Holiday Cooking Ills

One of the things I've always loved about the Holidays is gathering for the big feasts. I love the smells, the kitchen bustle, the traditions... eating - It's all good.

Exhaustion, headaches, and body aches sometimes accompany these days. We often write these off as flu symptoms or simply the result of tiredness from all the work, wine, over-eating, and people. However if you are cooking with gas be aware that your cookstove vents directly into your home. That means carbon monoxide is in your kitchen. Those ills you feel may be the result of breathing higher than healthy levels of CO.

The recommended CO exposure limits are only 9ppm (parts per million) per 24 hour period. Most stovetop burners, if reasonably clean and functioning correctly, put out around 22ppm each. This number increases dramatically when a pot is put on the burner. The oven may vent over 100ppm. And there you are, standing over the stove breathing it in.

What to do:

1. Always run the exhaust fan and/or open a window when cooking. This alone will take care of most of the problem.

2. Install a CO detector. At least one per home is required by the state of California but why not install one in the cooking area as well?

3. Have your oven and burners CO levels checked by a competent chimney and venting professional or expert appliance repairman, and then cleaned and tuned if needed.

We wish you a happy and healthy holiday season!