Unfortunately, the favourite spot in our homes, our lovely kitchen, can be one of the most dangerous areas in the house. The kitchen is a high-traffic area throughout the day since it serves as both a cooking workspace and a meeting spot for the family. Since the kitchen contains electricity, gas, and plumbing components, a few correct safety procedures can help prevent kitchen injuries and mishaps.
Many items of equipment and kitchen hazards could do you harm. Forks and knives with sharp edges and points, open fire near the oven, electrical gadgets, and even bacteria in the kitchen can all be dangerous. As a result, following simple kitchen safety regulations may become a habit. Because even the tiniest slip can result in serious injury or accident, constantly pay attention to what you're doing, make a schedule for kitchen cleanliness, and have the required safety/fire safety equipment on hand.
Accidental burns in the kitchen can occur in a variety of ways, ranging from mild, minor burns to lighting clothes on fire. Burns are unquestionably the most prevalent mishap that happens in the kitchen.
Catching clothes on fire is, obviously, an uncommon occurrence, whereas small burns might occur at any time while cooking. Apart from having sturdy oven gloves, there's not much you can do about minor burns. However, significant burns and flames can be avoided by turning off the oven and stove while not in use. Always keep a fire extinguisher on hand in case of an emergency, and always extinguish a grease fire. In the event of a burn, immerse the burned area in cool water for at least 20 minutes. This will reduce the heat generated beneath the skin.
The kitchen is the space in the house with the highest fire danger. Cooking causes more than half of all accidental fires, which commonly occur when cookers and grills are left unattended. While cooking, make sure to:
· Set an alarm to alert you when the food is ready.
· Keep flammable items such as paper, tea towels, and clothes away from the stove.
Never put water on a pan that has caught fire. If possible, turn off the heat before leaving the kitchen and closing the door. If there's a fire, don't take any chances.
Accidents do occur. However, you can lessen the danger of an accident in your kitchen by following some easy safety precautions.
• Rearrange your worktops so that frequently used items are close at hand to avoid twisting or stretching.
• Make room on the counters near the stove for pots to be readily placed.
• When cooking, try to use the back rings on the burner or hob.
• To reach items in higher cupboards, use a step stool or a ladder with a handrail. Never, ever, ever stand on a chair.
• Use a tray or a trolley to transport hot liquids, and be cautious when transporting meals to another room. However, you can only use a trolley as walking assistance if it has brakes.
So here are a few kitchen safety tips.
If you're in the kitchen, be prepared to mop up spills as they happen, rather than allowing them to sit and become a slippery danger for others. Wet messes should be thoroughly wiped up and disposed of by young children who prepare their own meals or snacks. Keep paper towels handy, and never let little children use harsh cleaning solutions that might be harmful if swallowed.
This is a crucial safety precaution, as easy as it may appear. If a glass breaks in the kitchen and you walk over it accidentally, your feet will be seriously damaged.
Shoes create a barrier between your foot and a dropping knife, heavy dish, or heated gravy, in addition to protecting you from shattered pieces.
Non-skid bottoms, robust toe caps, supportive arches, and comfy insoles are all features of the ideal footwear for cooking and kitchen work.
Because the kitchen is vulnerable to fires, it is critical to ensure that the smoke detector is in working order. Some advanced versions additionally include a security system to give an extra degree of protection.
Make sure that the knives are out of children's reach. Keep the sharp edges down and the handles up in a wooden block. Keep them facing the inside of the drawer in a drawer.
You don’t want anything to accidentally catch fire (not to mention hair ending up in the food!).
A bracelet or long earrings can easily become twisted around pot handles, resulting in spills.
Make sure they're not near an open flame. Turn the pot handles away from the stove's front. They can't be grabbed by children, and they can't be bumped against by adults if they're out of the way.
Maintain a dry floor so that no one slips and falls.
This prevents hazardous bacteria from spreading from one food to another; remember to wash your hands before and after handling meat or poultry. Bacteria can swarm your hands like a freight train.
You should do everything possible to avoid a kitchen fire, but accidents sometimes happen. So, before a fire starts, make sure you know how to use the extinguisher. In the midst of the flames, you can't afford to waste any time reading the instructions.
11. Wash and Dry Your Hands
Have you ever seen cooks on television slide a dishtowel inside their waistbands?
This allows them to clean their hands frequently. Wet hands have less gripping traction than clean, dry hands.
Wet hands also transmit heat rapidly. You're more likely to flinch and let go if you handle a hot item without first wiping your hands.
12. Children and Pets
Avoiding any type of distraction is a smart idea. Hot stoves, toasters, ovens, and sharp objects such as knives can injure children.
Furthermore, designating the kitchen as a "no pet area" is an excellent idea. They can wander around the kitchen, obstructing your work or posing a tripping danger.
13. Clean It Up
Did you know that the kitchen has more bacteria than any other room in your house?
Clean your kitchen as regularly as possible with a water/bleach solution to eliminate bacteria. Use a pre-mixed spray sanitizer developed specifically for kitchens, or mix one gallon of water with one gallon of bleach. After each use, clean the cutting boards with the solution.
Sponges and dishrags have a bad reputation for harboring bacteria. Wet a sponge and zap it in the microwave for two minutes to eliminate bacteria. Allow the sponge to cool for a few minutes before removing it. Dishrags should be changed every day and washed in hot water.
If you are ensuring kitchen safety, this means you are ensuring home safety since a small fire mishap in the kitchen can burn the entire house!
Our Devtraco Plus kitchens provide a safe, spacious and easy environment to explore your culinary creativity. Keep the space safe. Check out our wonderful kitchens, book a tour now.