Kitchen safety tips for the holiday season

Ready or not, the 2019 Holiday Season is upon us. With less than two weeks until Thanksgiving’s arrival, many folks are already planning for the big feast. Of course, that will likely mean extra time in the kitchen, as many are working to prepare the turkey and all the trimmings. If plenty of meal prep and cooking is in your near future, you may want to keep in mind the following kitchen tips, that can help make your holiday safe and memorable.  GRDA passes these along from our friends at the Electric Safety Foundational International (esfi.org).

• First of all, it doesn’t matter how good of a cook you are, your kitchen still needs smoke alarms that are in good working order. However, they should be installed in every bedroom, outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home as well. For the best protection, your alarms should be interconnected so they all sound if one sounds. Before you fire up the oven and all those stovetop burners, make sure your smoke alarms are working properly.
• Next, make sure your oven and stovetop are free of grease and dust. You should also clean the exhaust hood and duct over the stove regularly (if you have not done that lately, pre-Thanksgiving would be a great time). Finally, make sure to vacuum the refrigerator coils every three months to prevent potentially dangerous dust build up. All of this cleaning can help prevent grease fires.
• Always plug your countertop appliances into Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) –protected outlets. Also, always keep appliance cords away from hot surfaces like the range or toaster. Unplug these appliances when not in use. 
• Here’s another tip that may sound simple, but it’s important to keep in mind, especially this time of year: When you’re entertaining holiday guests, it’s easier to forget that something is cooking on the stove or in the oven. So, it’s a good idea to use a kitchen timer to make sure your Thanksgiving dish does not become a fire hazard.
• Finally, enjoy the day. Being proactive about kitchen and electrical safety can give you peace of mind and allow you to get the most from your holiday celebration.

All your friends at GRDA wish you and yours a Happy Thanksgiving!

Headquartered in Vinita, GRDA is Oklahoma’s state-owned electric utility; fully funded by revenues from electric and water sales instead of taxes. Each day, GRDA strives to be an “Oklahoma agency of excellence” by focusing on the 5 E’s: electricity, economic development, environmental stewardship, employees and efficiency.