A method for monitoring the safe use of a cooker, in which method is used a monitoring device in which set values for safety limits based on temperature and humidity or gas content measurements are set for sounding and alarm or cutting off the electricity or gas supply to the cooker when the set values of the safety limits are exceeded. The temperature and humidity and/or gas content are measured above the cooker. The set values of the safety limits for the temperature measured and the humidity and/or gas content measured and/or their rates of change are set and the presence of the user is monitored on the basis of the use of the cooker and/or by means of a sensor which detects the presence of a person and/or by means of direct control feedback given by the user. The monitoring device is taught user-specific safe safety limit values automatically and intuitively on the basis of the use of the cooker. Furthermore, the set values of the safety limits are automatically changed or adjusted to set values determined to be safe on the basis of the said teaching.