Prices on traditional Thanksgiving groceries are up about 2% over 2023, but three out of five people in the U.S. still plan to have this week's holiday meal at home, according to the consumer research firm Circana.

And that inflation rate is meager compared to the 20% increase on Thanksgiving food prices since 2020.

Steep grocery bills are unlikely to impact the fact that Thanksgiving is the biggest eating holiday of the year and generated $2.4 billion in food sales in 2023, second only to Christmas.

It follows that home-cooking fires spike on Thanksgiving, the National Fire Protection Association reports. “On Thanksgiving day alone, an estimated 1,610 home cooking fires were reported to U.S fire departments in 2022, reflecting a 399 percent increase over the daily average,” the NFPA says.

The biggest reason for these fires: Unattended cooking.

Fire safety experts advise holiday cooks to be on guard against such common distractions such as TV football and roughhousing kids, which can steel away the cook's attention until the kitchen fills with smoke and flames.

Here are the NFPA’s tips for avoiding a Thanksgiving Day fire:

  • Stay in the kitchen when you are cooking on the stove top so you can keep an eye on the food.
  • Stay in the home when cooking your turkey, and check on it frequently.
  • Keep children away from the stove. The stove will be hot and kids should stay three feet away.
  • Make sure kids stay away from hot food and liquids. The steam or splash from vegetables, gravy or coffee could cause serious burns.
  • Keep knives out of the reach of children.
  • Be sure electric cords from an electric knife, coffee maker, plate warmer or mixer are not dangling off the counter within easy reach of a child.
  • Keep matches and utility lighters out of the reach of children — up high in a locked cabinet.
  • Never leave children alone in room with a lit candle.
  • Keep the floor clear so you don’t trip over kids, toys, pocketbooks or bags.
  • Make sure your smoke alarms are working. Test them by pushing the test button. 
“Have activities that keep kids out of the kitchen during busy times,” the NFPA advises. “Kids can get involved in Thanksgiving preparations with recipes that can be done outside the kitchen.”


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