is the leading cause of home fires – so don’t let the holiday fun distract you from kitchen duties! Never leave an open flame or hot equipment unattended. If you have to leave the kitchen, turn the burner off. Use a timer to remind yourself about food in the oven. And, don’t forget to turn off your burners and stove when you are finished cooking.

Establish a kid zone.

Have a “kid-free zone” of at least three feet around the stove and areas where hot food or drinks are prepared. An easy way to keep kids safe is by designating a space away from high-traffic areas and cooking appliances where they can play and still be supervised. And always keep knives, cooking equipment and appliance cords away from edges of counters and stovetops for when young children do enter the kitchen.

Prevent burns.

Cook on back burners when possible and keep all pots and pans turned inward, away from the stove edge, to avoid bumping into them. Always stir and lift lids away from you to avoid hot food or steam burning your skin. And, use caution when lifting the lid off of boiling pots of water or when opening a steamed bag straight out of the microwave. Be sure to keep potholders and oven mitts nearby and place hot items in the center of counters on non-slip placemats.

Keep a fire extinguishing device nearby.

In case of fire, always have an extinguishing device nearby and know how to use it. Research shows that more than seventy per cent of fire extinguisher owners say that they would not feel very comfortable actually operating one. Offering homeowners an easy-to-use, affordable solution, the First Alert EZ Fire Spray features a lightweight spray-can design that has no pins or levers – just point and spray. Plus, it’s non-toxic and easy to clean up. Make sure you store your extinguishing device in a place that is easy to access, and that each of your family members knows where to find it.

What to do if there is a cooking fire.

Should a small fire ignite, do not pour water on it, which can cause oil to splash and spread the fire. Instead, use your extinguishing device or slide a lid over the pan to smother the fire and turn off the stovetop. If there is an oven fire, turn off the heat and keep the oven door closed. If the oven fire does not burn out on its own, evacuate the house and call 911 once you are at a safe location. Know when to go and do not try to fight the fire if it’s too large, the air is unsafe to breathe or if your escape path is blocked. It’s best to always have an emergency escape plan in place and practice it twice a year with all family members. Simply identify two ways out of each room, choose an outside meeting place a safe distance away from the home and once outside, stay outside until the proper authorities clear the home.

Install and check smoke alarms.

Correct smoke alarm placement, regular maintenance and alarm replacement are essential to help prevent fire disasters during the holidays and all year long. In fact, according to the Canadian National Fire Information Database, 80 per cent of fire deaths occur in homes without working smoke alarms. Smoke alarms should be installed on every level of the home, including the basement, inside every bedroom and outside each sleeping area. Test alarms at least every month and change batteries every six months. For convenient protection, consider alarms with a sealed 10-year battery that will render battery removal a thing of the past. First Alert offers a variety of 10-year battery alarms that offer a decade of premium protection while also eliminating late-night battery chirps and the risk of having an alarm deactivated due to battery removal. Even if you have 10-year alarms installed, it’s still important to regularly test the units.

With these safety precautions, you and your loved ones can relax and enjoy a happy – and safe – holiday season at home.

To learn more about home safety products and tips, visit http://firstalert.ca/.

‘Tis The Season: Tips for Holiday Cooking Safety