Apartment Living 101: Kitchen Safety

 

The kitchen is one of the most common rooms in an apartment for accidents.

Be cautious while cooking and use Ayre & Oxford's kitchen safety tips.

 

Safety Precautions

Cooks of all skill levels can have accidents, fires, and even injuries. These safety precautions can help avoid disaster.

• Keep all sharp tools and knives out of reach for children. A magnetic knife strip lets you hang your sharp knives up on the wall away from little hands.
• Before you cook, check your stovetop and clean away any food debris or oils in and around the burners.
• Keep a large lid nearby in case your cooking starts a fire. Suffocate the fire with the lid by placing it over the pot.
• To avoid knocking pots over, turn the handles inwards or to the side.
• All electrical outlets should be grounded. Do not use any kitchen appliances with frayed or damaged cords.
• Don't overload an outlet. Unplug any appliances that are not in use.
• Don't use extension cords. Instead, purchase an outlet tap with surge protection to add more receptacles.
• All kitchens, no matter their size, should have a class B fire extinguisher easily accessible.

 

Food for Thought

Remember: clean, separate, cook, and chill are the essential rules for safe food handling.

• Keep your fridge at 40 degrees and do not allow foods to remain at room temperature for longer than 2 hours or 1 hour if it's a hot day.
• Always wash your hands before and after preparing foods. Clean your work surface with an antibacterial cleaner after working with raw foods.
• Keep this storage guide on hand so you know how long you can safely keep different foods.

 

First Aid Treatments

It's important to act fast in case of an injury.

• If you get a burn while cooking, run cold water over the area for several minutes. This will stop the burn from growing and relieve the pain.
• Clean a cut with mild soap and water. Apply pressure to the wound to stop the bleeding. When the bleeding stops, use an antibacterial ointment and cover with a bandage.
• If any cuts are still bleeding longer than 20 minutes with direct pressure, or burns are excessive, go to your nearest emergency room.