With the holiday season upon us, it’s time to plan and host the traditional holiday gatherings. Of course, no holiday gathering would be complete without food, which means you’ll likely be spending a fair amount of time cooking in the kitchen. So much cooking carries a certain amount of risk with it, though. You want to enjoy the holidays, not spend them recovering from a cooking accident. So what should you be doing to prevent them?
Don’t Leave Things Unattended
With all the hustle and bustle that comes with the holidays, it’s perfectly normal to feel like you’re being pulled in a million directions at once. That can make it tempting to leave things cooking in the kitchen unattended, but resist the urge. You’ll never know that your food is burning, the pot is boiling over, or something caught on fire until it’s too late. Stay in the kitchen and within eyesight of what you’re cooking so you can prevent accidents. If you must take your attention away from a dish for a time, set an audible timer to remind yourself to check on it.
Learn to Handle Dangerous Items
If you do much cooking at all, you’re bound to handle dangerous items from time to time. Objects that are sharp, heavy, hot, or a combination of the above can pose a very real risk. Knowing how to handle them properly can reduce the chances of there being an accident. Learn how to use kitchen knives properly and make sure that you’re using the proper protective gear when handling them or hot things. If anyone else is in the kitchen, make sure you communicate clearly to them. Communicating with others prevents accidents while handling knives and other sharp objects. The same goes for transporting hot or heavy things from one place to another.
Keep the Kitchen Clear
Accidents are practically guaranteed if you can’t keep your kitchen walkways clear. Toys, children, and pets all have a tendency to get underfoot at the worst times. This can result in dangerous trips, slips, and falls all too easily. Having too many helpers in the kitchen can have a similar result. If your kitchen is feeling crowded, think carefully about whether everyone in there is actually helping. If they aren’t, you might want to invite them to leave. While you’re at it, practice cleaning as you go to keep your kitchen as mess-free as possible. You’ll thank yourself for it later.
Most cooking accidents are preventable. Avoiding accidents means giving yourself enough time to properly and carefully plan and prepare your dishes. Remember, when it comes to cooking in the kitchen, sayings like “haste makes waste” and “more haste, less speed” definitely ring true. If you want to avoid accidents, be deliberate and careful about your actions throughout the process!
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