Cooking and baking in the kitchen can be one of the most enjoyable activities in the home. To make sure that your kitchen setup is safe and that you continue to enjoy your kitchen without injuries, here are some rules to follow.

Food and Hygiene Safety Tips

Follow these general rules in order to keep food free of any possible contamination:

• Wash your hands before and after handling food, especially raw meat, dry hands with paper towels.
• Keep countertops pristine. Clean often using appropriate cleaners for kitchens. Read our article for information on how to clean your countertop. 
• Wash fruits and vegetables before cutting or peeling with clear, clean water.
• Use a dedicated cutting board for meats, vegetables, etc. 
• Always cook meats to their proper temperature.
• Refrigerate perishable foods within 2 hours.
• Always toss out expired foods. Don’t taste them to be sure; it’s better to err on the side of caution.

The CDC provides more detailed information on FoodSafety.

Burn and Fire Safety

According to FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency), cooking is the leading cause of house fires. Kitchen-related accidents can most often be prevented by following a few basic safety rules:

• Never leave food unattended on the stove. 
• Keep oven mitts, wooden utensils, towels, plastic bags, etc. away from the stovetop. 
• When cooking, keep the handles of pots and pans facing inward. Be extra careful when boiling water. 
• Use a timer to remind yourself that you’re cooking. 
• Walk slowly when you carry something hot.
• Make sure that the exhaust system in your kitchen is in good, workable condition to maintain a well-ventilated environment as well as fire safety in the kitchen.
• Get your kitchen inspected for any potential gas-leaks to prevent any accidents. 

 In case of a grease fire:

• Cover the flames with a metal lid or cookie sheet.
• Turn off the heat source.
• You can pour baking soda (never use flour) to smother the fire if it’s small and manageable. If it isn’t, spray the fire with a fire extinguisher suitable for kitchen use.
• Never try to extinguish the fire with water.

For an oven fire:

• Turn off the heat and keep the door closed. 
• If the fire goes out quickly, open up your windows, open up the oven and carefully remove the pan.
• If you cannot extinguish the fire, get out of the house first and then call 911.

Fire Extinguishers and Smoke Alarms: Your Best Friends to Fight and Avoid Fire

For information on how to use Fire Extinguishers, check out this link from the National Fire Prevention Association.

The large majority of fires start in the kitchen, be sure to check your smoke alarm battery monthly by pressing the test button. A chirping sound means it’s time to change the battery. As smoke alarms have sensors that wear out, they should be replaced before the expiry date on the back of the detector (which is normally ten years from the date of manufacture). 

Appliance Safety

Always read the operating manual for any appliance, large or small, that you purchase. Your owner’s manual will tell you how to install, set-up, use, and maintain the appliance.

The manual will give you energy information and power requirements. It also gives you troubleshooting tips, and a “do not” section to caution owners against mishandling the appliance. So if you are a DIYer, always check the manual before you try to fix a problem with your appliance.

Some rules to follow:

• Make sure your appliance is properly plugged in. It should sit on a flat, dry and stable surface, away from walls and flammable items.
• Always supervise your small child around the stove, oven and microwave.
• Always turn off appliances when not in use. 
• Unplug all small appliances when not in use. A voltage surge could turn them on or cause a short circuit.
• Turn off and disconnect an appliance that sparks or stalls. Immediately!
• Don’t touch an electric appliance while standing on a wet floor or if your hands are wet. Make sure your hands are dry when plugging in an appliance.
• Major appliances, such as refrigerators and stoves should be plugged into separate circuits. 
• Do not use extension cords with high-wattage appliances, like toaster ovens or microwaves.
• If an appliance cord becomes frayed or damaged, stop using it. Don’t patch up cords, have them replaced.
• Always keep cords out of the way of sinks and stove tops.
• Disconnect appliances before you clean, service or repair them.
• Make sure the switch is off before plugging in an appliance to avoid accidental starts.

Knife Storage: Drawer Inserts and Countertop Blocks

Always consider the safest knife storage option for your home. Keeping your knives in a drawer may be the safest option if you have young children. Child safety locks are easily available for cabinets and drawers.

You should never toss knives randomly into a drawer. You could end up injuring yourself when reaching in to grab a knife. Your knives will likely also become dull without protection.

The solution are drawer inserts, or a streamlined knife tray specially made for knives. With these, each blade gets its own special place to rest and the blades are protected from moving around or from clashing with other utensils. There are many designs available. It’s best to pick an insert or tray with slots that can fit different knife sizes. 

Countertop Knife Storage

The classic knife block does a great job of storing your knives. This is probably the most popular method of knife storage. The sharp edges are hidden away to minimize any injuries.

When storing knives in a block, slide the knife in by pressing the duller, back side of the blade against the block. This keeps the cutting edge sharp. A sharp knife is safer than a dull knife because it requires less force.

Hundreds of thousands of injuries are caused each year by kitchen knives, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Follow some sensible advice to minimize your chances of injury.

• Always use a nonslip cutting board.
• As you cut, keep your hand on top of the knife blade in case it slips. 
• Wash dirty knives immediately.
• Always use the correct knife for the job (don’t use a heavy knife to chop an onion).
• Stand still while holding knives. If you must move, hold the knife blade downward, and walk slowly.
• Put knives down away from the edge of the table or counter and blade furthest away from you. 
• Never leave knives on the counter. 

Keep Floors Dry, Clean and Clutter Free to Avoid Slips, Trips and Falls

Spilling something on the floor (food, water, grease) means you could slip unexpectedly. Double that with carrying something sharp or hot and you could cut or burn yourself, break a bone or even get knocked out. 

To avoid injury:

• Wipe up spills immediately. 
• Wear non-slip footwear. 
• If glass breaks, clean up carefully and thoroughly. Tiny bits of glass can be hard to see. This is especially dangerous to small children and pets.
• Keep a kitchen floor mat at your sink area to help prevent slips. 
• Keep all items off of the floor.
• Keep pets out of the kitchen when preparing food to avoid tripping over them.

Dress for Safety

Wear non-skid shoes that cover your feet (avoid sandals). Avoid loose fitting clothing. Take off all jewelry to avoid having them fall into food. Keep hair out of food by wearing a snug fitting clean head covering. 

You can count on C&W Appliance Service to provide the very best in repair, maintenance and safety tips for all your major appliances. Call us at (855) 358-1496 or submit our online service request form for prompt service.