Your kitchen must be one of the cleanest and most organized places in your house. This is not only because it is where you cook your meals, but also because the environment is quite vulnerable to contamination. This does not mean that you have to mop your kitchen every passing hour. There are certain errors you make without your knowledge that can damage your kitchen hygiene. The cleanliness of the environment can be increased to a great degree by avoiding them. Listed below are some tips that will help you avoid such kitchen mishaps.
Dress Accordingly
Although it can be quite hot in the kitchen, it is best to wear long sleeves to protect yourself from burns – especially when using electrical appliances such as the oven. Avoid wearing loose clothing since they can easily get caught in the flames. Tie your hair in a bun or a ponytail for the same reason. Being barefoot in the kitchen is a common habit that everyone should avoid. Wearing closed-toe shoes will not only save you if you accidently spill boiling liquid or drop a knife, but it is also scientifically proven that wearing them can reduce the level of lower back pain that can occur due to long hours of standing. Moreover, wear fibre clothing instead of synthetic since the latter can melt into your skin under high temperature.
Fire Safety
Fire accidents are quite common in the kitchen environment. Therefore, it is important to know how to avoid them and be aware of what measures to take in case of one. The best way to avoid a disastrous fire accident is to use the services of the best gas provider in town. This will not only ensure your safety, but will make your house is more energy efficient and reduce your overall utility costs.Make sure that the service is safely installed and stay on the lookout for signs of any leakage. If you do notice, repair the system immediately. In the case of a grease fire, never pour water, flour or sugar since it can result in an explosion. The easiest way to calm the fire down is to smother it.
Cross-contamination
Washing your hands every once in a while will keep you away from contamination. However, there are other effective ways that one could use to achieve this. For example, using two separate cutting boards for vegetables and raw meats will help. When using the same board, when protein juice from the meat mixes with fresh vegetables, it can result in terrible bacterial contamination. Moreover, remember to clean the areas in the kitchen that are touched and used often. This includes the sink, refrigerator handle, microwave, etc.
Temperature Zones
Extreme temperature zones are the best friends of bacteria. This is why you need to show special concern towards your oven and refrigerator. It has been found that bacteria grows and spreads best between 40 and 140 Celsius Fahrenheit. Cooking the food and preserving it at the right temperature will not only reduce bacterial contamination, but will also decrease the risk of subsequent food poisoning.
Keeping your kitchen clean and organized at all times will not only reduce the risk of accidents and keep you safe, but will also enhance the overall hygiene of your home and result in less cooking disasters. Therefore, invest a little time for this chore on a regular basis.
