DiningBuzz! - Oven on while no one is home?

Mr. Kipper's next return flight has him arriving late evening (9 PM or so). The airport is about half an hour from home, and I was pondering cooking dinner and having it warming in the oven so that when we did get home, he can eat dinner.

However, I'm concerned about leaving the oven on while no one is home. It's an electric oven. Should I be concerned if I leave it set to warm, or should it be just fine? It's a newer oven, if that matters. :)

Thanks!

Mr. Kipper's next return flight has him arriving late evening (9 PM or so). The airport is about half an hour from home, and I was pondering cooking dinner and having it warming in the oven so that when we did get home, he can eat dinner.

However, I'm concerned about leaving the oven on while no one is home. It's an electric oven. Should I be concerned if I leave it set to warm, or should it be just fine? It's a newer oven, if that matters. :)

Thanks!

Maybe he should get takeaway at the airport? Or eat there

Doesn't it have a timer?

Most electric ovens, in my experience, have timers that you can set and on my mum's you can set the time it goes off as well. She does it all the time and has never had a problem (actually, she did once when there was a power cut but it didn't catch fire or anything, just didn't come on at all).

You'd have the oven on for up to 3 hours if you were in the house I'd imagine (roasting stuff, slow cooking things) so if you trust the oven to do that I'm sure it'll be ok if you are out.

Here's what I do all the time.

If I'm making dinner, and then going to pick up the wife (about a 90 minute round trip most days), I'll put the dinner in the oven and cook it for a while. Just before leaving crank it up to 450, and then turn the oven off. By the time we get home it's cooked through, and the oven is still more than warm enough (our oven holds the heat for hours). If it's not done, just crank the oven back up and finish it off.

That works best for things that cook for a while and are forgiving in the cooking time (like beef shanks or short ribs, where it really doesn't matter if it's seven or eight hours at 250), of course it would not work for something with a 20 minute cook time.

I don't like leaving the oven on, that's just me. I've never had a problem with the oven, but should something happen, it's probably better somebody is home. Millions of people use the auto on or auto off or the sabbath mode when they are not home, so there's probably no real concern if you choose to do so, but if you are delayed for some reason because of traffic or flight delays, whatever, your food will just keep on cooking and cooking.

we leave all sorts of electrical devices on, or in idle mode all the time(don't forget to turn those computers, power supplies and battery chargers off) if you are really anal about it, you should go down stairs and turn off the main power supply.....and while you're at it, shut off the water inlet to the house.

we do have a voltage monitor on our household voltage. about 5 years ago, the neutral on the power input to our house was severed. in house voltage got close to 200. the computer power protectors issued no warnings.

Doesn't it have a timer?

Most electric ovens, in my experience, have timers that you can set and on my mum's you can set the time it goes off as well. She does it all the time and has never had a problem (actually, she did once when there was a power cut but it didn't catch fire or anything, just didn't come on at all).

You'd have the oven on for up to 3 hours if you were in the house I'd imagine (roasting stuff, slow cooking things) so if you trust the oven to do that I'm sure it'll be ok if you are out.
I think ours has a timer, so I guess that's one option.
Here's what I do all the time.

If I'm making dinner, and then going to pick up the wife (about a 90 minute round trip most days), I'll put the dinner in the oven and cook it for a while. Just before leaving crank it up to 450, and then turn the oven off. By the time we get home it's cooked through, and the oven is still more than warm enough (our oven holds the heat for hours). If it's not done, just crank the oven back up and finish it off.

That works best for things that cook for a while and are forgiving in the cooking time (like beef shanks or short ribs, where it really doesn't matter if it's seven or eight hours at 250), of course it would not work for something with a 20 minute cook time.

I don't like leaving the oven on, that's just me. I've never had a problem with the oven, but should something happen, it's probably better somebody is home. Millions of people use the auto on or auto off or the sabbath mode when they are not home, so there's probably no real concern if you choose to do so, but if you are delayed for some reason because of traffic or flight delays, whatever, your food will just keep on cooking and cooking.
I'm looking at something with about a 1.5 hour cook time, so I might try cooking it for about 30 minutes at normal temperature, cranking it up for 30 minutes before I leave, and then shutting it off and figuring it would cook the rest of the way and stay warm.

and while you're at it, shut off the water inlet to the house.

We do that when we leave for more than a day. The last thing I want to return to is a flooded basement. It's an easy thing to do, so why not?

