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Five Parts:Preventing firesHandle food safelyBe careful with sharp objects or toolsElectrical safetyGeneral safety suggestions

Kitchens have a number of serious hazards. Learning to be safe in them will help you prevent accidents or losses.

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EditPart 1 of 5: Preventing fires

  1. 1
    Don't leave oil on your stove or overfill pots or pans with hot oil. Cooking oil can be a dangerous product if it is overheated or spills over onto a hot burner.

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  2. 2
    Keep a proper fire extinguisher handy. Make sure it is labelled ABC for electrical and chemical fires, and be sure it is charged and up to date.
  3. 3
    Be aware of the surfaces near the stove burners. Leaving paper towels, plastic wrappers, or other flammable materials near stove elements can result in a fire.

EditPart 2 of 5: Handle food safely

  1. 1
    Do not allow cross contamination between uncooked meats and foods that are eaten raw. Consider keeping a chopping board specifically for raw meat, and cleaning it thoroughly after each use.
  2. 2
    Cook meat thoroughly to kill any pathogens that may cause illness.
  3. 3
    Keep foods cold that require refrigeration. If you're not sure, look up the safe storage requirements online; different foods require different temperatures for safety, and can be kept for different lengths of time before going bad.[1]
  4. 4
    Keep cleaning solvents and other toxic substances away from food preparation areas.

EditPart 3 of 5: Be careful with sharp objects or tools

  1. 1
    Keep knives in a safe storage location when not in use. If you have children around, make particularly sure this storage is out of reach.
  2. 2
    Be careful with kitchen shears, sharp forks, or other tools. Beware of putting them point up in the dishwasher or any storage containers; try to store and transport them point down, and don't leave them in open dishwashers if you have children in the home.
  3. 3
    Clean up broken glassware or china carefully. These can cause painful cuts. If you do have an accident involving sharp shattered pieces, clear any children out of the area and ensure the people cleaning it up are wearing shoes.

EditPart 4 of 5: Electrical safety

  1. 1
    Use only UL rated kitchen equipment on circuits that are rated for them.
  2. 2
    Do not use electrical appliances near water-filled sinks.
  3. 3
    Make sure your appliance cords are in good condition, including grounding plugs.
  4. 4
    Keep electrical cords away from hot stove burners.

EditPart 5 of 5: General safety suggestions

  1. 1
    Clean up spills quickly and thoroughly. Slippery floors can lead to a serious accident.
  2. 2
    Keep the kitchen well ventilated. When possible, use an oven fan or range hood to remove smoke from the area and keep fresh air circulating.
  3. 3
    Discard any food that may be contaminated or spoiled. Make sure you heed "use by" and "sell by" dates, and double-check how long different foods can be kept safely. If any food you have in storage smells or looks "off," it's safer to discard it than to end up with indigestion or more serious food poisoning.
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EditTips

  • Use the correct tools for kitchen jobs.
  • Follow cooking instructions carefully.
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EditWarnings

  • If you leave oil on stove it may start a fire.
    Holiday fire safety Unattended cooking on stove leads to a fire.jpg


EditRelated wikiHows

How to
Keep Your Kitchen Clean and Safe

How to
Make Your Kitchen Safe for Children


EditSources and Citations

  1. ↑ http://www.foodsafety.gov/keep/charts/storagetimes.html


Article Info

Categories: Food Safety

Recent edits by: Serendipitee, Renee Michelle Wenker, Anna

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