Within most homes, the kitchen is the most dangerous room that you can be in. From the stove and oven to the knives and sink, there are plenty of ways that a person could get injured by working in the kitchen. So if you love to spend time cooking, it’s important that you know how to keep yourself and others safe while preparing and cooking food.

To help you in doing this, here are three tips for staying safe while cooking in your kitchen. 

Be Prepared For Fire

When cooking in your kitchen, things are going to get hot. While this heat won’t always mean that you’re working with fire, there are plenty of times where a gas stove or a hot pan could get out of control and cause a fire to grow.

In a situation like this, it’s good to have been prepared prior to any kind of fire breaking out. To best prepare your kitchen for the possibility of a fire, Alexia Chianis, a contributor to SafeWise.com, recommends that you do things like ensure that your smoke detectors are in good working order, know what works well for smothering a fire, and keep a fire extinguisher handy in case any flames that erupt begin to get bigger than you can handle on your own. Not only should you personally take care of all this preparation, but everyone else in your home should be made aware of these precautions as well. 

Only Use Sharp Knives

While this might seem counterintuitive to some people, using dull kitchen knives is actually much more dangerous than using sharp knives. According to Jennifer Shaffer, a contributor to Taste Of Home, a dull knife is more likely to slip out of your hand and cause you a personal injury.

When using a dull knife, you often have to use more force to get the same results as when you use a sharp knife. Additionally, dull knives tear more than they cut, which can cause your injury to be more extensive. So if you’re going to be cutting anything in the kitchen, make sure you’re using a sharp knife. 

Keep Certain Foods Separate

Another danger that you need to be aware of when cooking food is that of cross-contamination. If you don’t handle your food properly, you could cause anyone who eats that food to become sick.

To avoid this, ChooseMyPlate.gov advises that you keep certain foods separate. For example, you should keep any raw meat you’re working with away from products that you don’t plan on cooking, like produce. This will help to keep any germs from the meat away from your other food.

If you love to cook, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you have a safe and fun time as you prepare food in your kitchen.

Anna Jones
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