How to avoid too hot pan that causes fire
I've start cooking large batches of food on Sunday in preparation for the week. One item is cooking chicken at a high temperature on my cast iron skillet until it is cooked through. Last night as I removed the first batch to put on the next I added some oil as it was needed. It'll probably come as no surprise that the skillet became alight with a grease fire.
How can I avoid this in the future? Would it be best to let the skillet completely cool, add oil then, and cook the next batch? Any advice would be helpful. Thanks in advance.
Best Answer
Not likely that pan itself was hot enough to ignite. The auto-ignition point for cooking oils is 400 to 435°C (750 to 815°F).
You must have splashed some oil and it contacted an ignition source (e.g. flame).
One option would be to kill all flames before adding any oil. Note that on an electric stove, it'll take some time for it to cool down, so you'd have to kill it and wait.
Have a proper lid on hand to smother a fire.
A deeper pan will help.
Pour only what you need from a measuring cup.
Most important - stop cooking so hot. The oil will splatter more, the oil will be more volatile/flammable, and you have a bigger ignition source.
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Quick Answer about "How to avoid too hot pan that causes fire"
Heat the oil slowly to the temperature you need for frying or sauteéing. Add food gently to the pot or pan so the oil does not splatter. Always cook with a lid beside your pan. If you have a fire, slide the lid over the pan and turn off the burner.How do you deal with a pan that is too hot or on fire?
Leave covered until the pan is cool. NEVER move the pot or carry it outside \u2014 the pot is too hot to handle and the contents may splash, causing a severe burn. Turn the heat off. With the lid on and the heat off, the fire should quickly put itself out.How can pan fire be prevented?
Kitchen fire safety rulesCan a hot pan cause a fire?
Most frying pan fires occur within five minutes of turning on the heat source. Turning your back just for a second, even to chop vegetables or kiss your spouse hello, allows enough time for that unattended, oily pan to catch fire.What causes flames when cooking?
Kitchen fires are most often caused by: Leaving cooking food unattended. Placing combustibles too close to the heat source. Unintentionally turning on or not turning off the equipment.How to Prevent \u0026 Douse a Kitchen Fire | Deep-Frying
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Answer 2
What @paparazzi said.
Also, 390 F (191 C) should give you the cooking result you want, at lower safer temperature. I recommend using a thermometer and not exceeding that temp.
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