February 15th-19th is National Chip Week. With 676,000 tonnes of British potatoes made into chips every year in the UK, it is clear that we love our chips!
However, frying chips can be a major fire hazard. In light of this, Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service are urging a nation of chip lovers to take care when indulging in one of our favourite foods during National Chip Week.
Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service are launching National Chip Week in partnership with Sundorne Sports Village and Oswestry Leisure Centre to promote healthy lifestyle. From our exhibition vehicle watch our chip pan demonstration, gain cooking safely advice and enter our draw to win a week’s membership pass. Come and meet us and have a tour of Sundorne Sports Village on Monday 15th February or Oswesry Leisure Centre Thursday 18th February 10:00-15:00.
During the week the service will also be promoting safe cooking at various chip shops across Telford and Shropshire.
While we love our fried chips, chip pans can be very hazardous and leaving a chip pan unattended for any length of time can have disastrous results as the oil can easily overheat and ignite. What’s the solution? A simple tip is to switch from the pan to the oven. Alternatively, consider investing in a temperature controlled deep-fat fryer to help prevent the worst.
Laura Kavanagh-Jones for Prevention said: “Oven chips are a safer and healthier way to enjoy your favourite meal, but if you do choose to deep fat fry, please don’t leave the pan unattended. If your pan does catch light, don’t throw water over it – get out, stay out and call 999.”
If you do decide to deep fat fry your chips – whether they’re ‘chip shop style’ chips, French fries, crinkle cut chips or curly fries, these all year round simple safety tips could help reduce the risk of fire:
• Use a temperature controlled deep-fat fryer. They can’t overheat.
• Check that it doesn’t overheat – hot oil can catch fire easily.
• Don’t overfill a chip pan with oil – never fill it more than one-third full.
• Never throw water on a chip pan fire.
• Don’t cook after drinking alcohol.
• Have an escape route in place in the event of fire.
• Don’t take risks by tackling a fire. Get out, stay out and call 999.
• Get a smoke alarm and test it weekly
If you require any fire safety advice please contact us for a home fire safety visit on 01743 260260.
