What Is Kitchen Safety, and Why Is It Your Best Ingredient?
Here’s the recipe for cooking safely.
Here’s the recipe for cooking safely.
Cooking is so much more than just preparing delicious meals. It involves not just the dish itself, but also the entire preparation process. And whether you’re cooking for yourself or your loved ones, safety is the most important ingredient.
This is where kitchen safety practices come into play. Kitchen safety refers to the precautions and measures taken to prevent accidents, injuries, and illnesses while cooking in the kitchen. So, whether you’re a beginner at making scrambled eggs or a seasoned chef with a Michelin star displayed by your cutting board, keep these kitchen safety tips in mind. They’ll ensure the best side dish of all: peace of mind.
What percentage of residential fires are caused by cooking? According to the U.S. Fire Administration, cooking caused 51% of all residential building fires responded to by fire departments nationwide. From 2017 to 2019, US Fire Departments responded to roughly 187,500 domestic cooking fires annually.
Given these statistics, kitchen safety plays a crucial role in preventing house fires. From maintaining cleanliness to investing in a fire alarm system, here are six kitchen safety rules to maximize flavor and minimize kitchen accidents.
Constantly cleaning your kitchen while cooking brings several benefits. First, it reduces the chances of cross-contamination and food poisoning. Second, you’ll have fewer dishes to wash at the end. And third, it minimizes potential accidents.
For instance, if cooking surfaces are clean, there will be fewer chances of accidentally dropping a kitchen knife. If there are no spills on the floor, you will be less likely to slip and fall.
Speaking of slipping, be aware of water leaks. Some alarm systems like the Arlo Home Security System can be used to detect them. Consider placing an included All-in-One Sensor under the kitchen sink to detect water leaks and prevent accidents.
Cleaning your cooking surfaces regularly will prevent grease buildup, reducing the chances of a grease fire. Also, the National Fire Protection Association recommends keeping flammable items like oven mitts, wooden utensils, food packaging, towels, or curtains away from your stovetop.
Never leave the kitchen unattended. If you have to step away for a bit while cooking, don’t forget to turn off the stove. For boiled or slow-cooked food, be sure to check on it periodically. Stay around while the food’s cooking, and set a timer to help you remember the stove or oven is on.
Additionally, remember to turn off the stove after cooking and disconnect electrical appliances after use. Doing so will minimize the chances of electric fires. And remember, never use forks to remove bread from the toaster. (Doing so could result in more than just burned toast.)
Professional chefs wear specific attire for a reason: it’s simply safer. Oven mitts help prevent burning your hands when touching hot surfaces. Hairnets not only keep hair out of your food but also reduce the risk of long hair catching fire. Aprons protect your clothes from spills, and non-slip shoes will prevent you from slipping.
A smoke detector can be crucial for promptly alerting you to a house fire. The National Fire Protection Association recommends installing smoke alarms in every room on every level of your home, not just in your kitchen. Remember to check them periodically and change their batteries regularly. We recommend choosing a smoke/carbon monoxide detector, especially if you cook with a gas stove or oven.
Consider pairing your smoke detectors with the Arlo Home Security System, which offers smart smoke/carbon monoxide alarm listening. When the All-in-One Sensor detects a smoke alarm, the system will send a notification to your smartphone.
With the Arlo Secure subscription, you can further protect your home from fires with 24/7 Professional Monitoring. Security experts will monitor your home and contact the fire department for you, even when you’re not available.
Always keep the right class of fire extinguisher at home, but remember it’s your last resort since it will contaminate your food. Check it periodically as extinguishers have expiration dates. If a grease fire starts, act fast but stay calm. Turn off the heat and cover the pot with a metal lid to smother the flames. For small fires, pour a large amount of baking soda to put them out. For larger fires, use a Class B fire extinguisher. If the fire escalates, evacuate and call 911 immediately.
Be sure to always keep knife safety in mind in the kitchen. Dull knives can slip easily and cut you rather than your food prep. To keep your fingers safe and improve precision, use a whetstone to achieve a sharp blade. Plus, be sure to wear a cut-resistant kitchen glove to protect your hands and wash knives immediately after use. Always angle the blade away from your body when washing, drying, or simply cutting vegetables for your next dinner.
Whether you’re cooking at home or in a commercial kitchen, consider Arlo your safety sous-chef. With the Arlo Home Security System, you can monitor and detect smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, water leaks, temperature changes, and more. You can also use it to monitor access to your kitchen—something especially useful if there are children in your home. With Arlo, peace of mind is always on the menu.
