With Thanksgiving just a few weeks away, dinner plans are no doubt being finalized across the country. But before you start preparing the turkey and assorted other goods for the feast, it’s important that you take certain precautions in order to reduce the risk of an injury in the kitchen. A new report relates some tips on how to do just that.
First, use caution whenever you’re working with a knife, starting with making sure that the knives you’re using are as sharp as they need to be. This may seem counter-intuitive, but the truth is that laceration injuries occur more frequently with dull knives because people have to exert more effort to make a cut. A knife can slip out of your grasp more easily because of this, and the likelihood of an injury rises.
Sharp knives are the way to go, and these should be used in conjunction with an appropriate cutting board that gives you a stable surface to work on. You should never pull the knife in toward your body as you slice. When you’re finished, make sure that the knives don’t simply get set someplace on the counter where they could be knocked off and cause an injury.
The same types of precautions need to be taken with motorized chopping and slicing devices, although you also have the extra pressure of dealing with a motor or a cord. Never leave these on for too long or when you’re not available to supervise. When you’re through using the item, make sure to place it in the dishwasher. If hand washing is going to be necessary, then use extra caution so that you don’t cut yourself on the blades.
One thing that you should never place your hand inside of is a blender, the blades of which could mangle your fingers if they make contact while spinning. Whenever the unit is plugged in, your hands must stay well away. The link above offers one helpful tip for cleaning that will allow you to stay handy, so to speak: simply add hot water and detergent to the blender itself and then run the blender with the lid on. It will be cleaned not unlike how a dishwasher cleans items.
Of course, lacerations aren’t the only threat you have to be aware of. Burns are also going to be a distinct possibility. Use oven mitts whenever you’re handling hot pans or even dishes you may have placed in a microwave. Scalds happen every year because of the steam that escaped from a microwave item, so make sure to give things plenty of time to cool down. When removing lids or packaging, do it incrementally, keeping your body plenty far away, and be particularly cautious when transporting such items.