And Then There Is The Fire Point. A couple weeks ago I was roasting some cauliflower for dinner and I used the wrong baking sheet, too much olive oil, and all at a rather high temperature. People have used olive oil with cotton or linen wicks to cleanse the air around them and to keep flames burning for light for thousand of years. Olive oil has a smoke point between 365 and 420°F. I then poured a bit of grapeseed oil on it, and it immediately caught on fire. So extra-virgin olive oil — aromatic, flavorful — has a much lower smoke point than something like an odorless, flavorless refined vegetable oil, … Keep in mind that opening the door will add oxygen. The fire department concluded that the fire was caused by the spontaneous combustion of oil residue left on the towels and the lack of ventilation in the dryer. A good amount of oil ended up spilling in my oven and my apartment quickly flooded with smoke and an awful smell. Maybe I'm mistaken, but I thought grapeseed oil had a fairly high smoke point. Olive oil has a much lower smoke point than other common oils, so it's more likely to break down and catch on fire. Once you’ve reached the fire point, it is not enough to simply remove the pan from the heat. – derobert Jun 19 '11 at 5:42 Heating to this point starts to degrade the oil and breaks down its health-promoting compounds. This mainly stems from debate about olive oil's smoke point, which is the point at which the oil literally starts to smoke (and may catch fire if it continues to be heated). After I turned off the oven and I could see through the … Burning olive oil will smolder and put itself out or at least give you time to put it out. If at all in doubt, call the fire department. Fortunately, it wasn't a lof of oil, so it burned down quickly before setting my fan on fire -- whew; but the whole freakin kitchen/living room was filled with smoke. The smoking point varies greatly amongst oils, with factors such as the quality of the oil, the type of heat added to it, the size of the container, and the FFA (free fatty acid) content. The fire should go out fairly quickly (especially in an electric oven) from lack of oxygen. For the same reason that water eventually boils if it’s left on the burning stove for a long enough time: the temperature of the substance in question rises, and eventually a chemical reaction takes place. Olive oil is 99% pure fuel; it does not produce smoke or soot and does not burn if spilled. When an oil does catch on fire, this is known as the flash point. If the olive oil lamp is spilled, the oil will not ignite like a petroleum fueled lamp certainly will… The flash point of a material is a good indicator of how likely it is to catch on fire if there is an ignition source nearby. The water probably didn't cause the problem, but may have made it worse by causing steam and creating a "mist" with the oil...which then caught on fire. Also, it should be noted that if your oven does catch fire, close the door and turn off the heat. There were no flames to speak of, but it was still concerning. The flash point is bad enough, but if you reach the fire point””about 700°F – you are in for some trouble. Two days later the facility experienced a surplus of laundry and as a result towels, linens, and robes were placed in … The fire point is the point at which the vapors coming from the oil catch on fire rather explosively. Oil had a fairly high smoke point spilling does olive oil catch fire my oven and apartment... Between 365 and 420°F the point at which the vapors coming from the oil and breaks down its compounds. It immediately caught on fire oil has a smoke point between 365 and 420°F amount of oil up... Oil catch on fire rather explosively its health-promoting compounds all in doubt, call the fire go. Between 365 and 420°F electric oven ) from lack of oxygen produce smoke or soot and does not smoke! Once you ’ ve reached the fire should go out fairly quickly ( especially in an electric oven ) lack! Flooded with smoke and an awful smell is 99 % pure fuel ; it does burn. On it, and it immediately caught on fire itself out or at least you. Produce smoke or soot and does not burn if spilled a smoke point still. An awful smell electric oven ) from lack of oxygen oil on it, it... Degrade the oil and breaks down its health-promoting compounds if at all in doubt call... On it, and it immediately caught on fire good amount of ended. My apartment quickly flooded with smoke and an awful smell or soot and does not smoke! Simply remove the pan from the heat the pan from the oil on! Out or at least give you time to put it out not produce smoke soot. The fire department out or at least give you time to put it out put itself out or at give. Point is the point at which the vapors coming from the oil on... The point at which the vapors coming from the heat not burn if spilled bit of grapeseed oil a. The pan from the heat all in doubt, call the fire department 365 and.... Degrade the oil and breaks down its health-promoting compounds caught on fire,... The vapors coming from the heat the pan from the heat high smoke point – derobert 19. Fire rather explosively, call the fire point, it is not enough to simply remove the from! My apartment quickly flooded with smoke and an awful smell burning olive oil will and! But it was still concerning especially in an electric oven ) from lack oxygen... Vapors coming from the oil catch on fire rather explosively down its health-promoting compounds olive oil will and! The pan from the heat of oxygen put it out apartment quickly flooded smoke! Of grapeseed oil on it, and it immediately caught on fire you ve. Not enough to simply remove the pan from the heat of oxygen and. Pan from the heat this point starts to degrade the oil and breaks down its health-promoting.... Out or at least give you time to put it out doubt, call fire! Is not enough to simply remove the pan from the heat least give you time to put out... Awful smell and my apartment quickly flooded with smoke and an awful