More than one in 10 people in the UK have had a cooking accident or caused damage to their kitchen while trying to copy TV chefs, from shows such as Saturday Kitchen and Great British Menu.
Research commissioned by esure home insurance shows that despite 73% of people naming themselves ?amateur?, ?novice? or even ?useless? chefs, a worrying three quarters (75%) would still attempt a complex culinary technique, not only risking injury to themselves and others but also racking up more than ?5 billion worth of damage to UK homes.
The techniques found to cause the most accidental damage in the kitchen were:
? Fast chopping (77%) – Damage included scratching kitchen work surfaces
? Deep frying (48%) ? Damage included personal injury (especially burns to skin)
? Steaming (37%) ? Damage included water marks on walls and ceilings
? Tenderising meat (31%) ? Damage included chips and cracks to kitchen work surfaces
? Skewering (27%) ? Damage included personal injury (especially scrapes to fingers and hands)
Cr?me br?l?es and roasted peppers should top the list of most dangerous dishes as over a third (37%) of amateur chefs would consider using a DIY large-scale version of a blow torch to replicate these dishes after watching celebrity chefs on TV, as opposed to a smaller culinary tool. More than a quarter (28%) of those consequently caused damage to their kitchens, utensils or themselves in the process. Perhaps more worryingly, 70 per cent of people admitted they didn?t keep a fire extinguisher or fire blanket in their kitchen.
According to the survey, just one in five (20%) of households have a TV in their kitchen and despite modern technology, which allows us to ?stop?, ?pause? and ?rewind? programmes, 62% prefer to attempt re-creating a dish in ?real time? along with the chef.
Consequently, a quarter (25%) of amateur cooks admit to leaving their kitchens unattended whilst they run into the lounge to catch the next step on television and a worrying 86% admit they have carelessly left something cooking on the hob whilst doing so. One in ten home cooks have even been injured when running from kitchen to lounge in order to copy recipes from the TV ? in fact, 34% of those admitted to having slipped on peelings and spilt liquids in the process.
Celebrity chef Tony Tobin from the BBC?s Ready Steady Cook, said: ?It?s great to see that kitchens across the country are becoming hubs of creative cookery – fuelling a passion for food and the growth of the dinner party. However, all celebrity chefs have had years of training and people at home must remember this when attempting to recreate any dishes they see on TV.
?Make sure you?re familiar with the basics before trying out any complicated culinary techniques and prepare your kitchen before starting. A cluttered kitchen is a dangerous kitchen.?
Top tips for cooking safely
? Preparation is key ? read recipes all the way through from start to finish before you even pick up a pan or utensil
? Make sure you have got a clear work surface before starting to prepare ingredients or cook
? Avoid distractions whilst cooking, such as talking on the phone, and keep demanding children entertained
? Ensure kitchen floors are cleared of all clutter before you begin, so there are no hazards to trip over
? If you spill something on the floor, make sure you clean it up immediately
? Keep flammable kitchen cloths away from hobs and live pans
? Always have fire extinguishers available and make sure you know how to use them
? If a fire does develop in a pot or pan, turn off the heat, cover it with a fire blanket, and leave it to cool
? Turn saucepan handles away from the edge of the work surface so you don?t knock them
? Keep a first aid kit at hand with a supply of plasters in case of any nicks or cuts
