How To - Make a Kitchen Fire Extinguisher

Hi Friends,

Having a fire extinguisher in your kitchen is a must!  You can't beat a commercial fire extinguisher for doing its job, but for small fat and grease fires that flare up on the kitchen range or under the oven broiler, baking soda will put out the flames effectively.  Then, after a quick rinse, your food might still be edible.

Fill a clean, 1 pound coffee can nearly full with baking soda.  Cover the can snugly with its plastic lid so that the soda will not lump.  Wrap the can in a bright red piece of paper.  Write on the paper FOR FIRE ONLY.  Place the can near your stove but not on it.  If a grease fire occurs, quickly rip the lid off and toss the soda on the flames.

If you don't have baking soda, you can use salt in the same manner.  While salt is cheaper, it merely smothers the fire with its weight while baking soda both smothers and produces fire-stopping carbon dioxide.

Remember, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.  ALWAYS HAVE A FIRE EXTINGUISHER ON HAND.