We’ve all had them–accidents in the kitchen. You could have put your kitchen towel near the stove and started a fire, or you forgot to put on your oven mitts when taking something out of the oven, or you simply forgot to lock the kitchen door and your baby ran into something.
They are pretty common but avoidable. Understanding the hazards in the kitchen can help you and your family avoid things such as burns, food poisoning, cuts, and other types of accidents. When cooking with sharp knives or intense fires, it’s important to be careful.
The most common accident in the kitchen, however, has got to be kitchen fires. These are the primary causes of injuries, and the majority of cooking equipment fires usually start with the ignition of common household items such as papers, plastic bags, wall coverings, curtains, etc.
Cooking Safety Tips
So, in order to avoid these common household issues and accidents in the kitchen, it’s important to have some rules, or what we are calling tips for the kitchen.
Always Wear Shoes in the Kitchen
If you have ever dropped a knife and imagined it going through your foot, then you will understand why this is a very important point and one that must never be forgotten.
Wearing shoes while cooking is highly recommended and not only will the shoes protect against sharp objects, they shall also protect you from other kitchen related mishaps such as broken glass and water spills.
Learn How to Extinguish Fires
There are approximately 164,500 cooking fires in the US each year. Cooking is one of the leading causes of fires and injuries that occur in homes. Ensure that you always have a fire extinguisher and that you also know how to use it.
It takes just a few seconds for a fire to get full-blown and out of control. Learn more about the different types of fires such as electric and grease, and never put them out with water. Instead, find the best ways to extinguish them, one of which is by use of baking soda.
Learn How to Use Knives the Right Way
A knife that is dull is actually more likely to slip and cut you than a sharp knife. Keeping sharpened knives is one of the best ways of keeping them safe. You can use a knife sharpener in order to maintain a keen-edged blade.
You should also choose a knife that is appropriate enough for the task. For example, use a meat cleaver for meat, and not for any other purpose, as it is most likely to slip when being misused.
Always Wear Safe Clothing
Don’t go into the kitchen with baggy and long sleeves. You can imagine if the sleeves were to catch fire on the stove? This would be a scary outcome.
So, generally, avoid such tops and always choose the fitted sleeves or the no sleeves option. Also, do not wear anything that is flammable or synthetic, when these overheat, the fabric can melt into your skin.
Avoid Burns
Ensure that when cooking all the handles for your pans and pots have been turned inwards, and away from you. This is safer, in case someone passes by, as they are less likely to knock them and result in your food flying and burning you.
Always ensure that the potholders and oven mitts are close by so you can use them to handle the hot things on your stove. Do not use the wet potholders or dishrags as they may not keep the heat from burning your hands.
Ensure to Wash Your Hands Always
You would think that this is common knowledge, but most people tend to forget. So, do not forget. It’s vital that you wash your hands in soapy water before cooking and after cooking.
You should try and use paper towels to dry your hands after cleaning as the dishtowels tend to touch many raw foods and can lead to food poisoning.
Conclusion
Being safe in the kitchen can save you a world of trouble, especially if you have small kids in the house. It is important to follow the safety tips we have outlined above to avoid accidents, especially fires in the kitchen that can cause too much damage. All the best and remember to be careful!
