Hit meal prep 100 times and nearly burned my kitchen down

I hit 100 batch preps last Tuesday without even realizing. It snuck up on me cause I just make the same chili every Sunday without thinking. But this time I forgot the burner was on medium low under the empty pot and melted the handle off. My wife walked in and asked if I was trying to start a fire. Anyone else get too comfortable with a routine and almost ruin dinner?

2 comments

2 Comments

anna_hill1mo ago

Did you catch it before the smoke alarm went off at least? I've definitely zoned out while cooking before and it's scary how fast things can go wrong. Glad you and your kitchen are okay for the most part.

simonmoore1mo ago

Actually that's the thing, the smoke alarm didn't even go off this time. I mean it did eventually but only after I'd already grabbed the pan off the burner. I had the hood fan on too, so maybe that muffled the sound a bit. What really gets me is how quiet the whole thing was until the fire was already going. Makes you wonder how many kitchen fires start the same way and people just don't notice until it's too late. Did you ever figure out what caused you to zone out like that? For me it was just being tired after work, but I'm starting to think I need a timer for the stove every single time I cook now.