We do that when we leave for more than a day. The last thing I want to return to is a flooded basement. It's an easy thing to do, so why not?

Ask my father. He turns the water off if they go away for a day or more. About two years ago they came home to a flood from the broken valve where he turns the water off! :eek:

On topic, our oven (gas) has a timer and we use it all the time when we are not home (with a pot roast cooking for five hours, etc.).

We do that when we leave for more than a day. The last thing I want to return to is a flooded basement. It's an easy thing to do, so why not?
We've never done that, although we probably should if we'll be gone for a few days.
Ask my father. He turns the water off if they go away for a day or more. About two years ago they came home to a flood from the broken valve where he turns the water off! :eek:

On topic, our oven (gas) has a timer and we use it all the time when we are not home (with a pot roast cooking for five hours, etc.).
We've not had a flood (knock on wood), but we did have our thermostat batteries die while we were away for a week. We'd set the thermostat to 50 F, figuring that it was warm enough to keep pipes from freezing, but that we wouldn't go through much oil. We returned home to find that the thermostat read 32 F, and the furnace would not turn on at all. The pipes were frozen (there was ice in the toilet).

Of course, it was a Sunday afternoon, so the service call was $110. The technician arrived, couldn't figure out what was wrong, and eventually realized it was the thermostat batteries. He didn't charge us for the batteries. :rolleyes:

Back on topic--I *think* our oven has a timer. I'd be concerned with leaving something in there and setting it to turn on before I came home if it was something like a pot roast or some such, as I'd be concerned the meat shouldn't sit out for a portion of the day.

As far as this situation, since I wouldn't be gone but 2 hours tops, I would think the food would be just fine.

We've never done that, although we probably should if we'll be gone for a few days.

We've not had a flood (knock on wood), but we did have our thermostat batteries die while we were away for a week. We'd set the thermostat to 50 F, figuring that it was warm enough to keep pipes from freezing, but that we wouldn't go through much oil. We returned home to find that the thermostat read 32 F, and the furnace would not turn on at all. The pipes were frozen (there was ice in the toilet).

Of course, it was a Sunday afternoon, so the service call was $110. The technician arrived, couldn't figure out what was wrong, and eventually realized it was the thermostat batteries. He didn't charge us for the batteries. :rolleyes:

.

Water in toilet frozen? Maybe moving to warmer climate might be the answer:D

I've left an oven on for baking a bread once for 55 mins.. i had a timer and i got back with 2 mins to spare.

it is a concern but i think if you are careful it isn't too bad..

I wouldn't leave a gas oven on after I went out but an electric one like you describe should be fine.

I wouldn't leave a gas oven on after I went out

Gas? oh helllll no. that's just asking for an insurance claim.

Ahh, the joys of not being a homeowner (anymore).

Water valves? What? :D

In all seriousness, i woudn't worry too much about an electric oven, as long as you can set up a timer. And have neighbors with keys just in case.

Water in toilet frozen? Maybe moving to warmer climate might be the answer:D
:D We were returning from Florida, and the entire East Coast was having record low temperatures.
Gas? oh helllll no. that's just asking for an insurance claim.
I wouldn't dream of it if it was gas, especially with the kibblers. I'd be afraid the pilot light wouldn't light or things like that.
Ahh, the joys of not being a homeowner (anymore).

Water valves? What? :D

In all seriousness, i woudn't worry too much about an electric oven, as long as you can set up a timer. And have neighbors with keys just in case.
I won't give the neighbors keys, just in that I'm not a big fan of anyone other than my parents (who are on the other side of the state) having spare keys.

It seems that to date at least, your house has not burst into flames while you were home and your oven was on..... I'd take the chance that it's safe to travel to the airport and back.

Gas oven? No greater worry. After all, doesn't that gas heating system in your house come on when the thermostat tells it to, whether you're home or not. Comparing a gas oven and a gas furnace for potential gambler's odds for "house bursting into flames" make it safe to bet against home ignition from either.

Not something I do, but to each his own.

It seems that to date at least, your house has not burst into flames while you were home and your oven was on..... I'd take the chance that it's safe to travel to the airport and back.

Gas oven? No greater worry. After all, doesn't that gas heating system in your house come on when the thermostat tells it to, whether you're home or not. Comparing a gas oven and a gas furnace for potential gambler's odds for "house bursting into flames" make it safe to bet against home ignition from either.

