Kitchen Klutzes of America Day National Safety Month Create a Safe Kitchen

Kitchen Safety for Kids: Fun & Secure Cooking Tips

Kitchen safety involves avoiding and looking for potential hazards. Focus your attention on four main areas.

• Fire and Electrical Hazards
• Food Preparation
• Food Safety and Cleanliness
• Create a Child-Friendly Kitchen

Fire and Electrical Hazards

 1. Use a 3-prong grounded connection on all appliances.
 2. Do not use extension cords.
 3. Discard any broken or damaged appliances.
 4. Turn off burners immediately when not in use.
 5. Keep dish towels, pot holders, and paper towels away from the stove or other hot areas where they can catch fire.
 6. Do not leave candles burning unattended. Place in flameproof containers.
 7. Keep a fire extinguisher in or near the kitchen, but away from the stove or other hot areas.
 8. Keep lighters and matches away from the reach of children.

Kitchen Safety - Fire Hazards

Food Preparation

 1. Turn the handles of cooking pots and pans away from the front of the stove.
 2. Be careful when removing the lid from hot foods. The heat can burn you.

 3. Never leave cooking foods unattended!!
 4. Close cabinet doors and draws when not in use.

 5. Make sure appliances with sharp areas are unplugged before touching them.
 6. Use proper lifting techniques when carrying heavy items.

 7. Knives - Always cut away from the body when using a knife. Cut using a proper cutting surface. Keep knives clean. Do not leave knives soaking in water. When cleaning the blade, keep the sharp edge away from hands.

Kitchen Safety: Knife Safety

Food Safety and Cleanliness

There are ways to avoid food poisoning and accidents by proper handling of foods and keeping yourself and your work area clean.

 1. Clean up spills immediately.
 2. Always wash your hands before working in the kitchen. Wash with soap and water for 20 seconds before and after handling food.
 3. Wash kitchen surfaces often, and wash platters before refilling them with fresh food. 

 4. Keep uncooked and ready-to-eat foods separate. Juices from raw meat may cross-contaminate other food if they contain harmful bacteria. 

 5. Use one cutting board for raw meat and poultry and another one for vegetables. If you use only one cutting board, wash it with hot soapy water after preparing each food item.
 6. Use a food thermometer to be sure foods are cooked safely. Steaks should be cooked to 145 °F, ground beef cooked to 160 °F, and all poultry cooked to 165 °F.
 7. Never hold hot or cold foods for more than two hours at room temperature, or between 40 °F and 140 °F. Refrigerate or freeze leftovers promptly.
 8. When in doubt, throw it out; do not eat it.

Food Safety

June is National Safety Month

Cooking and spending time in the kitchen is fun for kids, and also provides parents with an opportunity to teach children. Here are tips to create a kid-friendly kitchen:

Fire Prevention Week Fire Prevention in the Kitchen

National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)

The mission of the international nonprofit NFPA, established in 1896, is to reduce the worldwide burden of fire and other hazards on the quality of life by providing and advocating consensus codes and standards, research, training, and education.
 
NFPA is the world's leading advocate of fire prevention and an authoritative source on public safety. The association develops, publishes, and disseminates more than 300 consensus codes and standards intended to minimize the possibility and effects of fire and other risks.

Cooking Fire Prevention

1. The leading cause of fires in the kitchen is:

a. burnt toast.

b. unattended cooking.

c. oven fires.

d. microwave oven fires

2. When young children are present:

a. use the stove's front burners so you can reach them faster.

b. use the stove's back burners.

c. have children sit quietly on the floor so they can't reach the stove.

d. have children stand behind you when you are using the stove.

3. Spilled food and grease from burners, stovetops and oven should be:

a. cleaned up to prevent a fire.

b. kept to a minimum.

c. covered with paper towels to soak up the grease and food.

d. left to harden.

4. If a small grease fire starts in a pan:

a. use baking powder to put the fire out.

b. smother the flames by carefully sliding the lid over the pan (make sure you are
                wearing an oven mitt). Turn off the burner.

c. pour water on the fire.

d. move the pan to the sink and run water over it.

Answers
1.  b
2.  b
3.  a
4.  b

Reference:  National Fire Protection Association

1. Stay alert. If you've consumed alcohol or taken medication that makes you drowsy - Do not cook. 
2. The leading cause of a fire in the kitchen is unattended cooking. If you leave the kitchen for even a short period of time, turn off the stove. Use a timer to remind you that you’re cooking. 
3. Keep items that can catch fire away from heat sources, such as oven gloves, towels, wood, plastic, etc... Wear short, close-fitting or tightly rolled sleeves when cooking. Loose clothing can catch on fire if it comes in contact with a flame or an electric burner. 
4. Keep the stovetop, burners, and oven clean. 
5. Grease Fire: Always keep a lid nearby when you’re cooking. If a small grease fire starts in a pan, smother the flames by sliding a lid over the pan. Turn off the burner. Do not move the pan or lid until the pan is completely cool. Never pour water on a grease fire. Never discharge a fire extinguisher onto a pan fire; it can spray or shoot burning grease around the kitchen and spread the fire. 
6. Oven Fire. Turn off the heat and keep the door closed until it is cool. The oven should be checked and/or serviced before using it again. 
7. When in doubt, just get out! Make sure you close the door behind you to help contain the fire. After you leave, call 911 and meet at your designated meeting place. 
8. Only use a fire extinguisher if you are trained. 
9. Create a safe area for children and pets. At least 3 feet from the stove and areas where hot food or drink is prepared or served. Never hold a child while you are cooking, eating or drinking hot foods or liquids. 
10. Plug cooking appliances directly into an outlet. Never use an extension cord for a cooking appliance. It can overload the circuit and cause a fire. Check electrical cords for cracks, breaks, damage, or overheating. Call a professional repair person and replace the appliance, if necessary. 
11. Place or install a microwave oven at a safe height within easy reach of all users. Always supervise children when they are using the microwave oven. Use only microwave-safe cookware. Never use aluminum foil or metal objects in a microwave oven. Open microwaved food slowly and away from the face. Hot steam can escape from a microwaved container of food and can cause burns. Never heat a baby bottle in a microwave oven. 
12. Propane, charcoal, and wood pellet barbecue grills must only be used outdoors. Indoor use can be deadly due to either a fire or carbon monoxide poisoning. Place a grill away from siding and deck railings and out from under eaves and overhanging branches. Do not store or use a grill on a porch or balcony, including any porch or balcony on an upper level of the building. Place the grill a safe distance from lawn furniture, games, and play areas. Use long-handled grilling tools. Never leave a barbecue grill unattended.

Resources

1. Kitchen Safety

2. Fire Prevention Quiz

Kids Eat Right Month - The Kid Friendly Kitchen

Help your kids start young and master simple cooking tasks before moving on to more complex skills. Use these age-appropriate ideas to keep your kids excited, safe and well-educated in the kitchen! To learn more, visit Kids Eat Right at Kid-Friendly Kitchen Tasks Infographic

 

Create a Kid-friendly Kitchen

June is Home Safety Month and the
 Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics has prepared tips to

Cooking and spending time in the kitchen is fun for kids, and also provides parents with an opportunity to teach children about healthy nutrition. Here are tips to create a kid-friendly kitchen:

Cooking with Kids - Kitchen Safety - The Smart Shopper

From the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and the Kids Eat Right program.