Childproofing your Home

Having babies and small children in your home means life, fun, noise and safety, safety, safety. Normal, everyday items can be dangerous and even life-threatening to them, so you’ll want to make any necessary changes to your living environment to ensure the safety of your little ones. From room-to-room there are different adjustments to be made. Here are a few tips to get you started:

The Nursery / Child’s Room

1. Use a baby monitor to track Baby’s activities while you’re in another room.

2. Wrap curtain cords and Venetian blind cords and put them out of reach as they can pose a strangulation hazard.

3. Use a changing table with high sides and a safety trap. Never leave Baby alone on the table.

4. Cover all unused electrical outlets with clear, plastic covers.

5. Check toys for sharp edges and detachable pieces that could be a choking hazard.

The Kitchen

1. While preparing food, keep babies and toddlers in a playpen within your sight, but far from the oven and hot foods.

2. Keep electrical appliances out-of-reach.

3. Keep sharp knives locked up or out-of-reach.

4. Put childproof latches on kitchen cabinets.

5. Keep plastic bags and plastic wrap out of children’s’ reach.

6. Don’t heat baby bottles or formula in the microwave as the center of the liquid can be scalding while other parts are cool to the touch.

7. Remove tablecloths as children can pull the cloth and get hurt by objects that fall off of the table.

8. Store cleaning products in a locked cabinet or out of children’s’ reach.

9. Keep a tight lid on your trash can to keep little hands from finding sharp objects or other potentially harmful items.

10. Keep your dishwasher latched when not in use.

11. Keep a fire extinguisher on hand.

12. Make sure your smoke extinguishers are in good working order.

Living Areas

1. Cover all electrical outlets with clear, plastic childproof covers.

2. Use childproof screens around your heaters, fireplaces and woodstoves.

3. Place safety gates at the top and bottom of stairs.

4. Cover trash containers securely.

5. Keep drapes, curtain cords and Venetian blind cords out-of-reach.

6. Don’t use paint that contains mercury or lead as chipped paint could tempt little ones to taste this poisonous material.

7. Keep ash trays with ashes out of children’s’ reach.

8. Keep household plants out-of-reach to avoid babies and children grabbing and eating potentially poisonous leaves.

9. Make sure that carpets and rugs have non-skid backing.

The Bathroom

1. Keep medications, cleansers, toiletries, razor blades and other hazardous items out-of-reach in locked cabinets.

2. Use non-slip mats in tub and shower areas.

3. Bathe young children and babies in water that feels warm, not hot.

4. Always supervise children under six in the bathtub.

5. Keep electrical appliances away from water sources and out-of-reach.

6. Put toilet lid locks on all toilets if you have a child under three.

7. Set your hot water heater below 120 degrees Fahrenheit to help prevent scalding.

8. Keep bathroom doors closed.

Jacqueline Courtiol, M.A. Ed. is a teacher, mother and business owner. Jacqueline has authored numerous articles on topics of childcare, natural health, parenting and pregnancy. She is also the co-developer of Colic Calm, a natural homeopathic formula for relief of infant gastric reflux and colic symptoms. More information can be found at http://www.coliccalm.com or contact us if you have questions.

How To Make Your House Childproof?

When was the last time you crawled around your home on your hands and knees? As strange as it sounds, give it a go. Kids explore their everyday environments, so it’s crucial to check things out from their perspective to make sure your home is safe.

Just a moment back he was crawling right in front of you, and now he is out of sight. Just ten minutes back you saw him in his room, and now you find him in the balcony.

Oh! Kids just keep moving around, you never know when they would see what, get hold of what and get hurt by what. It only takes an instant for babies and toddlers to fall, run over to a hot stove, or put the wrong thing in their mouths. And at such times, when your kid is a toddler or a four year old, your watchfulness is his best defense.