LOL, this is true. :) Although, both Mr. Kipper and I have set pizza boxes on fire in the oven. :D

I use my electric oven to stage things and keep them warm as they come off the grill, and I've forgotten to turn it off many times. Then the next morning while drinking a cup of coffee, I hear the "click" as the thermostat turns the oven on. :eek::rolleyes:

It seems that to date at least, your house has not burst into flames while you were home and your oven was on..... I'd take the chance that it's safe to travel to the airport and back.

Gas oven? No greater worry. After all, doesn't that gas heating system in your house come on when the thermostat tells it to, whether you're home or not. Comparing a gas oven and a gas furnace for potential gambler's odds for "house bursting into flames" make it safe to bet against home ignition from either.

I agree one will die of the "worry" stress before the gas oven scare. Who does not leave home with their gas dryer, water heater, furnace running. Not much difference

I agree one will die of the "worry" stress before the gas oven scare. Who does not leave home with their gas dryer, water heater, furnace running. Not much difference

:D I don't, but then again, we don't have gas at home, just electric, and oil heat. :D

....and oil heat. :D

Nothing like an open petroleum flame to keep you warm and safe! :)

Nothing like an open petroleum flame to keep you warm and safe! :)

:D Better than a burn barrel in the middle of the house. :D

Just this past year at Christmas, I put a chicken in the oven and we left for Mass at church. 2+ hours later we came home just in time to find a perfectly cooked bird ready to come out.

No problems.

I seldom use the oven. Probably only a dozen times in the 3 years I have lived here. I grill, even for most big parties. But I would not be concerned about turning on the oven while I was gone.

I have used the crock pot many times during the winter, but I always put it on the cooktop burners when I leave the house. I have friends who put the crock pot in the sink when they leave home.

I seldom use the oven. Probably only a dozen times in the 3 years I have lived here. I grill, even for most big parties. But I would not be concerned about turning on the oven while I was gone.

I have used the crock pot many times during the winter, but I always put it on the cooktop burners when I leave the house. I have friends who put the crock pot in the sink when they leave home.

:D I usually place the crockpot in the sink before leaving for work, but that's because I'm afraid the dogs will decide to eat whatever is in it. :D

Quite a few would leave the oven on..

I personally wouldn't.. just go out and celebrate the return..

Leave it on all the time and haven't burned down my apartment yet. Sometimes cooking duck takes a long time.

Quite a few would leave the oven on..

I personally wouldn't.. just go out and celebrate the return..

The concern is in part that his return flight arrives rather late, and there won't be much open then.

I would start cooking when I get back home. Safer!

The concern is in part that his return flight arrives rather late, and there won't be much open then.

If the oven has a timer than technically no problem.. If there is a fire or food burning, no one is home..

Myself, I would err on the safer side..

Leave it on all the time and haven't burned down my apartment yet. Sometimes cooking duck takes a long time.

Do you rent your apartment?

A pizza stone in the oven can smooth out temperature changes. It'll take longer to heat up, but also longer to cool down.

If you are going to heat the oven to temperature, then turn it off while you are gone and let food continue to cook, this may improve the results. It can also provide improved consistency for regular cooking.

If the oven has a timer than technically no problem.. If there is a fire or food burning, no one is home..

Myself, I would err on the safer side...
I'm leaning towards cooking it before leaving, and leaving it in the oven to stay warm, but with the oven off. I'm just too nervous about leaving it on while I'm not here, since we have 2 kibblers.

Kipper: what are you cooking? I've seen recipes for rib roasts that start with the oven at a high temp for a certain amount of time, depending on the size of the roast, then without opening the oven (this is KEY!), you turn the oven off, and leave the roast to sit in the oven for another specified period of time to allow it to cook all the way through.

This might work for you.

Kipper: what are you cooking? I've seen recipes for rib roasts that start with the oven at a high temp for a certain amount of time, depending on the size of the roast, then without opening the oven (this is KEY!), you turn the oven off, and leave the roast to sit in the oven for another specified period of time to allow it to cook all the way through.

This might work for you.

I was actually going to prepare pastitsio, figuring that since I'll have quite a bit of prep time before he gets home, it would just need to bake while waiting for him.

I'm leaning towards cooking it before leaving, and leaving it in the oven to stay warm, but with the oven off. I'm just too nervous about leaving it on while I'm not here, since we have 2 kibblers.

