Do you aspire to be a Top Chef in your kitchen? With these top five kitchen safety measures, it’s simple.
Many people’s homes revolve around the kitchen. Anyone who does a lot of cooking, on the other hand, has learned (perhaps the hard way) that the kitchen can also be the source of some nasty ailments. Not only are there numerous sharp and hot (as well as slippery and frightening) objects around, but cooking frequently requires juggling multiple activities at once – sometimes while working around others. Whether you enjoy baking and cooking or don’t spend much time in the kitchen, these kitchen safety precautions will help prevent injury to you and your family.
Do you follow any of these tips?
Use Knives Safely
To avoid injuring yourself, educate yourself on how to correctly slice and chop food with knives. Knives should always be sharp. A sharp knife is significantly less likely to slip or slide off a food item and grab your fingers when you’re cutting than a dull one. Aim the knife away from your body in case it slips or slides through the material being cut. Also, when holding goods, curve your fingers inward so that if the knife slips, it nicks a knuckle or fingernail rather than your fingertip. Cut on a strong board. Check that your cutting surface does not move, and never use your hand as a cutting board or chop food over the sink. Never, ever lick food off a knife, no matter how tempting it may be. A butter knife can sever your tongue. Allow the knife to fall. Try not to catch a falling knife. It’s far easier to let it fall to the floor and wash it off than to deal with a terrible wound. Also, always take up a knife by the handle rather than the blade. Knives should be washed in plain sight. If you throw dirty knives into a sink full of soapy water, you or someone else could get cut.
Wash Your Hands
You’ve probably heard that handwashing is the most effective technique to prevent the spread of germs. Even if you use gloves to handle raw meat, you should still wash your hands thoroughly. Before and after cooking, always wash your hands with hot, soapy water. To help prevent the spread of foodborne illnesses, disinfect all surfaces (even the sink!) where raw meats or eggs may have come into contact.
Keeps Kids & Pets Away
Some children like assisting their parents in the kitchen, but you must teach them to stay out of your way when necessary and to stay away from hot equipment that hasn’t yet cooled down. Furthermore, pets around your feet or resting on the floor are tripping dangers, so make sure they are kept away as well. When it comes to the safety of your children and pets, we recommend storing dangerous appliances and tools in higher or locked places. You will also want to store and lock away cleaning supplies and anything potentially poisonous to consume.
Do Not Use the Same Cutting Board For Meats and Fruits and Vegetables
We all want to avoid doing extra dishes, but this is one area where you should not cut corners. Using the same chopping board for meats, fruits and vegetables increases your chances of getting salmonella. The USDA recommends using two cutting boards to reduce cross-contamination: one for raw meat, poultry and shellfish and another for fresh fruits and vegetables and bread. If you must use the same cutting board, it is best to chop fruits and vegetables first, then thoroughly wash your cutting board with soap and hot water before preparing your meats.
Do Not Let the Heat Bother You
Wear nothing too baggy. Wear long sleeves to protect yourself from grease burns, but don’t let your sleeves, coats, scarves or even your hair hang loose where it could catch fire or hook a handle and tip over a hot pan. The same can be said for dangling jewelry. Turn pan handles in toward the stove to avoid becoming hooked or banged and spilling the pan when you or your children move about. When removing a hot pot’s cover, tilt it so that any hot steam or spraying liquids are directed away from you. Be extremely cautious with steam because it may burn you just as badly as a flame and is frequently unseen. Just because there isn’t a white cloud of steam doesn’t mean you can’t get burned. Never blend hot liquids in a blender. Not only might your appliance be harmed, but the heat can also cause the lid to come away, resulting in hot liquids pouring all over you and your kitchen. Dry off your oven mitts. When a hot pad or oven mitt becomes wet or moist, it loses its effectiveness and transfers far more scorching heat to your hand than a dry one. Make a mark on the hot lids and handles. To avoid unintentional burns, place a hot pad on the lid or handle of pots and pans that have just come off the stove.
Wipe Spills Immediately
When you’re multitasking and attempting to care for others, it’s simple to spill something in the kitchen. Floor spills, especially on tile floors, can cause slips and accidents. Spills on counters can pose electrical risks, reduce the safety of cutting and cause pots and pans to slip off and spill or scald. To increase kitchen safety, mop up any spilled water, grease or oil as soon as possible, before someone slips and falls. Furthermore, uncleanly spilled food in the oven imparts an unpleasant taste of smoke and charcoal to your food, which is unsanitary and can cause illness. To help decrease the chances of falling, you can install slip-resistant floors like ceramic tile or luxury vinyl flooring. To learn more or to check out some options, call our office team.
Store Leftovers Securely
The proper temperature for cooling down is as vital as cooking. Leftovers are stored in the refrigerator. The length of time that it is safe to eat varies for each food. Typically, you shouldn’t eat leftovers after about 3 days. Don’t forget to vent or keep the containers uncovered until they have cooled. We recommend purchasing Tupperware or storage containers that are microwave and dishwasher-safe.
Know How to Put Out a Fire
According to the fire department, if you do not have a smoke alarm, you are twice as likely to have a tragic fire in your home. Because the vast majority of fires originate in the kitchen, check your smoke alarm batteries regularly and replace your fire alarm every ten years. Examine the appliances. Keep appliances, stove tops and ovens clean and clear of accumulated food, dust or grease. For kitchen equipment and appliances, follow all manufacturer’s instructions. Keep flammables in a safe place. Never leave or store rags, towels or other paper products near a stove or other heat-generating surfaces. Have fire extinguishers on hand. Always keep a fire extinguisher and a package of baking soda on hand in case of a grease or oil fire. Maintain an eye on things. Never leave heated pots and pans alone when leaving the kitchen. Cords should be secured and inspected. Check that no appliance cords are frayed or melted. Keep electrical gadgets away from water and avoid overloading kitchen outlets.
Keep First Aid in the Kitchen
Accidents happen. Cuts and burns are common injuries that happen in the kitchen. Therefore, you need to stay prepared just in case anything happens. Not only should you keep a first aid kit in the bathroom, but you should also keep one in the kitchen. It should contain gauze, burn salve, scissors and contact information for your doctors and neighboring hospitals. Make sure the first aid kit is in an easy-to-reach area.
Make sure everyone in your household is aware of these safety precautions, especially little children who may be racing in and out of the kitchen or trying to assist. This ensures that all of your delicious food reaches the table while remaining injury-free. These were only just a few tips to help create a safer kitchen. You can even take it to a new level by considering the layout and specific items you install that have high safety features. To help create a functional, safe kitchen, our skilled team of experts at Valor Home Services can help. Learn more by calling our team.
