10 Kitchen Safety Tips Everyone Should Remember

We’ve all heard nightmare stories. A relative or friend we know was chopping veggies in the kitchen and stepped out for a minute, only to return and find their toddler holding that same chef’s knife. No one wants those scary experiences, or to feel that they and their family are unsafe in the kitchen. In order to curb some of those everyday risks, we created a list of our top 10 safety precautions in the kitchen everyone should be using below.

Our kitchen safety rules may be obvious, but they are the most important things to know when it comes to kitchen safety. Everyone needs some day-to-day best practices as a guideline to function well in the kitchen. If you take all these recommendations into account, you will improve the safety of you and everyone else around you while working in the kitchen.

1. Don’t Use a Fork as a Tool
   Never stick a fork or knife into a toaster to retrieve food while the appliance is plugged in. You can get electrocuted. Instead, unplug the toaster, wait for it to cool, and then flip it upside down to get the item out. If you need to use a utensil, grab wooden chopsticks or use a set of wooden tongs.
2. Be Prepared to Put out Fires
   Grease fires have to be put out with baking soda or salt. Never pour water, flour or sugar on a kitchen fire. That’s the quickest way to quickly spread the fire and create a catastrophe. Maintain safety in the kitchen by always making sure you are prepared with the materials you need to put out a fire like baking soda and a fire extinguisher. You won’t regret it.
3. Wear the Right Clothes
   Wearing loose clothing is the easiest way to set yourself ablaze in the kitchen. Roll up your sleeves and wear an apron to keep your clothing out of the way if you prefer not to change clothes. Other ways to stay safe are tucking in your shirt and pulling back long hair. There’s no better way to keep you and others safe than by having clear sightlines in the kitchen.
4. Minimize Extra Cords
   Extension cords are best kept in the garage for outside and exterior applications. These extra-long cords are an easy way to cause spills and electrical shock accidents. Keep extension cords out of the kitchen. Additionally, tie up extra cord lengths from your small appliances. Not only does it look nicer, but it will prevent children and passersby from getting caught in them and potentially burned by hot food.
5. Protect Yourself From Boiling Liquids 
   When boiling water or sauce, stir away from your body to avoid splattering onto your skin. This will prevent any scares or jumps that could knock over something hot and cause another accident. Also, keep the handle of your pot or pan over the countertop on your dominant side. This placement makes it easy to grab and maintain control while cooking, but also prevents anyone from bumping into the pan and spilling hot liquids all over themselves and the floor.
6. Clean up Spills and Messes
   Clean up every spill immediately because they could catch on fire, create unnecessary smoke, or even cause you to slip and fall. If oil or grease spills on your cooktop, turn the flame or heat off immediately. It’s better to start cooking later than planned rather than start a fire. A tidy kitchen is a safe kitchen.
7. Use Cutting Safety Skills
   When chopping foods, cut slowly while keeping the tip of your knife down on the cutting board. This is the easiest way to avoid accidentally stabbing yourself or slicing a finger. Also, make sure you move slowly and carefully when carrying a knife in the kitchen. Use kitchen etiquette and stay aware of your surroundings to avoid injuring yourself and others.
8. Keep Your Hands Clean
   Cross-contamination can happen quickly. Wash your hands with warm soap and water often. Proper kitchen etiquette is to wash your hands between preparing different food items. Also, never use the same surfaces to cut veggies or fruit where you were handling raw meat. The best way to avoid E. coli is to designate certain cutting boards for raw meat and others for veggies.
9. Supervise Children in the Kitchen
   Supervise your kids and animals. Always. When kids and pets run or crawl through the kitchen, it’s easy for them to leave a trail of toys on the floor that could quickly turn into a tripping hazard. Promote safety in the kitchen by keeping them out of your food prep and cooking zones. You will significantly reduce the risks of accidents and injury.
10. Turn Off Your Appliances
    Turn your gas range off when you’re done using it. If you smell gas when you shouldn’t, make sure all the burners are turned off and open your windows for ventilation. Do not use any electronics or lighters and call your gas company immediately.
    Use proper safety measures in the kitchen every time you finish cooking. Always turn off the cooktop and wait until you hear the knob click. If you didn’t hear a click, wiggle the knob back and forth until it does. Always check back later to make sure your ‘hot cooktop’ light or signal has turned off.

As you can see there are a lot of safety precautions to think about when working in the kitchen. If it helps you and your family members, print out this list or write them down. Make sure this list is easy to see for everyone using the kitchen.

This will keep them top-of-mind whenever you work in the kitchen and easier to remember over time. Whether you are cooking everyday meals or preparing for a holiday gathering, remember to use these 10 kitchen safety rules to keep you and your family safe.

Do you need help designing a safer kitchen? Contact a CliqStudios designer today!