Kitchen Safety

Cooking and preparing meals is meant to be an enjoyable experience. However, cooking can also be dangerous when you consider hot appliances, sharp utensils and unfortunate accidents. These tips may help you to avoid fires, cuts and burns while cooking.

Preventing Fires Today, most fires in the home are started by leaving food unattended while it’s cooking. Broiling, boiling, grilling or frying foods should always be watched carefully to prevent a fire.Cooking foods without enough liquid, cooking on too high of a temperature, or allowing foods to boil over can start fires.

Beware of distractions while cooking like pets and children. Avoid cooking after consuming alcohol, taking medications that affect your judgement, or when you are sleepy.

Fires in the kitchen are frequently caused by carelessness. Keep flammable materials like curtains, towels, food packages, wooden utensils and potholders far away from ovens and cooktops.

Keep knife blades sharp. Often, knife cuts in the kitchen are caused by trying to force a dull knife through food. Never toss a sharp knife into a sink full of dishes where the knife can’t be seen and could cut someone.

Make sure cutting boards are safely secured and don’t move when cutting food. Knives should always be pointed away from a person’s body when cutting.

Store knives in a safe and secure location where people won’t cut themselves by accident. Preferably, in a separate knife drawler or a utensil holder designed for knives.

Most burns can be avoided by advanced preparation and common sense. Place a potholder on the counter before moving hot pots. Don’t use wet or moist potholders that can transfer the heat and burn fingers.

Allow steam to vent from pans properly by opening lids away from your body. Always walk slowly when carrying hot pots and advise others in the kitchen that you are coming through with hot food.

When cooking, don’t wear loose clothing or dangling jewelry that can easily catch fire from a burner or become tangled in pot handles and cause a burn.

Use common sense when cooking, and keep baking soda and a fire extinguisher handy to put out kitchen fires.

SOURCE: www.coastalmaytag.com