All the more, as the child spends most of his time at home, and he is newly beginning to learn and adapt, his novelty factor gets the better of him and he wants to explore anything and everything he can get his hands on. But then although you try your best to keep eyes on him for all the time you can, there are chances that he gets out of sight and gets hurt, as a result of his inquisitiveness or the curiosity element. And to guard against such times, you need to make your home childproof – get all those things in place that can be a cause for injury, starting from the tiniest edges to bigger things like …..

Be a child to know his mind!

To know a child or to deal with him better, it is important that you put yourself in his/her shoes and think like a child. Only then would you know what you need to keep away from him…

Here are some basic starter ideas to childproof your home

Lock the door: There are certain such things that you want to keep away from your kid’s reach. Now, how much ever you try his attraction always gets the better of your efforts, and hence, you decide to safely tuck the stuff into a room and lock it. Yes, this is the tight way of keeping him away from it, but make sure door knob is neatly shut.

Outlet covers

These are a boon to all those blessed with small kids at home. Outlet covers are simple to install and incredibly effective in preventing the kid in wedging something into the electrical socket, and getting hurt. Ensure to replace the protective cover, each time you use the outlet.

Cabinet locks

These are useful, when you want to keep certain cabinets, drawers and cupboards, out of reach of children. These can be useful when you want to keep kids from sharp objects, important papers and files, cosmetics and other vanity items etc. There can also be locks for microwaves and ovens.

Corner covers

If you have tables or counters with sharp edges and that are low enough to hurt your kids, if they were to run into them you may consider buying padded corner covers. These covers can be expensive but then the fact that they can prevent the pointy edges from hurting your kid, is a reason convincing enough and well worth the investment.

Beware of water

Water can be a major reason for children to be victims of many homely mishaps, most of which can result from slips and falls. First thing first, make sure that there is no water spillage anywhere in the home – including the hall, rooms, kitchen, balconies etc. and if due to some reason water does get spilled, then make sure to dry the area that time itself. Another thing is, to ensure that no bucket or tub is filled with water inside the bathroom, and if it is, then the door be locked. This is because if a child gets close to a filled water tub, it only takes about an inch of water for them to drown in. Store hair bleach, hair dye, bathroom cleanser and other solutions in a locked cabinet in the bathroom.

Over-the-top items

Simple things like your dinner table cloth can be a reason for an injury. Your child would pull, tug and hold whatever can be accessible and seen, and when the cloth on the dining table gets pulled, it carries with it all items including plates, sharp utensils, hot objects, etc. and can fall on your child. All the more, pot handles and crockery, mobile phones, high-end electronic items, etc must be kept on upper shelves or in the locked bedrooms only.

Imitate your kid

This is the time when you get into your child’s shoes, rather his mannerisms, and take a hands and knees tour of your house to make sure that you did not forget any areas.

This way you measure how high your child can reach and make sure that everything below that level is either safe to play with or securely locked away. This tour will actually help you in noticing very minute, but important and hidden dangers that you had missed when childproofing the house.

Instruct the maid

You are out of house, and your maid is the babysitter for your kid. Instruct her on the basic things she needs to take care of, things that must be out of reach of the kid and the rooms that have to be kept locked. The maid, for whatever time she is with the kid, needs to be made totally responsible and alert.

Outsmarting your moves

You have heard the famous phrase that goes, “Child is the father of the man”. And it is not just the teens or the 20 somethings we are talking about, smartness begins right since childhood, and you may not even have thought, when your child surprises you with his smart moves that edge one step above yours.

You try hard to childproof your home, evaluate safety measures and give you best when you realize that your kid has found his way around the “no entry” tag you placed. Others find new dangers that you were not even aware of. So, watch your children and adapt your childproofing methods, and re-evaluate the safety of your home and the effectiveness of the safety measures as your child grows and learns new things. To read more about How to make your house childproof?

Medimanage Health Insurance India

Catering Equipment

Ward’s Catering:

Ward’s Catering is an expert in supplying catering equipment and have been in the business for over 40 years. All these years they have been providing catering equipments to business in UK.

