4 Tips to Keep the Kitchen Safe While Cooking

Did you know one of the leading causes of home fires and injuries occur in the kitchen? The consequences of having a fire in the home can be devastating. Not only for the financial repercussions, but for something far more serious - personal injury or even death.

Spending time in the kitchen should be fun and relaxing. However, it is also a time of making responsible choices to help keep it a safe place for you and your family.

From cooking a complex recipe for stuffed duck, to making an espresso on a stovetop using an Italian espresso maker our attention is always required. This may seem like a common sense statement, but even drinking moderate amounts of alcohol, can alter one's judgment while using kitchen equipment. Simple routine tasks can be easily overlooked, such as turning off all burners when finished using the stove.

If you are tired when cooking, put on some music or open some windows to help stay alert. If you have to walk away from the kitchen while your dinner is in the oven, make sure to set a timer. This will help in case you become distracted with a phone call, TV show or accidentally fall asleep on the couch.

Such objects could be the evening newspaper, note pads, paper towels, pot holders, or even wooden spoons.  Be mindful of open windows and fans since these can easily blow light objects towards the hot stove.

3:  The third tip is dealing with the issue of children in the kitchen. 

Children in their excitement can easily run through the kitchen and knock a hot pan off the stove or a hot dish off the table. Very young children such as toddlers are always exploring and grabbing whatever they can find - this includes frying pans.  Never let the handles of your cookware on the stove be within reach of any child. Such objects can cause serious burns and head trauma.

Make sure to keep your kitchen a kid free zone at all times. To help children understand the seriousness of this issue, have them help you determine a good kid free zone area. Then together, mark the zone with tape on the floor. Doing this simple exercise together will help them accept the new rule, rather than resist it.

Often in our minds, we think water is what will put out a fire. However, in this case, put on a mitt to protect your hand and put the lid on the pan to prevent any further oxygen from feeding the fire.  Turn the stove off and leave the pan alone until it has completely cooled.

As your children become older and begin to help in the kitchen, practice these safety rules by acting them out in kitchen fire drills. This way should a fire occur, you and your children will know what to do.

Whether preparing breakfast, lunch, dinner or a late night dessert, these four tips are important to keeping your kitchen a safe and hazard free area.

This article was contributed by SimpleItalianCooking - a website featuring quick and easy Italian recipes and Italian kitchenware such as large pasta bowls and other items.

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