How to Avoid Kitchen Fires

Nothing is better than a home-cooked meal. But all that activity in the kitchen during cooking time can spell trouble unless a few precautions are taken into consideration. Avoid kitchen fires with these tips.

Don’t Leave the Kitchen

Food that is being sautéed, steamed, or boiled can easily burn once the cooling liquid has evaporated. Once that food is left to cook on a dry skillet or pot, it can easily catch on fire.

Whoever is cooking should never leave the kitchen while anything is on the stovetop. If food is in the oven, be sure to set a timer so that the oven either turns off automatically, or the cook can return to the kitchen to remove the food from oven before it burns.

Don’t Multitask Activities

When the cook is trying to do too many things at once, it’s too easy to forget about what’s cooking on the stove or baking in the oven. This can quickly lead to burned food and worse – a kitchen fire.

San Marcos Insurance Group in Chandler, AZ recommends planning family activities so they don’t interfere with meal preparation. For instance, don’t expect the family cook to keep tabs on dinner while playing a family game in the living room at the same time.

Keep Kids Out of the Kitchen

The kitchen is the heart of the home, but kids can get rambunctious and out of control, and there are a lot of dangers in the kitchen during cooking time.

To be on the safe side, keep kids away from hot stoves and pots sitting on the range or countertops. Keep children out of the kitchen as much as possible, or at least on the other side of the kitchen island, where they will be far away from dangerous stovetops and sharp implements. San Marcos Insurance Group in Chandler, AZ suggests distracting kids with another activity in other room, to occupy them while you’re cooking.

Control Consumption

If you’re preparing a particularly involved meal or cooking in the midst of a party, you may be sipping alcohol as you cook. This is a common behavior during cooking that many consider makes meal preparation more enjoyable. However, indulging in too much alcohol consumption can lead to neglecting kitchen safety.

Control your alcohol consumption so it doesn’t interfere with your ability to monitor safety precautions and food preparation. A good idea for doing this is to alternate having a glass of water in between each alcoholic beverage.

With these cooking safety tips in mind, your holiday meal preparation should go smoothly and without any fire emergencies.

 

 

 

 

Auto Insurance Arizona

Route 66 is a popular touring destination for automobile owners looking to experience the American Southwest. Arizona mandates auto insurance registration for all drivers with the state Motor Vehicle Division (MVD). Drivers with a record of traffic citations or driving without insurance in the state may be subject to fine. Liability auto insurance is the minimum insurance coverage for Arizona drivers.  

Required Auto Insurance Coverage

Arizona’s Financial Responsibility law requires registration of a Certificate of Financial Responsibility (SR-22) at a state MVD to reinstate a license. All drivers must evidence proof for auto liability insurance of a minimum of 15/30/10 or 15,000/30,000/10,000 or:

  • $15,000 bodily injury coverage for death of one (1) person, in an accident
  • $30,000 bodily injury coverage for death of two (2) or more persons in an accident. Coverage is subject to a $15,000 per person limit
  • $10,000 property damages or injury of another in an accident

Optional Auto Insurance Coverage

Prior to signing on to auto insurance coverage, Arizona drivers may supplement liability insurance with the additional coverage for:

  • Auto lease
  • Collision
  • Comprehensive collision and liability
  • Parts and equipment replacement
  • Medical bills
  • Personal injury protection (PIP)
  • Uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily 
  • Uninsured motorist property damage 
  • Towing and auto repair costs

Combined auto insurance and homeowners insurance, or medical insurance agreements may be available through your insurance broker. Ask an agent about comprehensive coverage, as well as premiums, claim submission, and compensation limits. Factors such as age, model, of vehicle, driving history, credit score, and city of residence may affect insurance policy premiums. Drivers classified as higher risk as result of age and gender, DWIs or traffic citations, may also be required to supplemental fees.

To find out more about auto insurance in Arizona, and to obtain a quote, contact San Marcos Insurance Group, Chandler, AZ.