The children is travelling with you obviously.. so the concern is if there is a roof over their head when coming back home?

It tooke us 3 years and 3 months to build our home.. so, I may be more conservative than others on this board when it comes to leaving appliances on when stepping out..

I may be more conservative than others on this board when it comes to leaving appliances on when stepping out..

Do you turn your furnace off when you leave? In Calgary that could mean broken water pipes in no time in the winter. How about your water heater? Refrigerator? All of them are as safe as your oven.

Do you turn your furnace off when you leave? In Calgary that could mean broken water pipes in no time in the winter. How about your water heater? Refrigerator? All of them are as safe as your oven.

We're talking about kitchen appliances and leaving appliances on cooking when leaving..

We're talking about kitchen appliances and leaving appliances on cooking when leaving..

Actually, we were talking about a particular kitchen appliance - an oven. No more unsafe to leave unattended than the other items I mentioned. The manufacturers purposely provide start-stop timers on ovens to operate before you get home. If this was unsafe, they wouldn't continue to do that. Read your owners manual, if you have a modern oven.:)

I've never really worried tbh. Perhaps because in used to Agas etc that are permanently left on. I grew up in a house where the Sunday roast was almost always cooking in a gas oven while we went to church. Now, my electric oven has a self cleaning mode where is safely incinerates any food gunk on the inside at super hot temperatures for hours, so I don't worry about a moderate temperature for a while.


We're talking about kitchen appliances and leaving appliances on cooking when leaving..

Actually, we were talking about a particular kitchen appliance - an oven. No more unsafe to leave unattended than the other items I mentioned. The manufacturers purposely provide start-stop timers on ovens to operate before you get home. If this was unsafe, they wouldn't continue to do that. Read your owners manual, if you have a modern oven.:)

Do you turn your furnace off when you leave? In Calgary that could mean broken water pipes in no time in the winter. How about your water heater? Refrigerator? All of them are as safe as your oven.

Yesterday after being out for a couple hours, I came home to a basement covered in a thin layer of water. One of the internal fittings on the water heater had corroded and was slowly leaking water. There was no water anywhere in the morning, everything was fine.

I'm not saying people should shut stuff off like the furnace and water heater and porch lights when they are not home, but at the same time don't believe that there is no danger at all with every single appliance and fixture in the house that runs, be you home or not.

Had we been boarding a plane to go away for a week instead of driving to the grocery store and back, instead of small puddle slowly moving across the floor the damage could have been significantly worse.

The new water heater will be going into catch pan because down the road it may happen again, with a hose running to the drain.

The stuff like the oven, I don't like leaving on, because everything is not as safe as people believe, things happen from time to time. I do know the odds of something happening to an oven are very slim, when it's turned off it's closer to none.

Yesterday after being out for a couple hours, I came home to a basement covered in a thin layer of water. One of the internal fittings on the water heater had corroded and was slowly leaking water. There was no water anywhere in the morning.

...and that's what homeowner's insurance is for, because we can't anticipate everything.

(on the other hand, it's also why it's a bad idea to store critical family documents in the house's floodplain.)

The children is travelling with you obviously.. so the concern is if there is a roof over their head when coming back home?

It tooke us 3 years and 3 months to build our home.. so, I may be more conservative than others on this board when it comes to leaving appliances on when stepping out..
No, the kibblers will be staying home while I run to the airport to pick up Mr. Kipper. The airport isn't pet-friendly really, and Mr. Kipper and I have a tradition that I meet him right at the end of security when he comes back, so I can't bring the kibblers. Besides, one would pull me into the secure area as soon as she saw her daddy, and that wouldn't be good. :D

...and that's what homeowner's insurance is for, because we can't anticipate everything.

(on the other hand, it's also why it's a bad idea to store critical family documents in the house's floodplain.)


Silly me, thinking it's better not to burn your house down because something went wrong with the oven than to let it burn down and just file an insurance claim.

Guys, I'm not trying to get into a discussion about insurance and such, just whether or not I should be ok in leaving the oven on while I'm not home.

I think I'm going to cook it prior to his arrival, and will leave it in the oven, with the oven off. I'll plan it so that I can turn the oven off shortly before leaving, figuring that in the worst case scenario, we'll have to reheat it when we return. Best case scenario, it's still warm.

