; Call 911.There's no reason to wait, and the fire department can always go back to the station if you are able to get the fire out without help. Again, it would take a very large amount of salt and some don't think salt is as effective as baking soda so I'd personally rather use baking soda. Sometimes, half-truths get passed around so much they become facts- such as consuming carrots granting night-vision, or toads causing warts. She came back to the grill and the temp gauge was maxed out...carefully lifted and saw the chicken burning...so she turned off the burners and poured a TON of salt … Baking Powder Never use flour, which can explode or make the fire worse. Leave the cover on until it has cooled. As you can imagine, shooting a pan full of grease with a pressurized substance can knock things over and cause the fire to spread. we all should have one in our kitchens. Use a pot lid, a wet cloth, or a fire blanket if you happen to have one, covering the base of the fire until it’s starved of the oxygen it needs to live. 2. Other Actions to Take. IF A GREASE FIRE STARTS: 1. IF A GREASE FIRE STARTS: Cover the flames with a metal lid or cookie sheet. If the fire is small, cover the pan with a lid and turn off the burner. It’s probably overkill for your average kitchen fire, but useful for larger kitchens or heavy-duty cooks who want to be prepared. Extinguishing grease fires - Salt tossed on a grease fire on the stove or in the oven will smother flames. If the fire is too big for smother, baking soda, or salt, use a fire extinguisher. Pouring water onto flaming grease can cause it to splatter, potentially burning you and catching many other parts of your kitchen on fire. Turn off the heat source. People often ask; can you use salt to put out a grease fire? And because water is denser than oil, it sinks right to the bottom of the pan — underneath the grease fire, Dr. Biberdorf explains. Now, there is a better way to deal with the problem; Spray-Safe. Grease fires are caused by letting oil get too hot, so the best way to prevent them is to never leave your kitchen unattended. Turn off the heat source. Heat oil in a heavy pot with a metal lid. If you’ve ever splashed water into a pan of hot oil and suffered a burn from oil going everywhere, imagine that scenario, but with the splashes of oil are also on fire. While this might be fine for amusing anecdotes like those, when it comes to health and safety, you don’t need anecdotal advice. Again, it would take a very large amount of salt and some don't think salt is as effective as baking soda so I'd personally rather use baking soda. I have been to many incidents where a simple, small grease fire has ended in a trip to a burn center for the brain-child that thought they should put the burning pan in the sink, throw it outside, etc. - In case of an oven fire, close the oven door and turn off the oven. ; Call 911.There's no reason to wait, and the fire department can always go back to the station if you are able to get the fire out without help. Smother a small grease fire by tossing a handful of salt on it. Then, turn off the heat source. What are two safe ways to put out a grease fire? If the grill flares up, turn off the fuel source immediately. Cover the flames with a metal lid or cookie sheet. Try to remove oxygen from the flame by covering with another pot or a baking pan. ... Salt has a very high melting point, and so some people suggest using it for smothering these fires in a similar was as you would baking soda. Salt absorbs heat well, so it can also be used to fight grease fires. Salt is your friend. To put out a grease pan fire carefully shake baking soda on it. Water can splash and spread drops of burning oil, making grease fires bigger. An oil inferno is pretty much the worst-case scenario in any kitchen, but do you know how to respond if a grease fire happens to you? Never leave the stove unattended when cooking with oil. Follow the instructions written on the extinguisher, which will include standing back and using the extinguisher until the fire is completely gone, which may take a little longer than you’d expect. While salt can help put out a small grease fire, getting to it fast enough and having enough on hand might be a problem. ... Baking soda. If you accidentally use baking powder or flour, you’ll end up making it much worse. Don’t worry, though, Firescape, experts in fire safety, are on hand to give you the full lowdown. (Never use water on grease fires; it will splatter the burning grease.) Why take the risk though? It takes a lot of baking soda to do the job. About a cup of salt will help put out a decent-sized grease fire. level 1. Thinking nothing of … 3. In case of a small fire, you can throw baking soda onto the hot grease to smother flames. Throw lots of baking soda or salt on it. Both are fire suppressants used on Navy vessels that can handle more than just your small Thanksgiving Day grease fire. Never use water; it will only spatter the burning grease. While salt can help put out a small grease fire, getting to it fast enough and having enough on hand might be a problem. (This is very effective, quick and easy!) Use a metal lid since glass will shatter. One of the most important things to remember is to never pour water onto a grease fire. If a small fire is contained within a pan, throw as much baking soda or salt as you have on hand directly on top of the fire. an amateur cook and Navy veteran asnwering a question on Stack Exchange. If a grease fire starts: Cover the flames with a metal lid or cookie sheet. Leave the cover on until it has cooled. This story was originally published in 2013 and updated on November 25, 2020 with more complete and accurate information. This is the first (and easiest) option you should take for minor fires that can be extinguished quickly. NEVER use water to put that grease fire out. This makes it highly portable, so you never have to worry about carrying a heavy piece of equipment around. However, there is a myriad of caveats to this, the first being that this only works on small fires. Salt. About a cup of salt will help put out a decent-sized grease fire. on. If you can’t cover it, smother the fire with a generous amount of baking soda or salt until it’s extinguished. (see Tips) Start evacuating everyone from the building.Fires spread extremely fast and can overwhelm victims in minutes. fire! Do not use water on a grease fire. Flour should NEVER be used to extinguish a grease fire. Here’s what to use to safely and quickly put out a blaze on your stovetop. Small fires can also be extinguished with baking soda or salt—two common ingredients you will likely have handy. If a grease fire starts: Cover the flames with a metal lid or cookie sheet. You have to be careful though, as using the wrong powder can be disastrous. Pour on baking soda or salt. Turn off the heat source. How Do I Put Out a Grease Fire on the Grill? She threw some chicken thighs on it and apparently the fat/grease from the chicken thighs started a small fire. Don’t swat at a fire with a towel, apron, or other clothing. No. Grease fires aren’t confined to the kitchen. Water can splash and spread drops of burning oil, making grease fires bigger. Bottom line: Never, ever use a pressurized fire extinguisher on a grease fire. Baking soda is probably not going to do the trick. The only reason you would seriously attempt this is because of the lack of portable extinguishing solutions available. Baking soda may also help to smother a growing fire before it gets out of control. Since oil floats on water, oil that is on fire also floats on water. (You gotta catch it fast and SMOTHER the fire in flour.). neither. If you can’t cover it, smother the fire with a generous amount of baking soda or salt until it’s extinguished. If a spill on the bottom of your oven starts to smoke, toss some salt on it and it will stop the smoke, too. (see Tips) Start evacuating everyone from the building.Fires spread extremely fast and can overwhelm victims in minutes. Similar to using water, though, using a fire extinguisher improperly can dampen your efforts to deal with the problem. If it’s still not manageable, spray with … But make sure you don't grab anything else by mistake—baking powder and flour will both make the fire even worse. As the saying goes, water and oil don’t mix, and dumping water onto burning grease can lead to splashes that only spread the fire further. 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