Kitchen Safety
By Tyler Chapman and Cole Fuller
How to prevent accidents in the kitchen
1. Keep most used items within easy reach to prevent falling.
2. Stay away from hard, smooth, chunky food that can clog airways and cause choking.
3. To prevent cuts keep fingers in and knuckles out when slicing food.
4. To prevent burns turn pot handles toward the back or center of the stove.
5. Make sure hands, utensils, and surface area is clean to prevent poisoning.
Food Bourne Illnesses
Food bourne illnesses are sicknesses caused by contaminated food and drinks. The main cause is incorrect preparation, such as cross contamination. Cross contamination is caused by bacteria or other microorganisms that are unintentionally transferred from one substance or object to another, with harmful effect.
There are multiple ways to thaw food. One way is to wrap it in a watertight plastic bag and submerge it in cold water. Another way is to stick frozen food in the refrigerator until it thaws out. The last way is the defrost setting on a microwave.
Personal Hygiene and Hand Washing
Good personal hygiene and washing your hands are critical to prevent the spreading of germs, illnesses, and disease. When in the kitchen, always make sure your hair is pulled back if it is long, your sleeves are rolled up if they are also long, and that you do not touch your face or animals. Keep your fingernails clean. If you are sick, don't work in the kitchen at all.
Storage and Food preperation
When you are preparing food always make sure your kitchen area and your hands are always sanitized before and after cooking. Always keep uncooked food away from your cooked food to prevent food contamination. Always keep the certain types of food such as fruits and meats and make sure they are categorized together