Kitchen Safety Rules

Kitchen Safety Rules

Kitchen Safety Tips - Avoid A Stew Of Risks & Make Your Kitchen Safer
By Susanne Svette

No, we're not talking about a collapsed soufflé or overdone pot roast. We mean actual risks to life and limb. When it comes to safety in the kitchen, what should you really be paying attention to? Learn how to avoid a disaster by following these simple kitchen safety tips.

Kitchen Safety Tip #1: Keep a Fire Extinguisher Handy

Most house fires start in the kitchen, especially grease fires. You can avoid this danger by keeping your oven and stove top clean. Unfortunately, accidents can still happen. If you experience a grease fire:

• If your stove catches on fire, turn off the burners or oven, if you can.
• Most importantly, NEVER pour water on a grease fire. Water just moves the grease around, aggravating your grease fire.
• Instead, use a lid or larger pan to cover the grease fire. You can also use baking soda or salt on small grease fires. And you can smother an oven fire by keeping the door closed. Of course, a kitchen fire extinguisher is better. Always use the dry, multipurpose type rated for class A, B and C fires, and check it periodically to make sure it's fully charged.
• If the fire won't die or begins to spread, call the fire department and get to safety immediately.
• Not all kitchen fires start when you're present, so change the batteries in your smoke detector annually, and get a new smoke detector every 10 years.

Kitchen Safety Tip #2: Pay Attention to Handles, Utensils and Sleeves

Always turn pan handles inward toward the center of your stove when you're cooking. Store utensils in a handy place, so you don't have to reach across hot burners to grab a spatula to flip a burger or stir a pot. Avoid wearing long, loose sleeves that hang over burners and might catch on handles.

Kitchen Safety Tip #3: Enforce Safety Rules in the Kitchen

Your kitchen is not a playground. While you won't want to banish your children entirely, it's always good to take a look at your kitchen from their point of view. Are handles dangling close to highchairs?

Are burner knobs accessible? Even placemats can be hazardous: They will easily scatter cutlery and break glass when pulled on. Older kids can be just as problematic as toddlers, because of their inattention and tendency to dash through rooms.

To maximize safety in the kitchen, supervise your children. If your kids aren't helping out with tasks that teach them age-appropriate kitchen skills safely, they may belong elsewhere.

Kitchen Safety Tip #4: Treat Sharp Items with Respect

Keep sharp blades out of reach when they're not in use. Store your knives properly, in knife guards or a butcher block. Never leave knives in a sink full of water, where children, pets or someone washing dishes may encounter them unexpectedly.

Use cutting boards so knives don't accidentally skid off the counter. Sharp knives cut smoothly and predictably. Get a knife sharpener and use it. And whenever possible, use higher-quality cutlery, because it is less prone to bend or snap. And when it comes to the whirling blades of the disposal, food processor or blender, be cautious. Never reach inside, and always unplug if possible immediately after use.

Kitchen Safety Rules