Kitchen Safety Tips

Here are some kitchen safety rules that you should keep in mind. People who cook enough have learned the hard way.......so BE SAFE

• Keep your hands clean while handling food. Keep countertops, food preparation surfaces and sinks clean and disinfected with a mild bleach solution. Wash vegetables and fruits to remove chemicals, dirt and molds. You may use commercially-available veggie-wash or learn to make your own, Rinse uncooked fish, poultry and meat thoroughly, under cold running water, in a clean sin. Keep your refrigerator shelves clean, as per instructions from the manufacturer.
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• Use a clean wood, or soft polyethylene, cutting board when cutting/trimming vegetables, fruits and meats. Use only sharp knives.....they are actually safer. Watch your fingers!
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• Do not allow loose or dangling clothing or hair to come in contact with a stove, open flame or any motorized kitchen machinery. 
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• Keeping pot handles angled towards the back of the stove will help avoid accidentally hitting them and tipping the pots or spilling the hot contents. Keep children away from all stoves, kitchen machinery or any hot dishes.
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• Pot holders are best to steady hot pots or to take pans out of a hot oven. Don’t use a wet cloth on a hot pan because the steam it produces can burn you.
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• Be careful while lifting the lid of a steaming pot. Open it away from you, since hot steam will burn you.
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• If you do get burned, run cold water over the burn, immediately! Never put grease or butter onto burned skin. Cold water will cool the burned skin, while grease or butter will trap the heat. Consult a first aid book for treatment.
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• If you have a grease or oil fire, it's best to use a proper kitchen fire extinguisher, correctly. If one is not available, you may throw baking soda or salt at the bottom of the flame to help put it out. (Water will make a grease fire EXPLODE and will NOT put it out!) Call the fire department, and attempt to turn all the stove burners to “off", if it can be done, safely........OR turn the electricity to the stove off at the breaker box.
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• EVERY KITCHEN NEEDS A WORKING FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND FIRST AID KIT.
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• EVERY COOK SHOULD KNOW HOW TO USE THESE IMPORTANT ITEMS BEFORE THERE IS AN EMERGENCY.