Kitchen mishaps

More than one in ten (14 per cent) people in the UK have had a cooking accident or caused damage to their kitchen as a result of copying professional cooking techniques of top TV chefs, from shows such as Saturday Kitchen and Great British Menu.

Research commissioned by esure home insurance shows that despite 73 per cent of people naming themselves ‘amateur', ‘novice' or even ‘useless' chefs, a worrying three quarters (75 per cent) would still attempt a complex culinary technique, not only risking injury to themselves and others but also racking up more than £5 billion worth of damage to UK homes.

The techniques found to cause the most accidental damage in the kitchen were:

Fast chopping (77 per cent) - Damage included scratching kitchen work surfaces

Deep frying (48 per cent) - Damage included personal injury (especially burns to skin)

Steaming (37 per cent) - Damage included water marks on walls and ceilings

Tenderising meat (31 per cent) - Damage included chips and cracks to kitchen work surfaces

Skewering (27 per cent) - Damage included personal injury (especially scrapes to fingers and hands)

Crème brûlées and roasted peppers should top the list of most dangerous dishes as over a third (37 per cent) of amateur chefs would consider using a DIY large-scale version of a blow torch to replicate these dishes after watching celebrity chefs on TV, as opposed to a smaller culinary tool. More than a quarter (28 per cent) of those consequently caused damage to their kitchens, utensils or themselves in the process. Perhaps more worryingly, 70 per cent of people admitted they didn't keep a fire extinguisher or fire blanket in their kitchen.

According to the survey, just one in five (20 per cent) of households have a TV in their kitchen and despite modern technology, which allows us to ‘stop', ‘pause' and ‘rewind' programmes, 62 per cent prefer to attempt re-creating a dish in ‘real time' along with the chef.

Consequently, a quarter (25 per cent) of amateur cooks admit to leaving their kitchens unattended whilst they run into the lounge to catch the next step on television and a worrying 86 per cent admit they have carelessly left something cooking on the hob whilst doing so. One in ten home cooks have even been injured when running from kitchen to lounge in order to copy recipes from the TV - in fact, 34 per cent of those admitted to having slipped on peelings and spilt liquids in the process.

Celebrity chef Tony Tobin from the BBC's Ready Steady Cook, said: "It's great to see that kitchens across the country are becoming hubs of creative cookery - fuelling a passion for food and the growth of the dinner party. However, all celebrity chefs have had years of training and people at home must remember this when attempting to recreate any dishes they see on TV.

"Make sure you're familiar with the basics before trying out any complicated culinary techniques and prepare your kitchen before starting. A cluttered kitchen is a dangerous kitchen."

Top tips for cooking safely:

Preparation is key - read recipes all the way through from start to finish before you even pick up a pan or utensil

Make sure you have got a clear work surface before starting to prepare ingredients or cook

Avoid distractions whilst cooking, such as talking on the phone, and keep demanding children entertained

Ensure kitchen floors are cleared of all clutter before you begin, so there are no hazards to trip over

If you spill something on the floor, make sure you clean it up immediately

Keep flammable kitchen cloths away from hobs and live pans

Always have fire extinguishers available and make sure you know how to use them

If a fire does develop in a pot or pan, turn off the heat, cover it with a fire blanket, and leave it to cool

Turn saucepan handles away from the edge of the work surface so you don't knock them

Keep a first aid kit at hand with a supply of plasters in case of any nicks or cuts

Mike Pickard, Head of Home Insurance for esure, said: "The kitchen is one of the most dangerous rooms in a house - but adding a budding home cook and a technical recipe can make the likelihood of having an accident soar. Having ample buildings and contents insurance plus accidental damage cover, to foot the bill of any kitchen mishaps, is definitely worthwhile."

Professional kitchen safety tips are available at www.esure.com within the Helpful Resources section.

Gender Divide

Men are almost as likely (83 per cent) as women (87 per cent) to attempt a complex culinary technique, despite having no cooking experience.

Women felt more pressure to create gourmet dishes as a result of the rise in celebrity chefs (66 per cent) compared to 59 per cent of men.

However, women also rate themselves better in the kitchen, with nearly a third (32 per cent) claiming to be a ‘confident' chef, compared to only a quarter of men (25 per cent).

Regional Differences

Those from Wales are the most risky in the kitchen, with almost a quarter (24 per cent) of Welsh people admitting they have caused damage to their house while cooking.

Londoners are playing with fire in the kitchen, with over a fifth (21 per cent) admitting to an accident after cooking with large flames - such as flambeeing.

People from East Anglia were the most confident chefs (38 per cent) compared to those from the North West, where 23 per cent claim that they're either a ‘novice' or ‘useless' in the kitchen!