Before you prepare your next meal, you might want to make sure that your culinary devices are safe to use first. On Feb. 17, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced the recall of a popular cooking device due to a serious safety risk it presents to users. Read on to find out if you should be unplugging your device for good, and for more culinary staples to ditch, If You Have This Kitchen Tool at Home, Stop Using it Immediately.
According to the CPSC notice, approximately 25,000 Presto Indoor Electric Smokers are being recalled due to concerns regarding a defective heating element on the device. At the time of the recall, the smoker’s manufacturer had “received reports of five smokers tripping circuit breakers and outlets." The CPSC notes that the devices may present an electric shock risk to users, as well, although no injuries had been reported at the time of the recall.
The affected devices—which have model number 0601304 or 0601405—were sold at brick-and-mortar Belk, Kmart, Sears, Shopko, and Veterans Canteen Store locations; online at Amazon, Kohl’s, Walmart, and Wayfair; and through other home goods stores and online retailers between June 2018 and Dec. 2020. The smokers, which retail for between $70 and $110, can be identified by UPC numbers 075741060132 and 075741060149 printed on their packaging.
If you have one of these devices at home, the CPSC recommends that you stop using it immediately and visit Presto’s recall page or call the company at 833-909-1524 to initiate a refund.
Presto isn’t the only company that’s had to pull its products recently, however; read on to discover if a device you have at home could be putting you in harm’s way. And if you want to play it safe in the kitchen, If You Have This Popular Sauce at Home, Don't Use It, FDA Warns.
1 | DeWALT kerosene heaters
FF.HONG / iStockThe recent brutal winter weather that’s hit the U.S. has led many to seek extra warmth by plugging in their trusty space heater. However, doing so may do more harm than good if you’re using one of DeWALT’s cordless kerosene forced-air heaters. On Feb. 3, the CPSC announced the recall of 4,500 of the heaters over carbon monoxide poisoning concerns. Though there had been no injuries related to the use of the heater as of the recall date, DeWALT had received one report of a heater turning on while in standby mode.
The affected heaters either bear model number DXH90CFAK and serial numbers ranging between 340902-20001001 and 340902-20004000 or model number DXH90CFAKM and serial numbers ranging between 340901-20001001 and 340901-20001500. Anyone with the affected heaters at home can contact importer Enerco Group, Inc. via their recall page or at 800-964-4328 to receive a free replacement heater. And for the latest recall news delivered straight to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter.
2 | allen + roth electric fireplaces
ShutterstockDeWALT isn’t alone in having to recall its heaters in recent months. On Dec. 9, the CPSC announced the recall of approximately 48,000 allen + roth 62-inch wide 5,120-BTU infrared quartz fireplaces sold at brick-and-mortar Lowe's locations and the company's website between Jan. 2013 and Apr. 2018. The fireplaces, which retail for about $700, were found to have faulty wiring connectors, presenting a potential fire risk.
At the time of the recall, there had been 28 reports of the heater overheating, smoking, or setting aflame, as well as one report of smoke inhalation and multiple reports of smoke causing property damage. If you have one of the affected heaters at home, you can contact the product’s importer, L G Sourcing, at 888-251-1019 to receive a free repair kit.
3 | Rapala rechargeable filet knives
Shutterstock/Artit WongpraduIt’s not just heaters that may be putting your home at risk for a fire. Popular fishing product company Rapala voluntarily recalled approximately 128,000 of its rechargeable fillet knives over fire safety concerns, as well. According to the Jan. 19 recall notice issued by the CPSC, if charged with non-Rapala chargers, the knives’ batteries can overheat and catch fire. As of the recall date, Rapala had received 12 reports of batteries catching fire, and, in a few instances, causing property damage, though no injuries had been reported.
If you have one of the affected knives at home, the CPSC recommends contacting Rapala at custserv@rapalausa.com or at 800-874-4451 to receive a free replacement battery. And if you want to keep yourself safe, If You're Using This to Relax, the FDA Says Stop Immediately.
4 | Belkin phone chargers
Shutterstock/New AfricaA popular phone charger was pulled from the market in January due to electric shock and fire concerns. On Jan. 13, the CPSC announced that Belkin had recalled approximately 2,280 of its Portable Wireless Charger + Stand Special Edition due to a power supply unit defect that could lead to it catching fire or shocking those using it.
If you have one of the recalled chargers—which were sold at Apple stores and via the Apple and Belkin websites between July 2020 and Oct. 2020—you can contact Belkin via their product recall page or at 800-223-5546 to receive a full refund or store credit. And for more safety hazards to watch out for, If You're Taking This Supplement, Stop Now, FDA Says.
