It started with a smell—sharp, unfamiliar, and impossible to ignore in an otherwise quiet kitchen. Just moments earlier, everything had seemed perfectly normal. Then I noticed something unsettling: the plug connected to my air fryer felt unusually warm and looked slightly misshapen. It was an appliance I used almost every day, something I trusted without question. That small moment of surprise quickly turned into concern and completely changed the way I think about everyday kitchen habits. I realized how easily comfort and routine can make us overlook small warning signs that matter.
Like many people, I had always assumed that kitchen appliances were safe as long as they were turned off. Over time, they simply become part of the background of daily life. That night showed me how misleading that assumption can be. Kitchens are filled with devices designed to generate heat and draw electricity, and even when they aren’t actively running, some can still carry risk. Before going to bed, it’s easy to focus on locking doors or turning off lights while forgetting about the appliances quietly plugged into the wall. That experience reminded me that safety isn’t about panic—it’s about paying attention.
