In April 2008, yhe U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced a recall of Hamilton Beach and Proctor-Silex toasters, Cooks Deep Fryers, and QVC and Tristar electric contact grills because they all pose fire hazards.

482,000 Hamilton Beach and Proctor-Silex toasters were recalled because they can remain “on” after they ?pop up.? The toaster remains hot and can ignite flammable items that might be in close proximity to the toaster. 27,000 deep cooks deep fryers were recalled by JC Penney because their heating elements were malfunctioning. 13,500 electric contact grills were recalled by QVC and Tristar because they were found to catch on fire when used with cooking spray or oil.

The recalled Hamilton Beach and Proctor-Silex toasters are black, red, white, chrome, or brushed chrome, with 2-slice or 4-slice openings. Hamilton Beach or Proctor-Silex is printed on the side of the toasters. Only the following model numbers are included in the recall:

• 22145B,
• 22145BC,
• 22450,
• 22559,
• 22625,
• 22627C,
• 22635,
• 22657,
• 22658,
• 22779,
• 22900,
• 22903,
• 22903H,
• 24450,
• 24559,
• 24657, and
• 24779.

The model number is printed on the bottom of the toasters.

The recalled toasters were sold between August 2007 and February 2008 for between $13 and $40 at department stores, grocery stores, and other retail stores nationwide. They were also sold at various online retailers. The CPSC advises consumers to stop using the recalled toasters immediately. Hamilton Beach can also be contacted for instructions on how to receive a free replacement toaster at 1-800-574-6800. The company?s website can also be visited at www.hamiltonbeach.com for Hamilton Beach toasters, and www.proctorsilex.com for Proctor-Silex toasters.

The Cooks deep fryers, sold at JC Penney, have been recalled due to heating element malfunctions. Five burn incidents have already been reported to JC Penney. The recalled deep fryer can overheat, leading to a potential fire hazard. The recalled deep fryers have a stainless steel exterior, a mesh basket with a handle, and a window-covered lid with black handles. The deep fryers have a 1/3-gallon capacity. ?Cooks? is printed on the side and model number 22016 is printed on the bottom.

The recalled deep fryers were sold at JC Penney for about $50 from August 2007 through January 2008. The CPSC advises consumers to immediately stop using the deep fryers and take them back to the nearest JC Penney store for a full refund. For more information, JC Penney can be reached at (888) 333-6063 anytime, or the company?s website can be visited at www.jcp.com.

The recalled QVC and Tristar electric contact grills are being recalled because when the consumer uses cooking spray on the cooking plates before preheating, the oil can ignite and pose a potential fire hazard. Five reports of grills catching fire have already been reported. The recalled electric grills are sold under the name ?Hogan?s Ultimate Grill?. They have a dual surface and are silver or gray. They have removable cooking plates and an insert to catch grease drips. Model number PZ-3012 is printed on a silver label on the back of the grill.

The recalled grills were sold for about $100 by QVC and Tristar from May 2007 through August 2007. Grills were also sold by **Tristar through the website www.hulkhogangrill.com. The CPSC advises consumers to immediately stop using cooking sprays on the electric grills before preheating. The CPSC also stated that cooking sprays and oils should never be used on the grill.

Consumers can contact QVC at 1-800-367-9444 between 7 a.m. and 1 a.m. ET daily, or visit the company?s website at www.qvc.com. Consumers can also contact Tristar for more information at 1-800-718-5135 between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, or visit the company?s website at www.tristarproductsinc.com.

Source: ?Don’t get burned by these recalled countertop appliances.? Consumer reports.org. March 11, 2008.