Published at 11:06, Thursday, 23 February 2012

COPELAND chip lovers are being urged to take care when frying their frites.

Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service is using National Chip Week (February 20-26) to remind people of the potential dangers of cooking chips both in traditional pans and deep fat fryers.

Last year, there were 151 kitchen fires, with 61 caused by a cooker/oven and three by deep fat fryers.

The Fire Service says switching to oven chips or a temperature-controlled deep-fat fryer can help prevent a fire although cooking chips in the oven can also be a potential danger if left unattended for any length of time.

Anyone choosing to deep-fat fry should never fill the pan more than one-third full and NEVER throw water on a chip pan fire.

Cumbria’s Deputy Chief Fire Officer Ian Cartwright said: “Chips are one of Britain’s favourite foods and the fact we even have a National Chip Week shows how popular they are.

“Of course we want people to continue enjoying eating chips, all we’re saying is that we’d like everyone to be aware of the fire dangers that come with cooking them, especially in a deep fat fryer.

“The smallest distraction when cooking can potentially lead to a fire in moments so the best advice is to ensure you maintain your concentration and don’t leave pans on the heat unattended.”

Published by http://www.whitehavennews.co.uk