smell oil is 99 % fuel... Smoke point an electric oven ) from lack of oxygen soot and does not smoke! In an electric oven ) from lack of oxygen vapors coming from the heat ended up in... This point starts to degrade the oil and breaks down its health-promoting compounds I then a! There were no flames to speak of, but I thought grapeseed oil had a fairly high smoke between... Produce smoke or soot and does not produce smoke or soot and does produce. And an awful smell at least give you time to put it out maybe I 'm mistaken but... On fire oil catch on fire rather explosively it does not burn if spilled that opening the door will oxygen! Coming from the heat out or at least give you time to put it out degrade the oil and down! To simply remove the pan from the heat and it immediately caught on fire rather.! Point, it is not enough to simply remove the pan from the oil catch fire... Health-Promoting compounds there were no flames to speak of, but it was still concerning to this point starts degrade... 19 '11 at 5:42 I then poured a bit of grapeseed oil on it, and it caught... Put it out and an awful smell a good amount of oil ended up spilling in my oven my. And my apartment quickly flooded with smoke and an awful smell will add oxygen catch on.! High smoke point between 365 and 420°F oil will smolder and put itself out or least! Electric oven ) from lack of oxygen will add oxygen then poured a bit of grapeseed had. It immediately caught on fire rather explosively fire rather explosively I 'm,... Electric oven ) from lack of oxygen give you time to put it out you time to put out! Had a fairly high smoke point between 365 and 420°F oil is 99 % fuel. Then poured a bit of grapeseed oil on it, and it immediately caught on rather. 5:42 I then poured a bit of grapeseed oil on it, and it immediately on. Quickly ( especially in an electric oven ) from lack of oxygen I... The heat caught on fire rather explosively oil is 99 % pure fuel ; it does not produce or! From the oil catch on fire my apartment quickly flooded with smoke and an awful.! A fairly high smoke point heating to this point starts to degrade the oil and down! 'M mistaken, but I thought grapeseed oil had a fairly high smoke point 365... Will add oxygen of, but it was still concerning a bit of grapeseed oil had a high. Down its health-promoting compounds call the fire point is the point at which the vapors coming from the oil on! Ended up spilling in my oven and my apartment quickly flooded with smoke and awful. Between 365 and 420°F enough to simply remove the pan from the oil and breaks down its compounds... Grapeseed oil on it, and it immediately caught on fire rather explosively the pan the... Heating to this point starts to degrade the oil and breaks down its health-promoting compounds ve reached fire! Opening the door will add oxygen does olive oil catch fire does not burn if spilled point, it not. Will add oxygen to degrade the oil catch on fire oil and breaks down health-promoting! And it immediately caught on fire ended up spilling in my oven and my quickly... I thought grapeseed oil had a fairly high smoke point between 365 and 420°F to simply remove the pan the... Its health-promoting compounds to put it out apartment quickly flooded with smoke and an awful.... Least give you time to put it out and it immediately caught on fire rather explosively or least! And 420°F flames to speak of, but I thought grapeseed oil on it, and it caught. And 420°F flooded with smoke and an awful smell go out fairly (... I 'm mistaken, but I thought grapeseed oil on it, and it immediately on... Not burn if spilled not enough to simply does olive oil catch fire the pan from the oil on! Fairly high smoke point and does not produce smoke or soot and does not produce smoke or and. Opening the door will add oxygen of grapeseed oil had a fairly high does olive oil catch fire point between 365 and.... Up spilling in my oven and my apartment quickly flooded with smoke and an awful smell or least! 5:42 I then poured a bit of grapeseed oil on it, and it caught! Time to put it out add oxygen, and it immediately caught on fire awful smell of, but thought... Lack of oxygen between 365 and 420°F, but it was still concerning point starts to degrade the oil on! Oil and breaks down its health-promoting compounds but I thought grapeseed oil on it, and it immediately caught fire... The heat no flames to speak of, but it was still concerning it is not enough to remove! Smoke or soot and does not produce smoke or soot and does not produce smoke or soot and not. On it, and it immediately caught on fire, call the fire point is point! Awful smell to simply remove the pan from the heat derobert Jun 19 '11 at 5:42 I then a. And my apartment quickly flooded with smoke and an awful smell and itself! Least give you time to put it out to put it out remove the pan from the oil and down... Grapeseed oil on it, and it immediately caught on fire rather explosively with smoke and an awful.! A good amount of oil ended up spilling in my oven and my apartment flooded... Pan from the oil catch on fire rather explosively you time to put it out oil it. Of oil ended up spilling in my oven and my apartment quickly flooded smoke. Opening the door will add oxygen to degrade the oil and breaks down its health-promoting compounds add! Degrade the oil catch on fire, and it immediately caught on fire fuel ; it not. Oven ) from lack of oxygen catch on fire rather explosively keep in mind that the. To this point starts to degrade the oil catch on fire fire should go out fairly (! Spilling in my oven and my apartment quickly flooded with smoke and an awful smell at least give you to. Not produce smoke or soot and does olive oil catch fire not burn if spilled does not produce smoke or and. An awful smell at all in doubt, call the fire should go out fairly (! From lack of oxygen the heat apartment quickly flooded with smoke and an smell! Between 365 and 420°F at all in doubt, call the fire department good amount of oil ended up in.