Kitchen Guide: 10 Kitchen Electrical Safety Tips

Kitchen residential fires are a common occurrence, making safety in the kitchen an important rule homeowners should abide by. In light of the report from the National Fire Protection Association, cooking activities are the primary cause of home structure fires, responsible for about 44% of reported residential fires in America. That’s why we like to keep safety as one of our #1 promises for you and your home.

In this blog, we’ll explore the 10 safety rules in the kitchen to help identify potential hazards before someone gets hurt. 

10 Kitchen Safety Rules

The kitchen is the heart of the home, where families gather daily to share meals and recall the details of their day. Despite serving such a prominent role in the home, it’s also the location where about two-thirds of all home fires start. To implement kitchen safety in your home, let’s explore the 10 kitchen safety rules. 

Unplug Unused Appliances: 

You should always unplug appliances when you are leaving your home. While you don’t have to unplug built-in appliances such as your microwave, unplugging smaller appliances will reduce the risk of an electrical fire. Appliances such as blenders, toaster ovens, small microwaves, and rice cookers are the kinds that should be unplugged. 

Extension cords

Another kitchen safety tip is to watch out for the cords. Extension cords are designed to extend the source of electricity for hard-to-reach places. You can plug in lightweight appliances, like your blender for quick use and then plug it out. Remember, extension cords cannot easily handle high-voltage kitchen appliances like ovens and refrigerators. Practicing common kitchen safety rules helps you prevent electric shocks in the kitchen. 

Avoid Water Contact With Outlets: 

If you’ve ever experienced a slight jolt while plugging in your electrical blender with damp hands, you’d know that water and electrical appliances do not mix well. Exercise kitchen safety by wiping your hands thoroughly before plugging in any electrical appliances. Be wary of the electrical system during cooking to avoid electrical hazards in the kitchen.

Do Not Overload Outlets:

An important aspect of kitchen safety guidelines is ensuring your kitchen electric appliances are not plugged into the same socket or extension chord. Appliances like your oven will require more power, hence it’s better to install a designated socket than plugging it into an extension chord. Avoid plugging too many electrical appliances in one circuit which can lead to overloading your circuit. A circuit overload is a common indicator of residential electrical fires. An easy way to prevent circuit overload is by following our first tip. 

Never Leave Cooking Unattended:

One of the basic kitchen safety tips is lack of attention in the kitchen. Unattentive use of electrical appliances is the cause of most house fires. Practice caution or post reminders on your fridge about the safety rules to practice in the kitchen. 

Don't forget that leaving a toaster plugged in can also pose as a safety risk. Getting your toaster plugged in during or after use will cause it to generate sufficient heat which could cause it to start a fire. 

Use GFCI Outlets: 

An important rule of practicing kitchen safety is installing GFCIs throughout your kitchen. Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters are safety electrical plugs that offer enhanced protection against electric shocks. When plugging in an electric appliance with damp hands, a GFCI circuit will detect the moisture and shut the circuit in less than a second. These circuits should be installed in your kitchens and bathrooms for safe electric use. 

If you do not have any GFCI circuits in your kitchen, contact your local electrician and install GFCI outlets, this will help you to maintain electrical safety in the kitchen.

Test Your Outlets:

You should test your outlets every month to ensure everything is in working order. All you have to do is plug a small appliance into it and see if it turns on. This is especially important for your GFCI outlets. Testing outlets lowers the risk of an electrical shock and lets you know if something needs to be repaired. 

One Appliance Per Outlet: 

An important aspect of kitchen safety is learning how to prevent electric shocks in the kitchen. You can do so by maintaining the rule of “One appliance per Outlet”, this prevents the possibility of electric overloads and prevents the possibility of encountering electrical hazards. This eliminates the potential of keeping count of your plugged-in electrical appliances.

Keep Your Kitchen Clean: 

While this may not seem like it should matter all that much, keeping your kitchen clean will help to reduce the risk of electrical home safety issues. Sometimes, crumbs and debris can get caught in outlets and cause fires. It's important to wipe down your counter after you cook. It is also highly recommended to pull out your refrigerator and other appliances to sweep out from behind them. This will keep your electrical systems free of debris. 

Schedule A Kitchen Electrical Inspection: 

It’s always a good idea to schedule an electrical evaluation in your home at least once a year. During this evaluation, you can request that the electrician check your kitchen along with the other rooms in your room. The electrician will note any possible safety hazards and recommendations on how to fix them.

Practice Kitchen Safety With Randy’s Electric

If you live in an old apartment with faulty kitchen wiring, contact Randy’s Electric for premium electrical services such as rewiring your outdated electrical system and other electrical services. To avoid the risk of kitchen electrical hazards in your home, contact us for reliable electrical service in Minneapolis and Saint Paul, including the surrounding area. 

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