Some of the many catering equipments they supply are:

Fly killers and screens
Multiple burners
Water boiling equipment
Glass serve-over counters
Electric glass washer
Bottle cooler
and more…

Absolute Catering Equipment:

Absolute Catering Equipment is a specialist in provision of wholesale catering equipments and is one of the major suppliers in UK.

They also have some special offers on equipments like
KitchenAid Commercial Food Mixer
Chafing Dish Gastronorm
3-tier Trolley
Dualit 6 Slice Toaster
DrySenz Hand Dryer
Gas Girddle
Sunnex 10 litre Soup Kettle/Urn
Imperial Double Door Fridge

The ranges of brands they include in their shelves are:

Parry
KitchenAid
Blue Seal
Robot Coupe
Dualit
CRC
Sunnex
Sharp

Axon Enterprises:

Axon Enterprises have been in the UK markets for a long time now and supply wholesale electrical equipments. They are also placed in the top 10 catering equipment companies in UK.

The different categories of catering products are:

Bar equipment
Beverage equipment
Steam ovens
Food dispensers
Microwaves
Water boilers

Commercial Equipment Direct:

They provide discounted wholesale catering equipments like

Beverage:

Catering Urns, Coffee Machines, Juicers, Water Boilers

Cooking:

Bake Off and Conventional Ovens, Char Grills, Gas Hobs, Grills, Pizza Ovens, Rice Cookers, Salamander Grills, Potato Bakers, Soup Kettles

Food Preparation:

Catering Sinks and Taps, Food Processors and Blenders, Planetary Mixers, Food Slicers, Stick Blenders, Potato Chippers, Vegetable Cutters, Potato Peelers

Food Service:

Buffet Displays, Plate Warmers, Heated Food Displays, Pie Cabinets and Warmers, Heated Base Units, Mobile and Static Heated Cupboards, Heated Display and Servery, Chip Scuttles and Chip Dumps

Storage:

Base Cabinets, Waste Bins, Gastronorm Containers and Lids, Shelving and Storage Racking, Wall Units

How to Make Quick and Easy Side Dishes that are Healthy and Tasty

Side dishes can make or break the meal.  Even a quick meal needs good side dishes.  Here are some recipes for sides that are quick, easy, and healthy.  The Veggie Stuffed Mushrooms are stuffed with broccoli,carrot, onion and cheese.  The recipe for Gourmet Artichokes and Spinach also has directions for preparing this dish to be used as an appetizer instead of a side dish.

VEGGIE STUFFED MUSHROOMS

20 large mushrooms (1 1/2 to 2-inches in diameter)
1/2 cup finely chopped broccoli
1/4 cup finely chopped carrot
1 tbsp finely chopped onion
1 cup seasoned salad croutons, finely crushed down to 1/2 cup
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/8 tsp salt
2 tbsp butter, melted

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Cut thin slice from stem end of each mushroom; discard. Remove mushroom stems and chop enough to make 1/4 cup. (Save remaining stems for soups, etc) Place mushroom caps, rounded side down, in a baking dish. Place chopped stems, broccoli, carrot, and onion in a small bowl. Add the crushed croutons, cheese and salt to the vegetables in the bowl. Add butter to the bowl and mix well. Spoon the vegetable mixture evenly into the mushroom caps. Bake 15 to 20 minutes or until the tops are lightly browned. Serve warm.

GOURMET ARTICHOKES AND SPINACH

1 cup sour cream
1 tbsp cheesy Italian dry salad dressing mix
2 pkg (10-oz each) frozen chopped spinach
1 jar (6 to 8-oz) marinated artichoke hearts
1/2 cup cherry tomatoes

Combine the sour cream and the dry salad dressing mix; set aside.

Place frozen spinach in a 1 1/2 to 2-quart casserole dish, cover and microwave 6 minutes until thawed. Fold the undrained artichoke hearts into the spinach along with the sour cream mixture. Replace the cover. Continue to microwave another 8 minutes. Remove from the microwave and stir the mixture. Top with 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes that have been halved. Cook another minute or two.

