Who doesn't love football? With this Sunday's Super Bowl matchup between the New England Patriots and Atlanta Falcons, many of us will spend the evening surrounded by friends, watching the game and eating great food. All of that great food means more time spent in the kitchen, which means more possibility for kitchen accidents. Follow these easy steps to make sure that you make it to gametime injury-free:
Avoid Knife Cuts:
- Always cut on a stable, non-sliding surface that is intended for cutting. Consider adding a damp towel under your cutting board for additional friction.
- Make sure you are using the correct knife for the food you are cutting. While the differences may seem subtle, using a paring knife when you should be using a carving knife could cause an accident. On that same note, never use a knife for anything other than its intended purpose (i.e. a knife IS NOT a bottle opener).
- Never attempt to catch a falling knife. The chances of cleaning catching it by the handle are far slimmer than your chance of injury.
- Be mindful of how you wash and store your knives. Keeping loose knives in a silverware draw could lead to accidentally grabbing a blade.
- The majority of knife wounds occur because the blade is too dull and the extra effort required to cut leads to slips. Invest in a knife sharpener or check the warranty of your knife set.
Avoid Fires and Burns:
These tips come from the National Fire Preventation Association:
- Don’t leave unmonitored food, grease, or oils cooking on the stovetop and never leave the house with food in the oven.
- Keep oven mitts, utensils, potholders, paper towels or anything that can catch on fire away from the stove, oven, and other open flames.
- Keep pot and panel handles pointed in any direction other than over the floor. If the handle is sticking out, an accidental bump could lead to the spilling of hot water or oil.
- Avoid wearing loose fitting clothing that could easily dip into a hot pot or pan while in the kitchen.
- Keep a close eye on any kids within the home to make sure they aren’t running around the kitchen.
- Make sure that your smoke detectors are active and working.
- In the event of a fire, ensure all guests are safely out of the house and call 9-1-1 from a safe area. Do not stay inside and try to put the fire out.
Now go out there and safely make delicious meals! Ready, break!
