1. Cooking Oil
It might be convenient to keep the oil bottle close to where you cook, but it’s not a good idea. Oil stored near heat sources like a stove can easily become a fire hazard. A bottle too close to a burner or open flame could ignite or spill and start a grease fire. Such a fire is very difficult to extinguish and can spread quickly.
There’s also the long-term quality issue; exposure to heat accelerates oxidation, causing the oil to spoil faster. This not only affects the taste but also shortens the oil’s shelf life. To avoid such problems, store the oil in a cool, dry cabinet where it’s still easy to access.
2. Spices
Although spice racks built into kitchen walls may look stylish, placing them right next to the stove is not recommended. Spices are sensitive to heat and humidity, and keeping them close to a hot, steamy area causes them to lose flavor and color faster. If you use your spices frequently, this can add up to a lot of wasted money.
Get the most out of your spices by storing them in a dark, cool cabinet or drawer where the temperature doesn’t fluctuate as much.
3. Coffee
Placing coffee beans or ground coffee near the stove can seriously harm their flavor. High temperatures break down the aromatic compounds that give coffee its taste and smell, leading to a bitter taste over time. There’s also another issue: steam. If moisture gets into your coffee, it can cause mold to develop—especially if the coffee container isn’t completely airtight.
The best way to store coffee is in an airtight container, preferably one that blocks light, kept in a cool, dark place, away from heat or fluctuating temperatures.
4. Fruit Bowls
Fruits may look great on the countertop, but placing a fruit bowl too close to the stove is a recipe for spoilage. The heat and steam can cause fruits to soften, overripen, or rot faster than usual. Even durable fruits like apples and oranges can be affected.
If kitchen space is limited, consider moving the bowl to a nearby table or a cooler corner. This helps keep your fruits fresher for longer and reduces food waste.
5. Medications and Supplements
Are you one of those who keep vitamins or medications in the kitchen for daily convenience? Think again. Heat and humidity from cooking can break down active ingredients, reducing the effectiveness of medications and potentially making their compounds unstable. This also applies to common supplements like probiotics and fish oil, for example.
A better place is a cool, dry location with a stable temperature. Always check the label for storage instructions, and unless refrigeration is recommended, avoid storing medications in the kitchen altogether.
6. Appliances with Cords
Many of us tend to leave appliances like toasters or blenders near the stove. It saves counter space, right? But have you considered that cords can slip onto hot burners, potentially starting fires? Even if the appliance isn’t in use, the heat around it can damage the cords or internal components. Grease and food splatters from cooking can also clog certain machines.
A safer choice is to plug in such appliances away from the stove or store them elsewhere when not in use, like in a cabinet.
7. Paper Towels
They’re found in almost every kitchen and used throughout the day. But paper towels and heat are not a safe combination, and you can probably already guess why. In smaller kitchens, it’s easy to place the roll right next to the stove for convenience, but this small, innocent habit can be a big mistake. If exposed to heat or open flames, paper towels can ignite easily, especially under pressure when you’re cooking on multiple burners, and the long roll could fall with an accidental hand movement.
Instead, keep them in a drawer or hanging on a rack far from any heat source. It’s a simple change that can prevent a kitchen accident.
8. Wooden Cutting Boards
Anything made of wood shouldn’t be near your stove, and not just because of the fire hazard. When a wooden cutting board is exposed to heat and steam from cooking, it can expand and contract. This constant stress warps the board and can eventually cause cracks to form, where bacteria tend to thrive. Of course, there’s also the possibility of a fire, but you can figure that out yourself.
Store the cutting board vertically in a cabinet or on a shelf at the far end of the counter if you have limited kitchen space. It will last longer and stay safer.
9. Canned Food
Canned food is designed for storage at room temperature, and most people assume that means any spot in the kitchen is fine. That’s not wise, because placing canned goods above or near the stove can raise their internal temperature far more than you might think. When canned food is exposed to temperatures above 38 degrees Celsius, the risk of spoilage increases significantly.
It’s better to move canned goods to a cool pantry or cabinet instead of a shelf above the stove.
10. Towels and Oven Mitts