Note: To serve as an appetizer, omit the tomatoes. Cover the top with sharp cheddar cheese instead of the tomatoes. Serve with an assortment of whole-wheat crispy crackers or bread sticks.

Enjoy!

For more quick and easy recipes visit http://grandmasquickfixrecipes.blogspot.com

Seven Awesome Kitchen Gadgets

Everyone who cooks can use some of these practical, time saving kitchen tools. While you can get by with a bare bones kitchen and a few old pots and pans, a lot of dishes are harder to make or more time consuming to prepare. The items in this list can free up some of your time, help you make delicious meals, store leftovers and even make the kitchen a fun place. So without further ado, here are some of my favorite kitchen gadgets. I hope you like them.


1. Bread Maker

Imagine getting up in the morning to the smell of freshly baked bread, ready for you to take out of the machine and slice up for toast or for lunch sandwiches. And all you had to do was load the ingredients the night before, then set the timer.

2. Automatic Coffee Maker

This goes well with the bread maker. Add coffee grounds and water, set the clock and have coffee waiting for you when you stumble out of bed in the morning. Rise and shine!

3. High Quality Knife Set

I used to make do with an old set of mismatched knives given to me without a knife block. Some of the handles were loose, and they had to be stored in a drawer. The new set sits on the counter top. The edges stay sharp longer, and the set contains knives for most needs. More room in the drawer, too.

4. Plastic Food Containers

With a set of containers for food storage, saving leftovers is much easier. Many have lids with vents, for use in microwaves. Another way to use them is to freeze food for future use. They look better than old margarine and yogurt containers, too.

5.Immersion Blender

These hand-held gadgets can be placed in large drinking glasses, pots, or mixing bowls. You can mix drinks, baking ingredients, gravies or even whip potatoes. They take up less space and are easier to clean than traditional blenders as well.

6. Toaster Oven

A toaster oven can cook toasted items with toppings, like garlic bread and mini pizzas, as well as make toast. Small baking projects are possible too, if you don’t want to or can’t use a larger oven.

7.Sandwich Grill

For grilled cheese, tuna melts and patty melts, these grills seal the edge of the sandwich so cheese and other things can’t leak out.


These are some of the kitchen gadgets I like to use myself. For the larger items, maybe you can borrow one to test drive it before you buy. That is what I did with the bread maker. Our food containers, coffee maker and hand blender see daily use, and the toaster oven and sandwich grill once or twice a week. All in all, a good investment for my family. Happy cooking!

Tim Ebl likes to cook a variety of foods for his family and friends. His kitchen always has some new cooking project under way or in the planning, and he likes to try out new cooking tools. For more kitchen gadgets, check out
Kitchen Gadgets

Easy Appetizer Recipes for Football Sunday

Football season is upon us once again.  Whether you are a fan or a disgruntled spouse, there is no reason you can’t have an enjoyable day stuffing your face. Walk away from the processed frozen appetizers at your local supermarket, and try these quick and easy to make appetizers next gameday.

 

Cheesy Sausage Balls

 

What you need:

3 c Bisquick

8 oz cheddar cheese, shredded

1 lb pork sausage, ground

 

What you do:

Mix sausage and cheese together.  Add Bisquick and mix thoroughly.  Form into 1 inch balls.  Place on baking pan so balls are not touching and heat for 15-20 minutes at 375 degrees.  Works well with ranch dressing, barbecue sauce or dip of choice.

 

 

Spicy Chili Cheese Dip

 

What you need:

15 oz can chili without beans

4 oz can green chiles, chopped and seeded

1/2 lb sharp cheddar cheese, shredded

8 oz package cream cheese

 

What you do:

Combine all ingredients in a microwave safe bowl.  Microwave 1 minute at a time, stopping to stir contents, then resuming procedure until cheese melts.

