Holiday cooking gives families the chance to cook special meals, bake cookies and get together. Kids often enjoy helping with the cooking, but they also need to know how to stay safe.
Parents should teach kids the basic kitchen rules before they start cooking. That means handwashing, staying clear of the hot stoves and being careful with the kitchen utensils.
Following these seven safety rules will go a long way toward enabling children to have a great time in the kitchen over the holidays without running into the usual kitchen accidents.
1. Always Have an Adult Nearby
Children must never be left alone to cook, particularly when using a hot oven, sharp knives or heavy pots and pans. A parent must be present and supervising at all times.
Younger kids can be involved with the simpler jobs like mixing the ingredients, washing the veg and decorating the cookies. Adults should do the cutting, peeling and taking hot food out of the oven.
Older kids may be ready to do more cooking themselves but will still require assistance when it comes to using tools or appliances they’ve never used before.
2. Wash Hands Before Touching Food
Children should wash their hands before they start to cook and again after they have touched raw meat, chicken or any other item. This helps to keep the food clean and safe.
Teach children to wash their hands using soap for at least 20 seconds, cleaning their palms, fingers and under their nails.
Children should also wash their hands after using the toilet, after touching the rubbish or after coughing and sneezing. This will stop the germs from getting onto the food and onto the kitchen surfaces.
3. Stay Away From Hot Stoves and Ovens
Children must be kept away from hot stoves, open flames and ovens unless an adult is with them. They must never touch a hot pan and must never attempt to take food out of the oven on their own.
Parents should turn the pan handles towards the back of the stove so that kids don’t knock them over. Hot food and boiling water should be kept well away from the edges of the tables and kitchen counters.
4. Be Careful With Knives and Sharp Tools
Children may be keen to help chop vegetables, slice fruit and so on. The problem is that knives, peelers and graters can all cause painful cuts if the child doesn’t know how to use them.
Never leave young kids alone with sharp knives. Give them simple jobs and appropriate, safer tools for their age and ability.
Teach the children to hold the knives carefully and to keep their fingers well clear of the sharp edge.
5. Keep Raw and Cooked Food Separate
Raw meat and raw chicken can carry germs which can then spread onto other foods. People can get ill from eating food that contains germs.
Teach the children to use separate chopping boards and plates for raw meat and vegetables. They should also wash their hands, knives and kitchen surfaces after they have touched raw meat or chicken.
Children should know never to wash raw chicken or meat in the sink. The water can disperse the germs to other surfaces. The best way to kill the germs is to cook the meat properly.
Older children can also be taught to use a food thermometer with an adult to check that the meat is cooked safely.
6. Clean Spills and Wear Proper Clothes
Cooking can leave the kitchen floor a right mess with water, oil, flour and bits of food. Wet and oily floors can lead to people slipping and falling. It’s obviously important to clean up spills as quickly as possible to prevent this.
Children should also be wearing comfortable clothes when they’re cooking. Loose sleeves and dangling jewellery can get caught in cooking equipment or come too close to the flame.
Long hair must be tied back, sleeves rolled up and an apron worn to keep the clothes clean.
7. Know What to Do During an Emergency
Children need to know what to do if someone gets burned, if someone has a cut or if there’s a fire in the kitchen. They must stop whatever they’re doing and get an adult.
Show the children where the first aid kit is and how to apply a plaster to a small cut. If someone is burned, then get an adult. Run cool water over the burn for 20 minutes. Do not put ice, butter or creams on a fresh burn.
Holiday cooking can be a great family activity if the kids know how to stay safe. It’s a good idea to teach them these basic rules before you start cooking so they can have a safe and enjoyable go at preparing the festive meals.