I guess the other option would be to do the prep work that evening, and toss it in the fridge for the night, and then bake it the next day. I may give that some serious consideration as well.

Silly me, thinking it's better not to burn your house down because something went wrong with the oven than to let it burn down and just file an insurance claim.

Poor communications on my behalf.

Point 1 (insurance) was 'stuff happens' no matter what we plan for. It's why there is insurance for less than common events, like a water leak.

Point 2 (don't leave documents near the water) was to mitigate 'stuff happens'; to your point: don't burn the house down if you can avoid it. Under normal circumstances, I don't think leaving a properly functioning oven on for several hours is an inherently bad thing, present or not. If one were delayed it could be on for far longer than planned and that might raise the chances of unexpected consequences. But a properly functioning oven shouldn't cause a fire.

I had a longer comment in mind, but the short version of it is: Odds are, you're in more danger driving to the airport.

Poor communications on my behalf.

Point 1 (insurance) was 'stuff happens' no matter what we plan for. It's why there is insurance for less than common events, like a water leak.

Point 2 (don't leave documents near the water) was to mitigate 'stuff happens'; to your point: don't burn the house down if you can avoid it. Under normal circumstances, I don't think leaving a properly functioning oven on for several hours is an inherently bad thing, present or not. If one were delayed it could be on for far longer than planned and that might raise the chances of unexpected consequences. But a properly functioning oven shouldn't cause a fire.

I had a longer comment in mind, but the short version of it is: Odds are, you're in more danger driving to the airport.
I appreciate that, and yes, I probably am in more danger driving to the airport. However, if I thought about that danger regularly, I'd never leave the house. :D

i would guess i have at least 10 electrical devices plugged in to wall sockets at all times. maybe 20, as i have a big house. 9 phones on chargers, and 5 clocks for openers. 6 battery chargers, 4 computers, 4 printers, copier, router network, fax, 2 scanners, tv, dvd, cable box, 2x computer speakers. wife leaves both washers, driers, and the dw running when leaving. 5 fridges.

we have a"fireprroof" box in the basement against an outside wall for the semi precious documents, and a saftey box for the really important stuff.

i'm too old to pull all those plugs. fire ins on a house costs less than a couple tenths of a percent of the value of the house. that indicates an insurance company is betting 1 to 10000 or better that your house will not burn down in a year.

Poor communications on my behalf.

Point 1 (insurance) was 'stuff happens' no matter what we plan for. It's why there is insurance for less than common events, like a water leak.

Point 2 (don't leave documents near the water) was to mitigate 'stuff happens'; to your point: don't burn the house down if you can avoid it. Under normal circumstances, I don't think leaving a properly functioning oven on for several hours is an inherently bad thing, present or not. If one were delayed it could be on for far longer than planned and that might raise the chances of unexpected consequences. But a properly functioning oven shouldn't cause a fire.

I had a longer comment in mind, but the short version of it is: Odds are, you're in more danger driving to the airport.

Reminds me when my mother.. probably about 55 or so at the time.. left the oven on and forgot to turn it off.. Even after an insurance clean up, you could smell the burn in the home. Thank goodness she remembered that she left the oven on as we were travelling around visiting..

What was cooking in the oven was burnt to smithereens and festered the entire house with thick smoke.. My parents ended up selling the house but took years.. A nice house on the lake, where I grew up in my preteen years..

You should be alright, no problem! I do it all the time

You should be alright, no problem! I do it all the time

Not sure if I trust a Flyers fan. :D :p j/k

Silly me, thinking it's better not to burn your house down because something went wrong with the oven than to let it burn down and just file an insurance claim.

then we go to the obvious extensions of that. maybe fridges blow up more often than ovens. pull that plug. i think there have been a lot of fires in tv's. pull the plug.

and as i said, we have the better part of 50 things plugged into the wall in our house. i'll skip further comments to avoid a confrontation.

Fine and dancy until something goes wrong.. Like I said the smoke was so thick, we were unlucky the house didn't burn down, as you couldn't get the smell out.. Literrally left all the doors open for days.. the stenchy smoke remained..

Had a heck of a time trying to sell the home.. took years, but finally went for a discount..

Fine and dancy until something goes wrong.. Like I said the smoke was so thick, we were unlucky the house didn't burn down, as you couldn't get the smell out.. Literrally left all the doors open for days.. the stenchy smoke remained..