 

 

Easy Breezy Taco Dip

 

What you need:

1 lb ground beef

16 oz can refried beans

16 oz sharp cheddar cheese, shredded

11/2 c salsa, medium

21/4 oz can black olives, sliced and drained

3/4 c whole green onions, sliced

2 c sour cream

tortilla chips

 

What you do:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Brown ground beef in a medium skillet and drain.  Layer bottom of 2 quart casserole dish with refried beans.  Spread meat over refried beans.  Pour salsa over meat.  Cover meat with cheese. Top off with onions and olives.  Bake for 25 minutes or until thoroughly heated.  Add sour cream over top.  Serve with tortilla chips.

For more quick and easy recipes, articles, cooking videos and food related links, visit Easy Breezy Recipes at http://www.easybreezyrecipes.com .

About Kitchen Appliances? Using the Right Tools for Kitchen

Kitchen Appliances have grown from their original oven, fridge and deep freeze beginnings. For instance we now have microwave ovens, indoor grills and food processors to start our cooking experience with. These extra tools in the house can make all the difference between a energy and time consuming feat with tons of dishes left over, and an enjoyable family feast.

Home and kitchen appliances help us live comfortably. Designed with great efficiency, they provide us luxury combined with comfort and style. They have a variety of features, from the most basic to the highly technical. They come in a variety of designs and colors to suit any kitchen decor.

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Right Tools For Kitchen

Good sharp knives – My favorite knives are Cutco. They cut better than any knife that I have used and I have never had to sharpen them. Good sharp knives will save you lots of time in the kitchen.

Cutting Boards – You’ll probably need more than one of these. This one is great because it has a groove around the edge and a slip resistant bottom that will keep your board in place.

Chopper – This is wonderful for chopping vegetables and nuts. If your family doesn’t like big chunks of vegetables, you’ll love this. I’ve been able to hide lots of vegetables with this handy tool. It also chops carrots well which is almost impossible to do with just a knife.

Bowls – It’s important you get a good set of bowls and that you store them in a convenient place in your kitchen.

Spoons and Spatulas- Another time saving device that will save you frustration scraping the last little bit out of your bowl are spatulas. You won’t believe how easy it is to scrape the bowl with the curved ones.

Spices – I buy my spices at a bulk food store because the spices are fresher and MUCH cheaper. Make sure you have a good system for storing your spices and that they are in your baking or cooking center in your kitchen.

Stainless Steel pots – These are the best type of pot to get. They heat your food evenly. I avoid aluminum pots because the aluminum can be absorbed into your food and absorbed by your body. Higher aluminum levels have been linked to Alzheimer’s Disease.

Just as carpenters need tools to complete their jobs, cooks also need to have the right tools. Some carpenters will choose different tools than others just as different cooks will think that some tools are more essential than others.

Keep it simple and get only the tools you know you will use.

If you are considering a new stove, you can pick the traditional gas stove or the greener electric stove. The gas stove gives you higher temperatures for faster cooking. With gas stoves, because of the exposed heating coils, clean up is not as quick and easy, but you do spend less time cooking.

Kitchen Appliances at 300guides.com.Get more information about Kitchen Tools and Custom Kitchen Cabinets

Kitchen Cleaning Tips: Easy Hints For Busy Households

With the hectic lives and schedules of many households today, the kitchen is perhaps the busiest room in the house. It has become not only the room in which we prepare our food, but also a central meeting place for families and guests. Many people plan their entire day in the kitchen, making lunches, planning and preparing meals and eating on the run.

All of this activity can only mean one thing: dirt. And depending on the number of people in your home, the dirt, grease and grime that are typically found in kitchens can be significant. It can be quite a hassle to clean from top to bottom, mainly from all of the cooking that is done in the room, not to mention the expense of the variety of cleaning products.

But cleaning your kitchen really doesn’t have to be an expensive or a dreaded chore. Follow these easy tips that will leave your kitchen sparking clean, and leave you with more free time as well!

An Ounce of Prevention…

- Every day before meals, fill the sink with hot, soapy water. When everyone is finished eating they can rinse their dishes and put them in to soak. If you have a dishwasher you’ll save wear and tear by loading it with dishes that are pre-rinsed.

