Use these cooking tips from Phoenix Fire to keep your family safe this Thanksgiving

PHOENIX — To help families in metro Phoenix gobble turkeys rather than flame balls, the Phoenix Fire Department put out a short public service announcement about Thanksgiving cooking safety.

It’s necessary because Thanksgiving is the No. 1 day in the year for home cooking fires in the U.S., according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).

In fact, U.S. fire departments received around 1,610 reports of home cooking fires in 2022, which is 399% more than the daily average, the NFPA said.

With Phoenix families set to give their ovens a workout, the local fire department shared a Thanksgiving cooking safety 2024 checklist.

Phoenix Fire: Quick and easy Thanksgiving cooking safety tips

The first tip is simple: Always leave the cooking to adults.

Although teaching children how to cook can be a useful way to teach them responsibility, it’s best to save the lessons for a less high-stress day. After all, Thanksgiving can get pretty busy and chaotic. Letting kids too close to open flames or hot machinery can heighten the risk of burn injuries.

Phoenix Fire advised adults to keep a three-foot barrier between the stove and children or animals.

Chefs should also keep cooktops free from anything that can catch fire.

For example, if you’re unwrapping chicken or turkey wrapped in plastic, do not put that packaging on the hot stovetop.

In a best-case scenario, plastic could melt and stick to the stovetop, creating a hot, sticky and hard-to-clean mess. In a worst-case scenario, dangerous smoke could fill the house.

Using a pot with handles? Turn them inwards so they aren’t sticking out. You want the handle hovering over the counter — not the floor. Otherwise, you could bump into them, spilling hot liquids and burning yourself.

There’s also the risk of children grabbing handles and potentially burning themselves.

Oh, and always cook with a lid near a pan. That way you can put the lid over the pan if a small grease fire starts. The next step: Turn off the burner and give the pan a lot of time to cool.

Cooks should also keep electrical cords on kitchen appliances out of reach of children.