Being safe in the kitchen

BEING SAFE IN THE KITCHEN

Do you like putting on an apron and making a delicious snack for your family? How about helping out at the stove, stirring and sniffing the sweet smells? Or making cookies by cutting out your favorite shapes?

Although making food is fun, it's important to know how to be safe. This means knowing when to get the help of an adult assistant, how to keep things clean, and how to use the kitchen safely. Let's get cookin'!

Your Adult Assistant

If you've ever seen a cooking show on TV, you know that all the best chefs have an assistant to help them out. If you're a kid, an adult assistant can come in handy to make cooking easier and keep you safe. Before beginning any recipe, get an adult's permission to work in the kitchen. If your recipe uses knives, the stove, or other kitchen appliances, you must have some adult help. Some things that your mom or dad uses in the kitchen may seem simple to operate, but once you use them yourself, you might be surprised by how difficult they actually are. By having your assistant around, you can avoid surprises, stay safe, and have fun while you cook.

What Should You Wear?

Wearing an apron will keep your clothes clean. If you don't have an apron, an old shirt will do. But don't wear anything that's big and loose. Baggy sleeves or clothes could catch fire or get caught in mixer beaters or other equipment.

Keep Germs Out of Your Food

A big part of safe cooking is keeping the chef and the kitchen clean. The idea is to keep germs, which can make you sick, out of your food. Always wash your hands with soap and water immediately before you begin any recipe. This is especially important for recipes that involve touching the food directly, like kneading dough or mixing ingredients with your hands. Also be sure to wash your hands before and after handling raw meat, poultry, egg, and fish products because these foods can contain bacteria. You don't want that bacteria getting on your hands because then they could end up in your mouth — yuck! You also can fight germs by keeping your working surfaces (like countertops and cutting boards) clean and dry. Wash them with soap and warm water after you're done cooking.

Leftovers are great, but you don't want germs in them either. Ask your adult assistant for help in storing any leftovers. Food may be refrigerated or frozen to keep it fresh. Eat refrigerated leftovers within 3 to 5 days and frozen leftovers within 2 months.

Using the Kitchen Safely

You have your ingredients neatly lined up, your hands washed, and your measuring spoons out. But before you start, it's a good idea to learn a few rules of the kitchen. It's easy to get injured in the kitchen if you're not

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