Is Leaving an Electric Stove on All Night Safe?

Stove Safety

• As cooking fires are the leading cause of household fires, it is absolutely crucial to take preventive measures ahead of time. Before cooking for any length of time, make certain your electric stove is in proper working order. Your stovetop, oven and burners should all be completely clean. Built-up grease, food or other debris can catch fire while you are cooking at high temperatures. You should also not have any type of flammable item near your stove, including potholders, towels and flammable packaging or substances. Make sure your electric stove is operating properly, not getting to hot, shorting out or smoking during cooking before you operate it. If the stove appears to be experiencing problems, turn it off and have it repaired or replaced before using it again.

Pay Attention

• The United States Fire Administration states that you should always pay attention while cooking and never leave your electric stove unattended while it is operating. This means that while you can have something cooking all day or all night, you need to supervise it in case a problem develops. The only way it will be safe to leave your electric stove on all night is if you stay with it, monitoring the cooking process and the stove's operation. If you are sleepy or drowsy, you may not be able to pay close attention to what you are doing and should not attempt to cook.

Cooking Equipment

• If you are planning on leaving a dish in to cook for several hours or longer, make sure your cookware is rated for prolonged exposure to the temperatures you are planning on using. Do not use any cookware or wraps that might melt, burn or otherwise fail when exposed to heat.

Other Risks

• Electric stoves are not intended to be used as substitutes for heaters or to keep your home warm during cold weather. Your stove should only be used for cooking. The United States Fire Administration warns against using your stove to heat your home and cautions that you may place yourself at risk for a fire, injury or even death if you use your stove for purposes other than cooking.