5 Tips to Improve Safety in the Kitchen

Fall and winter often bring full houses and big, home-cooked meals. If you expect to have guests — especially pets and kids — in your house, it’s an important time to revisit kitchen safety best practices.

Read this to refresh your knowledge of common kitchen dangers and how to prevent them. Then you’ll be ready to put on an apron and prepare that recipe you’ve been saving for a special occasion.

Use and store knives safely.
A sharp knife is an essential cooking tool; however, you can cut yourself if you don’t use your knives properly. When chopping foods, keep the sharp edge of the knife pointing down toward the cutting board, away from yourself.

Store knives out of children’s reach in a knife block, hung on a magnetic strip or in a drawer with a safety latch.

Prevent kitchen fires.
Never leave your stovetop unattended while cooking. This common mistake is one of the main causes of kitchen fires. Keep flammable items away from the stove, too.

Keep water away from electrical outlets.
Cooking and baking inevitably involve water and electric appliances. Stay safe by keeping plugged-in appliances and tools away from your sink, and dry your hands completely before handling electric tools. All outlets near a water source should be GFCI outlets.

Keep kids and pets out of the kitchen.
When you’re using your kitchen, running children or animals could trip you — or they could fall or bump into something. When little ones or pets do come into the kitchen, do your best to keep an eye on them to prevent harm.

Ensure that food is cooked properly.
Undercooked food (including meat, poultry, seafood and eggs) can make you sick. You can use a food thermometer to make sure the internal temperature is safe. Make sure to thaw or marinate foods in the refrigerator instead of on the counter, and refrigerate leftovers promptly.

Get in touch if you have more questions about home safety or your insurance coverage.