Five kitchen safety tips

The kitchen can be a hazardous playground in your home where so many things can go off beam. With sharp edges, hot pans, fire, breakables and burnables, oils, working in the kitchen requires extra care and attention. With homemakers in Pakistan multitasking, prepping for meals and frequent dinner parties, it’s critical to ensure safety in the kitchen. As compiled from cremebrulee.com, realsimple.com and Homes & Gardens magazine, here’s how you can prevent kitchen mishaps.

Dress for the occasion



Wearing an apron will keep your clothes clean. If you don’t have an apron, an old shirt will do. But don’t wear anything that’s big and loose. Baggy sleeves or clothes can catch fire or get caught in mixer beaters or other equipment. Pull on lightweight pants without cuffs to protect your legs. Slip into closed shoes with non-skid soles when working in the kitchen. Although comfortable, flip flops don’t provide required protection if a sharp object falls on your feet. Sturdy, closed-toe shoes are not only vital for protecting your feet from a knife that falls or boiling liquid but also for defending your lower back from the pain associated with chopping for an extended period of time.

Curtail cross-contamination



There are two ways to reduce the potential for cross-contamination. The chief defence is to wash your hands with soap frequently. Always wash your hands immediately before you begin any recipe. This is especially important for recipes that involve touching the food directly, such as kneading dough or mixing ingredients while preparing kebabs. Keep two cutting boards, one for raw proteins, and the other, for foods. Contamination can also occur when raw juices of meat come into contact with foods that will not be cooked further, such as salad. Cutting board contamination isn’t the only way to spread bacteria. The filthiest places in your kitchen can also contribute to this health risk. The refrigerator door handle, sink, and microwave door handle shoulder large number of bacteria. Clean these areas as often as you clean your counters.

Know how to curb a fire



Fires in home kitchens should be handled carefully. Our instinct always tells us to pour water on the fire but this can be a fatal mistake. In fact, the combination of water and flaming oil can cause an explosion. Using the same line of thinking, don’t use sugar or flour to control the fire as well. Baking soda works but it takes quite a bit of powder, which isn’t always readily available in houses. The safest and most effective way to extinguish a fire in your food-abode is to smother it. Use a non-glass lid on a flaming pot or pan to suffocate the fire.

Avoid the dreaded burn



When you get to the kitchen to cook, you must give the job your full attention. Even if you’re there in mind and spirit, a burn can happen, so make sure you use potholders or oven mitts (not mum’s dish towels) when handling hot pots, pans, or baking trays out of the oven. Turn pot and pan handles toward the back of the stove, so you won’t knock them over by accident. Use only microwave-safe cookware in the microwave, never tinfoil or anything metal. When you lift the cover off a boiling pot, pull the lid towards yourself, so you don’t burn your hand with steam.

Don’t rush



Rushing around in the kitchen almost guarantees accidents. Unless you’re a trained chef, cut food slowly, do not run to and fro around the kitchen, and take your time when moving hot pots and pans. Saving a few minutes here and there will be useless if you need to make a trip to the doctor’s clinic. Also, never try to bake or cook if you have a fever, are using medications or are sleepy. These factors can compromise your alertness and have you mess up while cooking. Children do not belong in the kitchen. Unless the kids are helping you or learning how to cook, keep them out of the area. Not only can kids be a distraction but they can also easily hurt themselves by tasting raw food, pulling hot pots down, and tripping you while you’re carrying something heavy.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 10^th, 2014.

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