- The sink should also be filled with soapy water while preparing meals as well. This way you can “wash as you go” and finish cooking without having a pile-up of pots and pans waiting for you.

- Keep a spoon rest on the stove and a paper towel on the counter to catch drips, spills and messes from serving and stirring spoons.

- Keep a supply of aluminum foil handy to cover casseroles before baking to prevent spills and burns. It’s also helpful to put a piece on the bottom of the oven to catch drips so when it’s time to clean the oven, it won’t be a day-long event.

- Lids from various sized butter or margarine containers make excellent “coasters” for jars and bottles in the fridge or cabinets. You’ll be able to catch spills from honey, syrups and oils and then simply wash the lid instead of the whole shelf.

- Scratch marks on a stainless steel sink are nearly impossible to remove, if at all, so prevention is critical for keeping your sink looking its best. Always use a rubber mat on the bottom of the sink to protect it from scrapes and marks from sharp knives.

More Tips to Quickly Clean The…

- Sink
An easy way to clean rust stains on a stainless steel sink or mineral deposits around faucets is to scrub the area with a simple lemon.

- Dishwasher
Rinse the filter after every use and regularly clean the moving components as well as the outer surface. Get rid of mineral deposits by running a cup of vinegar through an empty wash cycle.

- Refrigerator
Use a solution of baking soda and water to wipe down all of the shelves and surfaces, remember to rinse off jars and bottles before replacing them. Clean the bottom drain pan with warm, soapy water and clean the condenser coils on the back of the fridge twice a year using a vacuum cleaner and a small attachment. Even frost-free freezers need cleaned once a year also using baking soda and water. And don’t forget to place an open box in both the fridge and the freezer to absorb odors and keep foods fresh.

- Microwave
To remove dirt from the inside of the microwave, place a dish of hot water with a slice of lemon and set the timer until the water boils. The steam that is produced will dissolve the build up of dirt and make it a breeze to wipe clean.

Hunter Pyle wrote this article to talk about some easy tips for cleaning your kitchen. Check out Kitchen and Much More for more cleaning ideas.

Autumn a Time to Cook in Your Clay Baker

This information is for anyone pondering weather or not to purchase a Romertoph Clay Baker or who already has a Clay Baker.  When my mom died several years ago, myself being one of four girls we had the pleasure of going through my mothers well equipped kitchen.  My mother was a wonderful chef and baker so to say the least she did not skimp when it came to her passion.  Two of my beautiful sisters did not inherit the same passion for cooking that my mother had, but two of us did.  My mothers first born and myself love to be in our kitchens, so being able to pick and choose through the array of items was quite a treat.  Long story short that is how I came about my Romertoph Clay Baker.  Aside from the baker being decorated beautifully I could tell it was well used by my mother.

From my personal experience these vessels are a cooks magic pot they always guarantee your results for a delicious meal.  This single casserole dish can be used as a soup kettle, poultry and beef roaster, a stew pot, a vegetable steamer, a deep dish pie baker or cobbler maker.  This magical vessel is even your own little brick oven to make the crustiest bread you have ever eaten.  All the above can be explained along with some very delicious recipes in our cookbook….Complete Guide to Clay pot cooking.   The big difference between lets say our Cast Iron Casserole and a Clay baker, is that the clay baker is unglazed therefore making it very porous.  That brings us to the reason for soaking the Clay Baker before use.  Soaking the baker lets the clay draw up as much moisture as possible and then distribute it over the cooking time of the dish.  I place my Clay Baker in a clean kitchen sink and fill with room temperature water until it is completely covering the vessel.  Let it soak for 15 minutes, Now you are ready to work some magic.You always start with a cold oven this is very important,  because if you place the Clay Baker in a preheated oven the sudden temperature change could possibly crack it.  

 Most of the recipes you will find use a very hot oven of 400 degrees, this heats the water the baker has absorbed and starts the steaming process. The clay baker is covered throughout most of the baking times keeping all the moisture and flavor inside the baker.Unlike using some roasting  pans or dutch ovens you do not have to seer or brown your meat before placing it in the clay baker.  The browning capabilities of your clay baker will amaze you.  It can be used either in a conventional oven or in your microwave, but never place on top of the stove burner.

