A 45-year-old Paengaroa man continues to recover in Waikato Hospital after suffering burns to his legs and arms when a pot of oil exploded onto him at his home.

Waikato District Health Board media and communications director Mary-Anne Gill says the man received surgery on the injuries yesterday and remains in a stable condition in a ward in Waikato Hospital.

A 45-year-old man continues to recover in a Waikato Hospital's burns unit after a kitchen fire in Paengaroa on January 3.

Mary-Anne says the man is recovering well, but could not comment on how long he would remain at the ward.

The Bay of Plenty resident's legs and left arm were burnt when a pot of oil exploded on him and started a kitchen fire in his home on January 3.

Firefighters from Maketu and Te Puke were called to the property on State Highway 33, south of Paengaroa, around 11.30am.

Firefighters admitted first aid on the man for 40 minutes until St John Ambulance paramedics from Tauranga arrived.

Maketu Volunteer Fire Brigade chief fire officer says two male occupants were heating a pot of oil on the stove when the fire broke out.

They attempted to put out the fire with a pot of water, which he says further fuelled the fire.

'Unfortunately one of the men threw a pot of water on to the oil and it has gone boom.”

Shane says when they arrived the fire was confined to the kitchen and took 15 minutes to put out, but did cause considerable damage.