You know what it’s like, you’ve seen your favourite chef on TV try something new on their program, and there’s that part of you that says to yourself “I could do that”
Indeed, according to a recent survey, over 62% of us prefer to cook while watching our favourite chefs on TV. Before you reach for the tenderizer and the sharp knives, think about the effect your culinary adventure could have on your…home insurance?
Yes, it may sound ridiculous, yet every year there are reports of wannabe chefs causing chaos in their own kitchens, which is leading to an increasing number of claims on their home insurance.
In fact, over 6 million people a year suffer injury or cause damage to their kitchens while trying out cookery techniques they’ve seen on television. Accidents can vary from slicing their fingers while trying to quickly chop to attempting to blowtorch the top of a crème brulee with a torch that, let’s face it, is better suited for when you’re looking to do some plumbing.
According to research carried out by a leading home insurance provider, wannabe chefs are costing the industry approximately £5 billion in household damages, and for those who don’t have house insurance this can be a very costly venture in the kitchen. Three-quarters of those surveyed said they would still attempt complex cooking techniques even though they described their cooking skill levels as ‘average’ or ‘novice’.
Worryingly, over 85% of respondents said they leave their kitchens unattended while they check the television, with a further 10% injuring themselves in the mad dash to keep up with the recipe. Damage can range from watermark damage caused by steam, crack and chips on surfaces as a result of adventures in tenderising and personal injuries, usually involving a knife or hot pan handle. In addition, over 70% of those surveyed do not keep a fire extinguisher handy, whilst a quarter of those who had accidents have caused damage to themselves or their appliances. The advice from the industry appears to be not to try anything too complex, regardless of your ability level, and to ensure that your house insurance policy includes some form of accidental damage cover alongside your buildings and contents to cover those little accidents in the kitchen.
By: D Collins
Indeed, according to a recent survey, over 62% of us prefer to cook while watching our favourite chefs on TV. Before you reach for the tenderizer and the sharp knives, think about the effect your culinary adventure could have on your…home insurance?
Yes, it may sound ridiculous, yet every year there are reports of wannabe chefs causing chaos in their own kitchens, which is leading to an increasing number of claims on their home insurance.
In fact, over 6 million people a year suffer injury or cause damage to their kitchens while trying out cookery techniques they’ve seen on television. Accidents can vary from slicing their fingers while trying to quickly chop to attempting to blowtorch the top of a crème brulee with a torch that, let’s face it, is better suited for when you’re looking to do some plumbing.
According to research carried out by a leading home insurance provider, wannabe chefs are costing the industry approximately £5 billion in household damages, and for those who don’t have house insurance this can be a very costly venture in the kitchen. Three-quarters of those surveyed said they would still attempt complex cooking techniques even though they described their cooking skill levels as ‘average’ or ‘novice’.
Worryingly, over 85% of respondents said they leave their kitchens unattended while they check the television, with a further 10% injuring themselves in the mad dash to keep up with the recipe. Damage can range from watermark damage caused by steam, crack and chips on surfaces as a result of adventures in tenderising and personal injuries, usually involving a knife or hot pan handle. In addition, over 70% of those surveyed do not keep a fire extinguisher handy, whilst a quarter of those who had accidents have caused damage to themselves or their appliances. The advice from the industry appears to be not to try anything too complex, regardless of your ability level, and to ensure that your house insurance policy includes some form of accidental damage cover alongside your buildings and contents to cover those little accidents in the kitchen.
By: D Collins