Kitchen Safety Made Simple: 5 Simple Tips for Busy Parents
Being a parent is a full-time job at the best of times, but when both parents have careers, it becomes infinitely more complex.
Creating a balance and fulfilling work responsibilities while juggling parenthood requires meticulous planning, communication, routines, and plenty of patience.
For most families, the kitchen is the center of activity in the home, but it is also one of the most hazardous places with many hidden dangers.
Keeping your children safe is a parent’s top priority. Follow these five tips to keep your kids safe in the kitchen:
Hand Washing
Proper hand washing is one of the best ways to keep your family from getting sick.
It prevents the spread of germs, provided it is done right. Before you start preparing meals with your little ones, wash your hands together. Do this every time to teach your children the importance of this habit.
Wet your hands with clean, running water. Lather with soap for 30 seconds, ensuring you get into all the little nooks and crannies, including under the nails and around the wrists, rinse and dry with a clean towel.
Fire Preparedness
To keep your family as safe as possible, it is essential to practice fire safety in the home.
Cooking fires are one of the leading causes of home fires in the United States. Proper fire safety measures are not just precautions to protect your appliances and property: they can protect the lives of your loved ones too!
Place fire extinguishers at appropriate places in the kitchen area and adopt basic cooking safety practices such as never leaving the stove unattended and turning pot handles towards the inside to prevent spills.
Install smoke detectors in or near the kitchen and check them monthly, changing batteries as required.
Knife Safety
Always be around to supervise when your older children are using knives in the kitchen.
Ensure they have a proper grip, are cutting on a stable surface, and are keeping the blade pointed down.
Knives are safer when kept sharp and used with care, so invest in a quality whetstone to keep them as good as new.
Whetstones are effective because they offer a precise sharpening method, minimizing material removal, and allow users to find their ideal angle for their specific knife blade.
Proper Food Storage
Food poisoning sends thousands of Americans to the hospital each year.
Keep your family safe from food poisoning at home by following four fundamental food storage steps: clean, separate, cook, and cool.
Wash your hands before preparing food, wash and disinfect utensils and surfaces often during preparation, and rinse fruit and vegetables, but not meat and poultry.
Use separate cutting boards for produce, meat, seafood, and poultry to prevent cross-contamination.
Cook food to the correct internal temperature. Use a food thermometer if you are unsure.
Lastly, bacteria multiply rapidly at room temperature, so refrigerate all perishable foods within 2 hours.
Basic Kitchen Rules
Basic kitchen safety rules are all about taking the necessary precautions to keep your family safe when you are in the happiest room in the home!
Keep your work areas clean, be aware of hazards like hot stoves and sharp knives, and keep all floors and walkways dry and free of trip hazards.
To End
Spending time in the kitchen with your children should be a fun and rewarding experience, and by following these five tips above, it can be for you and your family!
