Food & Receipts

Smart Cooks Never Keep These Items Near the Stove—They’re Fire Hazards and Ruin the Taste of Food

Creating an efficient and organized kitchen is not just about finding a fast and convenient way to arrange your utensils and cookware, but also about optimizing the space to suit the specific needs of the cooking area, all while ensuring the quality of your food.

Administrator

21 April, 2024

The Kitchen Counter: A Special Place

The area around the cooktop is a special zone. The high temperatures near the cooktop can affect the quality of food and create fire hazards. Therefore, when organizing the kitchen counter, careful people pay close attention to the objects placed near the cooktop.

Accordingly, you should avoid placing the following items near the cooktop:

Cooking Oil

Many people keep cooking oil near the cooktop for easy access. However, this is not good for preserving the oil and can be a safety hazard. Cooking oil placed near the hot cooktop can increase the risk of fire. In addition, cooking oil is easily oxidized, which reduces its flavor and can produce harmful substances when frying. This can make your food less delicious and give it an unpleasant smell.

Dry Powders Such as Flour, Glutinous Rice Flour, Tapioca Flour, etc.

Powders like rice flour, wheat flour, cornstarch, and tapioca flour are all flammable, but many people are unaware of this fact. Placing these powders near the cooktop increases the risk of fire or explosion. Moreover, the area near the cooktop is often wet due to steam from boiling pots and pans and oil splatters, which can make the powders damp, lumpy, and moldy. This can diminish their flavor. Therefore, powders should be kept away from the cooktop and stored in a closed cupboard.

Organizing items around the kitchen counter is important

Garlic, Onions, and Chilies

Garlic, onions, and chilies are easily bruised, so placing them in a high-temperature area will cause them to spoil quickly. Store garlic, onions, and chilies in a well-ventilated, cool, and dry place. The hot and humid air from the cooktop will cause them to spoil, wilt, bruise, and lose their flavor. Spices and vegetables should be kept in a cool place.

Fish Sauce

Fish sauce is also easily oxidized when exposed to high temperatures. Therefore, if you place fish sauce near the cooktop, it will quickly deteriorate. Fish sauce should be stored in a cool, dry place with a temperature below 30 degrees Celsius and away from direct sunlight. Fish sauce oxidizes and turns black when exposed to excessive light and high temperatures.

Pickles, Salted Bamboo Shoots, and Garlic Vinegar

If pickles, salted bamboo shoots, and garlic vinegar are exposed to high temperatures, they will quickly spoil, become sour, and lose their crispiness. Many families make their own pickles for consumption. Therefore, these fermented foods should be placed in a cool, dry place.

Alcohol

Many families use alcohol for cooking and preparation, but alcohol is highly flammable. Therefore, never place alcohol near the cooktop. When placed near the cooktop, alcohol can deteriorate due to high temperatures and undergo chemical changes.

Lighters

It is extremely dangerous to place lighters near the cooktop, especially if it is a gas stove. This increases the risk of fire and explosion.

Plastic Bags

Plastic bags are commonly used in kitchens. However, they are made of polyethylene, which is highly flammable and can spread fire quickly. Therefore, never place items in plastic bags or plastic bags near the cooktop.

Mobile Phones

Many people use their mobile phones while cooking and conveniently place them right next to the cooktop. This causes the phone to heat up faster, which can damage the battery and the device itself. In addition, using a mobile phone while cooking can distract you, leading to a lower quality of food and an increased risk of spills.

Rice Cooker

You should also avoid placing the rice cooker too close to the cooktop, even if it seems convenient. Rice cookers have electronic circuitry, which can be damaged if placed near the cooktop. This can cause the rice cooker to malfunction, resulting in undercooked or overcooked rice. Continuous exposure to heat can also shorten the lifespan of the rice cooker.

It is recommended to keep a separate counter for storage. When cooking, take items from the storage counter to the cooktop. Avoid placing items within close proximity to the heat of the cooktop.

Microwave Oven

Microwave ovens are also essential cooking appliances. However, they are electrical appliances that require ventilation during operation. Placing a microwave oven next to the cooktop can increase the risk of fire.

Refrigerator

Refrigerators are used to store and preserve food, so their temperature is critical. Placing a refrigerator next to the cooktop forces it to work harder and cool longer, which affects the quality of the food and increases energy consumption. It can also shorten the life of the refrigerator.

Frequently asked questions

Cooking oil, flammable powders like flour and starch, garlic, onions, chilies, fish sauce, pickles, alcohol, lighters, plastic bags, mobile phones, rice cookers, microwave ovens, and refrigerators should all be kept away from the cooktop. Placing these items near the cooktop can lead to safety hazards, food spoilage, or damage to appliances due to high temperatures and humidity levels.

High temperatures can cause cooking oil to spoil and increase the risk of fire. Flammable powders can ignite or explode. Perishable foods like garlic, onions, chilies, fish sauce, and pickles will spoil faster and lose their flavor and texture. Electronic appliances like rice cookers and microwave ovens can malfunction or be damaged by the heat.

A separate counter or storage area away from the cooktop is ideal. Keep perishable food items in a cool, dry, and well-ventilated place. Flammable items should be stored in a closed cupboard, away from heat sources. Always prioritize safety and food quality by keeping the area around the cooktop clear and organized.