It’s hard to resist a juicy, freshly cooked plate of golden, succulent chips especially if the potatoes are home grown in County Down.
But chip pans should certainly not be on the menu urges the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS).
The NIFRS is using this year’s National Chip Week (15 – 21 February) to warn people of the dangers of using traditional chip pans.
Chip pans are one of the most common causes of fire in the home. In 2015 NIFRS attended 81 accidental dwelling fires caused by chip pans, which is a decrease on the 2014 figure of 92 accidental dwelling fires caused by chip pans. But the figure is still far too high.
NIFRS hopes that people put safety first when it comes to cooking to protect themselves and their family from the dangers of fire which can spread all too quickly.
Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service Assistant Chief Fire Officer Alan Walmsley said: “National Chip Week – designed to celebrate chips as one of our culinary favourites – provides an ideal opportunity for us to remind people to take extra care when cooking with pans, especially ones containing hot oil or fat.
“Chip pans are well-known for being a fire risk, but simply changing the way you cook can prevent fire. Our advice is that you stop using a traditional chip pan and invest in an electric temperature-controlled deep fat fryer… or cook your chips in the oven.
“If it isn’t possible to give up using a chip pan in your home be sure to carefully follow our all year round fire safety advice to reduce fire hazards and cook safely. Remember – never fill a pan more than one third full of fat or oil; never leave the pan unattended when the heat is switched on and never put the food in the pan if the oil begins to give off smoke, just turn off the heat and leave the oil to cool, otherwise it could catch fire.
“Do not cook if under the influence of alcohol and remember to keep your grill pan clean.
“Chips will be on the menu in a lot of homes next week, but remember that even the smallest distraction, like answering the phone when using chip pans to cook, can lead to a fire in a matter of moments, so the best advice is to ensure you maintain your concentration and don’t leave pans on the heat unattended.”
Chip Pan Fire Safety
* Never leave any cooking unattended
* Only fill you pan a third full
* Do not start cooking if you have had alcohol or are feeling tired
* Always have an adult attending a chip pan, not a minor
* Keep chip pans clean. A build-up of fat and oils can easily catch fire.
If your chip pan catches fire don’t take any risks and follow NIFRS guidelines:
* Do not move it.
* Do not tackle the fire yourself.
* Never throw water on a chip pan or grill pan fire.
* Turn off the heat if safe to do so but never lean over the pan to reach the controls.
* Leave the kitchen and close the door behind you.
* Get everyone out of the house.
* Dial 999 and ask for the Fire Service.
Other options:
? why not buy the chips from your local ‘chippie’ ?
? why not par boil the sliced chip first, dry them off and then deep fry, thus reducing the cooking time… and the risk ?
? why not slice up the chips thinly and rub them in oil and roast them in the oven, turning them over a couple of times to cook evenly ?