Had a heck of a time trying to sell the home.. took years, but finally went for a discount..
Leaving the doors or windows open for days wouldn't work well for us, with the two kibblers. That's part of why I'm so concerned, since smoke could cause an issue for them.

Leaving the doors or windows open for days wouldn't work well for us, with the two kibblers. That's part of why I'm so concerned, since smoke could cause an issue for them.

The house burning down is a concern.. but not in my wildest dreams did I think a smoke filled house would cause the concerns and heartache it did..

Albeit, it was the actual oven that burned the Roast.. If it was a counter oven, maybe it wouldn't have caused as much of the damage..

The house burning down is a concern.. but not in my wildest dreams did I think a smoke filled house would cause the concerns and heartache it did..

Albeit, it was the actual oven that burned the Roast.. If it was a counter oven, maybe it wouldn't have caused as much of the damage..

I wouldn't be using a countertop oven, but a full-size one, so it would be capable of doing a decent amount of damage, I'm sure.

I wouldn't be using a countertop oven, but a full-size one, so it would be capable of doing a decent amount of damage, I'm sure.

Ok.. that's the oven that caused the smoke damage.. literally the smoke lingered for years even after the insurance cleanup.. ime not worth it to go through something like that.

Their home was 5,000 sq ft on three levels..

Better safe than sorry imho. You never know what can happen, including on the way to and from the airport, which could delay your return home much more than you anticipate.

Ok.. that's the oven that caused the smoke damage.. literally the smoke lingered for years even after the insurance cleanup.. ime not worth it to go through something like that.

Their home was 5,000 sq ft on three levels..
Yuck! I'd hate to have the smell of smoke lingering like that.
Better safe than sorry imho. You never know what can happen, including on the way to and from the airport, which could delay your return home much more than you anticipate.
This is true. I think this is why I'm going to just play it safe and wait until the next day to cook.

I wouldn't leave a gas oven on after I went out but an electric one like you describe should be fine.

Gas? oh helllll no. that's just asking for an insurance claim.

While I understand the concern, I just have to ask "How many times has your gas oven malfunctioned enough to cause you to intervene." In my case I've had gas for over 40 years with ZERO problems. We certainly leave things in the oven when we realize we need to run a short errand and haven't ever given it a second thought.

Logically, isn't it safer to leave a gas oven on, than not on? If it is on, any gas is immediately burned up by the flame. If there is no flame, and there was a slow leak in the appliance, then it gets messy!

Maybe I am misremembering, but didn't it used to be the norm for commercial stove tops to have pilot lights which were permanantly burning gas for that very reason?

Logically, isn't it safer to leave a gas oven on, than not on? If it is on, any gas is immediately burned up by the flame. If there is no flame, and there was a slow leak in the appliance, then it gets messy!

Maybe I am misremembering, but didn't it used to be the norm for commercial stove tops to have pilot lights which were permanantly burning gas for that very reason?The pilot light is on so that it can ignite the main burner. They're not limited to just commercial stoves.

The pilot light is on so that it can ignite the main burner. They're not limited to just commercial stoves.

Same principal with fireplace pilot lights.. but true, once the pilot light wasn't on and the gas was.. but a total malfunction for us and gas filled the air in the Master Bedroom. What needs to happen is that a safety mechanism shuts off the gas if the pilot light is not on, to keep the house safe..

What needs to happen is that a safety mechanism shuts off the gas if the pilot light is not on, to keep the house safe..

Newer systems have this. Systems even newer than this are pilotless.

Rather than stating it all here, see: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pilot_light

Wow, I didn't realize this topic would generate so many opinions! :D

Due to the length of time I'll be gone, I don't feel comfortable leaving the oven on while I'm not there. However, in the future, should I only be gone for a few minutes, I probably will leave it the oven on with something in there cooking.

Few minutes.. like running out to the car to grab something is a game changer.. I would actually hazard to do this myself..

Few minutes.. like running out to the car to grab something is a game changer.. I would actually hazard to do this myself..

So, does that mean you wouldn't sit out in the garden with your oven on?

So, does that mean you wouldn't sit out in the garden with your oven on?

Well.. I would hazard to go outside for say a few or five minutes.. but to leave the house unattended for even 10 minutes, I would be worried that something could go wrong. Just guessing that would be my theshold, especially now seeing the trouble my parents went through to deal with the smoke in the house.