Kids Safety Tips

Kids’ Cooking Safety Tips

Create a safe kitchen environment for aspiring young chefs by teaching them the basics of safe cooking – for their own protection and that of younger siblings:

• Keep all electrical appliances and cords away from water.
• Never touch electrical outlets.
• Keep all pot handles on the stove turned towards the back of the range top. Same is true for pots sitting on counters – make sure pot handles are turned back.
• Keep sharp knives out of the reach of young children.
• Keep paper towels, dish towels and packaging away from hot burners.
• Use oven mitts when removing hot dishes from the oven.
• Place a hot dish in a secure place away from the reach of younger children. Surround the hot dish with pot holders or dish towels to prevent burns.
• Metal and microwaves don’t mix. Use only glass or other microwave-safe containers in the microwave oven.
• Never use aluminum foil in a microwave oven.
• Food and dishes in microwaves get very hot from steam, use oven mitts! Watch that you don’t get burned by the steam!
• Always pierce potatoes with a fork or knife in several spots before microwaving.
• Beware of long sleeves or other loose clothing that can ignite from a burner or fall into hot grease or boiling water.
• Don’t leave food on the stove unattended. Unwatched pots can spill, boil over, burn, etc. Unwatched fat or oil in a frying pan can burn and may start a house fire.
• Clean up spills immediately – wet floors are a hazard.

Safe Food Handling

• Wash hands thoroughly in warm, soapy water before starting a project, as well as before and after handling food, especially raw meats.
• Use separate cutting boards for vegetables and raw meats.
• Keep counter surfaces clean and sanitized, especially if raw meats have been handled. Immediately wash and sanitize any surface where raw meats and poultry have touched to prevent cross-contamination.
• Never eat raw meats.
• Refrigerate unused food portions immediately.