If the people at the television food programs have their way, you’ll be spending time this week watching the television chefs whip up all kinds of meals for the Memorial Day Weekend with new twists on toppings, main ingredients, and cooking methods, then trying to recreate the dishes in your own kitchen. But before you line up the measuring spoons and pull out the pots. pans, and baking dishes, it’s a good idea to review cooking safety. Cooking is, and has long been, the leading cause of home structure fires and home injuries.

• Be on alert! If you are sleepy or have consumed alcohol don’t use the stove or stovetop.

• Stay in the kitchen while you are frying, grilling, or broiling food. If you leave the kitchen for even a short period of time, turn off the stove.

• If you are simmering, baking, roasting, or boiling food, check it regularly, remain in the home while food is cooking, and use a timer to remind you that you are cooking.

• Keep anything that can catch fire — oven mitts, wooden utensils, food packaging, towels or curtains — away from your stovetop.

• If something does catch fire on the stove, just get out. When you leave, close the door behind you to help contain the fire. Call 9-1-1 after you leave.

You can review NFPA’s cooking safety information and cooking safety tip sheet on at http://www.nfpa.org/safety-information/for-consumers/causes/cooking/.