4/4/2024 0 Comments 10 Kitchen Safety TipsKitchen safety is important to know when working around the kitchen. By incorporating these tips into your kitchen routine, you can create a safer environment for yourself and others while cooking and preparing delicious meals.
Tip #1: Keep your workspace clean Keeping your workspace clean helps avoid the spread of bacteria and creates a pleasant working environment. Different ways to keep your workspace clean would be to clear any clutter, wipe surfaces, sanitize, and clean as you go. Tip #2: Use appliances safely Always utilize appliances for the proper use. A huge note is when you're finished make sure they are properly turned off and/or unplugged from outlets to avoid accidents from occurring. Tip #3: Burns and Scalds Make sure to use oven mitts or pot holders when handling hot plates, trays, pans, and pots, to avoid any heat damage to the skin. You should also turn pot handles inwards to avoid spills of boiling liquids or hot food. Tip #4: Cross-contamination Using separate cutting boards and washing hands, utensils, and surfaces thoroughly after handling raw meats, poultry, or fish to avoid cross contamination between foods. Tip #5: Practice fire safety Keep flammable items away from hot stoves and never leave cooking food, boiling food, frying food, baking food unattended. Tip #6: Store food properly Store food in the proper places whether that be the fridge, freezer, etc. Always label food if they aren't stored in their proper containers, and always keep track of best before or expiry dates. Tip #7: Practice good hygiene Wash hands properly before and after handling food, utilize hair nets, and tie back long hair. Tip #8: Handle raw foods properly When thawing frozen foods, you should thaw them in the freezer, microwave, or in the sink, never on the counter. Store raw foods on bottom shelves to avoid leakage that causes cross-contamination on other ingredients in the fridge. Tip #9: Wear proper attire Avoid wearing loose clothing that may cause flame to yourself. Always take off any jewelry such as rings and bracelets, to avoid contact with the food. Tip #10: Be prepared for emergencies at all times Always be attentive to everything. Have yourself and or objects ready to use such as fire extinguishers, fire blankets, first aid kits, etc, for when emergencies occur in the kitchen. 3/2/2024 0 Comments Knife SafetyKnife safety is super important in the kitchen. Always hold the knife by the handle, make sure the sharp part is facing away from you, and when cutting, make sure you are cutting away from you. Another factor of using a knife when cutting is to use the claw method, this decreases the chance of slicing your finger as your knuckles prevent that and create a barrier. When traveling around the kitchen carrying a knife, keep it pointed down with the sharp edge facing behind you. You should never try catching a falling knife, move out of the way and let it fall. When passing a knife to another person, the best way to do it is to lay it down on a surface so they can pick it up from the handle.
Some important things to remember is to keep your knife sharp when using it. Using a dull knife increases the chance of mistakes happening such as the knife slipping when using it. Other ways to prevent accidents would be to cut with dry hands, this way you can prevent a slip or mishap from happening. Keep distractions out of the kitchen, especially when using a knife. All your attention should be on your hands. Cutting boards are essential, you should always utilize a cutting board. To ensure the board is stabilized, you can use a damp towel and place it under the cutting board to prevent the board from slipping. You should always have two cutting boards, one for raw meats and fish, and another for vegetables, fruits, bread, and much more. You want to keep raw foods separate to prevent cross-contamination. Another way to prevent cross-contamination is to properly clean and sanitize your cutting boards accordingly. |