7 kitchen safety tips to consider

For many people, the kitchen is the heart of their home. But it's also a room that can be hazardous if not used and organized properly. Following these safety tips may help keep you and your family safe while cooking in the kitchen.

First, keep anything that may catch fire, like dish towels or oven mitts, for example, away from your cooktop.

And remember: You should never leave the kitchen while food is cooking.

Here's a trick when taking a lid off a hot pan: Tilt the lid away from you to help protect your face and hands from steam.

If a grease fire starts, don't use water — it'll only make it worse! Quickly put a lid on the pot or pan, and have a fire extinguisher nearby.

We've all burned something now and then, setting off the smoke detector. But as tempting as it may be, you should never tamper with a smoke detector when cooking.

If you've got little ones in the house, keep a "kid-free zone" of at least 3 feet around the oven and stove. Use a safety gate if possible.

Finally, unattended, plugged-in appliances on your countertop may create an unnecessary risk of fire. So play it safe and unplug them.

For more safety tips, head to allstate.com.