Kitchens are one of the most accident-prone areas in the house. There are so many dangerous factors that could hurt you—heat, fire, sharp knives, appliances, etc.
There is so much going on that it gets hard to keep track of all the moving pieces. That is precisely how accidents in the kitchen happen. It could be something small, like touching a hot utensil or something dangerous, like your clothes catching on fire.
Here are 10 of the most common kitchen accidents and how you can avoid them:
Burns
This is probably the most common accident in the kitchen. You can burn yourself from hot utensils, from hot oil spitting at you or from handling hot food.
The best way to protect yourself from burns is to always use oven mitts when you’re handling hot utensils. Make sure the stove and the oven are always off when you’re not using them.
Cuts
There is always a danger of cutting yourself when you’re working with sharp knives. The most common cuts sustained in the kitchen are from people cutting themselves while slicing a bagel.
When you are cutting something, don’t rush. Move carefully and make sure you are holding the produce properly. Wipe down vegetables or fruits before cutting them if they are wet.
Fire
A little absent-mindedness could literally burn your kitchen down. No matter what you’re making, never leave it unattended.
If you leave something on the stove for too long, it can catch fire. If it spreads, you might not be able to put it out yourself. Always keep a fire extinguisher in an easily accessible place so that you can put out fires immediately.
If you’re wearing long or flowy sleeves, push them back or change your outfit before you start cooking. Any rags you use to wipe down grease or oil must be stored far away from the stove.
Spills and Falls
People often spill something on the floor while cooking in the kitchen. They are preoccupied with cooking and don’t bother to clean up the spill. Eventually, someone else comes by or they forget about the spill, leading to a nasty fall.
There is a very simple solution to avoiding this kind of accident—just clean up the mess as soon as it happens. If you spill something, grab a mop and wipe it away before someone has a chance to slip on it.
Spilling Hot Liquids
This can be very dangerous. Hot liquids are all around when we’re cooking, be it water, oil, milk or gravy. Always handle these utensils with dry hands and don’t lift them without getting a good grip on the handle.
Focus on the task at hand and don’t let yourself get distracted. When you put something down, make sure it is not precariously perched on the edge of the counter. Try to keep the clutter to a minimum and you will have fewer spills in the kitchen.
Contact with Chilies
This might be surprising, but having direct contact with chilies can lead to burning in the fingers. If you touch your face or eyes, you will have a really hard time trying to control the burning sensation.
Always wear gloves while handling chilies. You can also apply some vegetable oil to your hands to protect them.
Shattered Serveware
It is very easy to cut yourself trying to pick up shards of glass from a shattered plate. Most people don’t even notice the injury until they see the blood.
To avoid breaking your glassware, avoid extreme changes in temperature. Don’t put something too hot in a cold glass or vice versa.
Always be careful while handling glassware and if your hands are full, make two trips, don’t try to carry everything all at once.
Blender Injury
This might seem like a no-brainer, but never put your hand in the blender. You might turn it on accidentally and end up mangling your hand.
Don’t clean the blades by hand. Put hot water and soap in the blender and let it run. The blades will get cleaned on their own.
Appliance Tipovers
Children are more likely to be the victim of these injuries. They like to climb up on the doors of appliances like refrigerators or ovens and sometimes the door can break off or the entire appliance can tip over.
Educate your children on how dangerous it can be and never leave them unsupervised in the kitchen.
Sprains
People suffer from sprains or chronic pain when they have improper posture while working in the kitchen. If you are hunched over the counter or stooping to cut your vegetables you will hurt yourself.
Adjust your surroundings so that everything is at a proper height and make sure you work with good posture. Don’t try to lift something too heavy, ask for help instead.
The kitchen is the most dangerous place in the house. If you are not careful, you could sustain very serious injuries in the kitchen. Always proceed with caution and keep a cool head when you’re cooking. Better safe than sorry!
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