Kitchen Accidents

Not to be the bearer of bad news, but your kitchen is a land mind of disaster. Two thirds of home fires start in the kitchen, 480 people die a year in kitchen fires, and 350,000 people are injured by kitchen knives each year. The most common injuries are burns, fires and lacerations. With these resourceful tips, you will have a safe and hopefully, delicious holiday in and out of the kitchen.

Fires

• Always stay in the kitchen while cooking.
• Keep a fire extinguisher close by (with a minimum of 5-B.C).
• Make sure your smoke alarm is in working order.
• Keep anything that could be a potential fire hazard away from stove tops (i.e. oven mitts, paper towels, dish rags, etc).
• Use a lid, baking soda, or salt to smother grease fires. Never throw water on it.
• If the fire gets out of hand, leave the kitchen immediately and dial 911. Your life is more valuable than your kitchen.
• Prevent a fire by tying loose hair back and by not wearing dangling clothes or jewelry.

Burns

• The steam from microwaves can burn just as well as stove tops and ovens. Lift lids away from your face so that you are not scalded.
• Use an oven mitt to remove items from the microwave.
• Microwaves can heat unevenly. Be sure to stir properly and test food to prevent incinerating your mouth. Let cool before tasting.
• Always boil water on the stove and never in a microwave. The boiling over effect is not fun.
• When opening the oven, stand to the side to prevent burns.
• If your microwave catches fire, unplug it immediately and leave the door shut.
• Keep tongs and utensils nearby for easy access. Don’t use your fingers to test food.
• Don’t cook while holding children.
• Be sure to turn pots and pan handles facing inward on the stove so they do not get knocked over.
• If you are burned, do not ice the skin or use cold water on it. Instead, place the injured skin under cool water for 10-15 minutes until the pain recedes. If skin is removed, see an ER as it could be a serious injury.
• 63% of stove fires occur from frying. Be cautious when frying items. Let the heat rise slowly to prevent pops and burns.
• Let grease and cooking oil cool before removing it.
• Create a clear path when straining pastas from boiling water.
• Water can heat rapidly. Remain cautious when using the kitchen faucet.

Lacerations

• Use the correct tool for the job (i.e. don’t use a knife to open a can).
• Never cut food in your hand. Use a cutting board. That’s what they are for.
• Don’t attempt to catch a knife when it falls. Let it drop.
• Carrying a knife while carrying other items is a no-no.
• Keep shears and knives facing downward if you place them in the dishwasher.
• Don’t place sharp utensils such as knives in a murky sink. Leave them visible to prevent cuts.
• Use caution when opening canned items. Place the lid inside the can once emptied to prevent cuts.
• Use utensil dividers to keep your hands from getting sliced on a potato peeler.
• Dull knives are more dangerous than sharp ones. Keep your knives sharp. The easier they cut, the less force you use.
• Always cut away from your body.
• Stash kitchen knives in a block when you aren’t using them so they do not tilt over.
• Prevent disasters by placing a towel under your cutting board. Use cutting boards with a raised surface as opposed to a slippery one.
• Never put your hand in a blender. Most blenders are washer safe and you don’t want to be maimed.

Declutter

Most kitchen accidents can be avoided by organization.  Trust me, de-clutter. You can thank me for it later.

• Prevent distractions. Keep the dog (or cat) out of the kitchen, remove pesky throw rugs, don’t use the telephone while cooking, and keep your children away.
• Clean up kitchen spills as they happen. You don’t want to slip on it later.
• Use step stools.
• Close cabinets to avoid shin pain.
• Store heavy pots and pans on lower level shelves.
• Clean out your refrigerator often. Clutter can lead to items falling and breaking such as mason jars.
• A clean counter top makes cooking easier.
• Lay out the items you will use in advance so that you don’t have to stop and search for them when your roast is scorching.
• Label items for easy use.
• Keep a First Aid kit handy with band-aids, antibiotic ointment, aloe vera, alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, and anti-inflammatories because that is what kitchen masters do.

 

 

Cookware

 

• Never remove an item from the refrigerator and place it directly in the oven. This can cause the glass to break and vice versa.
• When placing cookware in the sink, don’t cool the glass in cold water.
• Stop using chipped or cracked cookware. No one wants to get cut.

 

 

Sanitation

• Place foods with juices on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator until you are ready to cook them.
• Cook or freeze meats within two days.
• Replace dish rags at least once a week and let them dry between use.
• Cook meats at the correct temperature before consuming them.
• Easily disinfect your sponges by wetting and heating them in the microwave for two minutes.
• Clean your kitchen counters, utensils, and cutting boards using one gallon of bleach and one gallon of water (because the fact that the average cutting board has 200% more fecal bacteria than a toilet seat is disconcerting).

Now go and cook your masterpiece accident free!