After using your clay baker let it come back to room temperature before washing it.  Never place it in your dishwasher as harsh dishwasher detergents can be absorbed and affect the flavor of your food.  Wash your clay baker in warm water using only a few drops of dish washing liquid.  Let is soak a few minutes to loosen the dirt, if you have tough food particles still too stubborn let the baker soak overnight with one to two teaspoons of baking soda.  Never use a soap filled scouring pad or sharp object to clean your baker.  When I inherited my clay baker it was already discolored from use but I knew this only adds to the attractiveness.  If unlike me you don’t like the discoloring effect you can line your baker with parchment paper this also will help if you are cooking something with a very pungent odor such as Chicken with Forty Cloves of Garlic, and then you want to make a blueberry pie in it.  Over time these odors will fade and will not effect the taste of your food unless you make one savory pungent dish and then the next day make something sweet…then the flavors may blend.  

 My favorite recipe is Wedding Chicken from Crete,  it has come out delicious every time I make it.The last information I have for you is to store your baker with the top inside the bottom I put a piece of paper towel between.  Store it in a cool dry place as if it is kept where there is any moisture you may have some mold growth.  Don’t worry this is washable and will not harm your baker at all.  Also, if you do happen to get a crack or small broken piece you can repair it with some heat resistant silicone glue.  I highly recommend you trying one of these wonderful Romertoph bakers for yourself,  and experience the magic of the Clay Pot!

 

By: Marjorie Cross

 

www.smalltownkitchen.com

Top Safety Tips for Your Kitchen

The kitchen is probably the most dangerous room in your home when you consider the sharp objects, electrical equipment and naked flames that are regularly encountered in this area. Whether yours is complete with all the modern accessories or if it’s in need of a refit, safety in this area should never be taken for granted.

Check out the quick guide below for some simple ways to improve safety while you are cooking and preparing food.

Use knives safely

Most people have been injured by a cooking knife at some point and even the smallest cuts can be painful so avoiding accidents is the only way to avoid serious injuries. Storing your knives properly is vital to protecting people from cuts. Although it’s easy to throw sharp knives in the cutlery draw this could lead to injuries if people don’t realise or forget these knives are stored there. Knife blocks or magnetic knife racks are ideal for storing sharp knives in a visible and safe place, well away from the reach of children. Sharpening your knives regularly will mean that they can glide through meat and vegetables and not slip off and cut your fingers instead. If you drop a knife on the floor make sure you ignore the impulse to catch it and stand back instead. You may naturally reach out to grab the knife but it’s much safer to let it hit the floor, be sure to move your feet well out of the way though!

Implement fire safety

No other space in your home will see quite so much heat and naked flames as your cooking area. There are also a lot of fuels in this area to make fires burn out of control or cause explosions such as hot cooking oil or gas from hobs and the oven. When you’re heating oil on the hob, make sure you stay with it as within seconds hot oil can go from a death trap for vegetables to a death trap for the members of your household. Hot oil can burst into flames if it’s heated for too long. If this situation happens then if it’s safe to do so, cover the pan with a damp tea towel. Throwing water directly onto a hot oil fire can cause a potentially devastating explosion.

Another element which doesn’t mix so well with water is electricity. Avoid accidents by keeping your electrical items such as kettles well away from the sink so water can’t be accidentally sprayed onto them. Don’t let electrical cords from kitchen equipment drape over the oven, toaster or microwave as heat could build up and even burn through the cord. Consider investing in some extra fire safety equipment such as extinguishers or a fire blanket so if an emergency situation does happen you can deal with it safely.

Have your electrical equipment serviced regularly or treat yourself to a new washing machine or cooker if yours have seen better days. Many new models of appliances come with added safety features and can help improve the overall safety of your food preparation area.

Steven Holmes


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