“I wish I had less kitchen space,” is a phrase uttered by no one, ever. Cabinet space is precious, and with cookware, cutting boards, tableware, utensils, storage containers, and small appliances competing for it, there’s never enough. Many of us try to make use of every last inch of kitchen real estate — even if…
We’re here to explain why that’s a recipe for disaster. Not only do you risk damaging the items, but you also create a fire hazard. Here are 12 common items to avoid keeping by the stove, including on the countertop and in nearby cabinets.
1. Paper Towels
Whether you’re a messy cook or just want to keep your hands clean, you may be tempted to have paper towels nearby when cooking on the stovetop. But paper towels are made from paper pulp, and all paper products are considered flammable. This makes storage near the cooktop a serious fire hazard.
2. Cooking Oil
Keep your cooking oils in a cool, dark, dry place away from heat, air, or light exposure. This includes vegetable oils (such as extra-virgin olive oil, avocado oil, coconut oil, and sesame oil), as well as seed oils and nut oils. The fluctuating temperatures near the stovetop will quickly turn cooking oil rancid, ruining the flavor.
3. Cookbooks
Much like paper towels, cookbooks can easily catch fire in a matter of moments. Another potential downside to storing them by the stove? You risk food spatter getting all over the pages, making the recipes harder to read. This is why you should always keep cookbooks a few feet away, ideally on a separate countertop elsewhere in the kitchen.
More from our network
House Outlook is part of Optimism, which publishes content that uplifts, informs, and inspires.
4. Plastic Utensils
When using a plastic spoon to stir your sauce, avoid resting it too close to the stove. High heat can cause the plastic to warp or even melt, rendering the utensil useless. Melted plastic is also a major headache to clean up, and it may leave behind residue or cause minor damage to your surfaces. Silicone utensils are a safer alternative to plastic as they can withstand temperatures up to 600 degrees Fahrenheit.
5. Canned Food
Given their shelf-stable nature, you may assume that canned foods can withstand some pretty adverse conditions. While this is true to a point, temperatures above 100 degrees Fahrenheit may degrade the food inside, risking spoilage. Always keep cans in a cool, dark place, far away from the warmth you’d encounter in a cupboard above the stove, for instance.
6. Dried Spices
Don’t be tempted by the convenience of keeping dried herbs and spices near the cooktop, as they’ll easily lose their potency when exposed to heat and humidity. While this won’t make you sick, it’ll negatively impact the flavor of your spices. Additionally, some spices, such as cinnamon, garlic powder, and chili flakes, contain volatile oils that make them more susceptible to burning.
7. Fresh Fruit
Heat induces the release of ethylene gas in fresh fruit, which is a natural gas responsible for ripening. Storing fruit near the stovetop speeds up the ripening process, and your produce may go bad before you can enjoy it.
8. Cleaning Products
Certain cleaning products are flammable and can release hazardous gases into the air if ignited. Even if you think a fire is unlikely, storing these products near high heat can make them less effective. So while you may like to clean up after you use the cooktop, keep those spray bottles far away until the stove cools down.
9. Electronic Appliances
Store small appliances such as your toaster or blender as far away from the cooktop as room allows. High heat can melt wires, causing those appliances to fritz out, even if they’re new. For this same reason, you also should keep phones and laptops at a safe distance, even when using them to read a recipe, for example.
10. Oven Mitts
While you may need them for handling hot cookware, fabric oven mitts are prone to catching on fire, especially near gas stoves with open flames. (The same goes for that dish towel draped over the oven door handle.) Instead, keep your oven mitts and dish towels in a drawer away from the heat, and remove them only when needed.
11. Cutting Boards
Storing wooden cutting boards and utensils — or anything else made from wood, for that matter — near the stove increases the risk of warping and splintering. Be extra cautious if you have a gas cooktop with an open flame, as you also risk the wood catching on fire.
12. Wine and Liquor
Maybe you’re making a pasta sauce that requires a splash of white wine or vodka. While it could be tempting to keep a bottle right there next to the stove, you’d be making a big mistake. Not only is alcohol highly flammable, but heat can degrade the liquid inside, causing it to become rancid.
While this isn’t an exhaustive list by any means, it offers a good starting point for items to avoid storing near the cooktop. If space allows, keep the area completely clear of any items. Or, if that’s not possible, consider storing those items elsewhere while you’re preparing dinner. This could help lessen the odds of your kitchen going up in smoke.
