Best Tips for Avoiding Common Kitchen Hazards
Spending some time cooking a delicious meal can be a wonderful experience but can pose some risks as well. Discover some of the best tips for avoiding kitchen hazards.
Best Tips for Avoiding Common Kitchen Hazards
Nothing beats spending time in the kitchen preparing a wonderful meal. Keep in mind that working near various appliances and handling different tools can pose dangers that you must recognize to avoid mishaps. Read on to find some of the best tips for avoiding common kitchen hazards.
Prevent Food From Going Bad
When you reach for food items, only to discover that they’re spoiled or have mold on them, it can ruin your entire meal plans. Worse, the conditions inside the fridge can breed dangerous germs, resulting in foodborne diseases.
Try to clean your refrigerator thoroughly at least once a month to prevent hazardous bacteria from developing. Additionally, throw away any food that’s a few days beyond its expiration date or that has questionable freshness.
Make Sure You’re Wearing Shoes
Even if you aim to enjoy a casual, relaxing day at home, you should wear shoes when cooking a meal in your kitchen. Sharp items or heavy cookware can cause significant injuries if they fall on your bare feet.
Shoes with firm grips can help you avoid sliding on oil, debris, and other substances that seep into the floor when cooking.
Put Out Fires
Open flames and extremely hot surfaces are ever-present in your kitchen and represent serious fire hazards if you aren’t cautious.
Always keep a fire extinguisher on hand so that you can quickly put out any flames that may arise and train yourself on how to use it effectively. Furthermore, learn the correct way to put out grease or electrical fires before they spread and escalate.
Watch for Electrical Failure
When you’re unaware of the potential dangers of the different electrical equipment in your kitchen, you can expose yourself to shocks and electrocution. Once you finish using an appliance, switch it off immediately and check the condition of the plugs and sockets before plugging anything in.
Avoid placing liquids on top of your microwave since they can spill and cause a short circuit.
Use Proper Cutting Techniques
A great set of knives is a chef’s best friend, but mishandling them can be dangerous. Make sure your blades are sharp, as a dull knife might slide and cut your hand more easily.
You should also slice with the knife’s edge facing away from your hand while keeping your fingers away from the blade to avoid danger.
Hopefully, you’ll find the best tips for avoiding common kitchen hazards beneficial in your everyday cooking. With a bit of consideration and caution, you can go a long way toward preventing accidents.
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Stacey is a Southern girl with a taste for travel, thriving on the discovery of the world through food. After spending many years traveling and living overseas, she’s now back home in her beloved deep south enjoying life with her three little ones and loving the adventure. She’s a food stylist and food photographer, as well as, the creative behind Little Figgy Food, where she loves to inspire others to try new flavors and foodie techniques.