Looking for kitchen safety tips for a happy Thanksgiving holiday?
Thanksgiving is that time of year when friends and family gather together to give thanks for their many blessings. It is a time for fun, food and festivities and with a little forward planning, cooking that traditionalThanksgiving dinnershould be a trouble and accident-free undertaking.
A couple of weeks before the holiday, especially if you are expecting family or friends to stay, you will, no doubt, have done some advance planning - drawn up a menu, ordered the turkey and decided on what vegetables and accompaniments you wish to serve at the dinner table.
A week or so before the big day, defrost the fridge/freezer and get rid of all the expired and sad-looking contents.
Make sure there is ample room to keep all the necessary foods frozen until needed. If usingfresh vegetables,buy them as close to the day as possible (the last thing you want is for your guests to become ill through foods that have passed their 'sell by' date). Wash the vegetables thoroughly in running water, pat dry and store in the crisper part of the fridge.
Check that all the appliances that might be needed on the day are in good working order. Replace frayed cords and loose plugs. Make sure the cords of the appliances are long enough to reach the area where you want to work.
Make a list of all the kitchen equipment you'll need, for example, graters, whisks, knives, turkey basters, and see that you have the right tool for the job. Sharpen the carving knife - a blunt knife can do as much harm to both you and the turkey as a sharp one can.
Check pots and pans, especially the roasting pan. Is the roasting pan large enough to accommodate that enormous bird? If the pan is too small, when basting the turkey, hot fat can spill over the sides of the pan causing burns and could even set fire to the oven.
Most homes have afirst aid kitcontaining basic emergency supplies - check to see that the kit is well-stocked and replenish items if necessary. It is a good idea to have a small fire extinguisher fixed to the wall in the event of an electrical or oil fire. A fire blanket is also useful, this can be used to quell a fat fire on the stove.
Never, ever, throw water on an electrical appliance or on burning fat or oil.
Although it is hoped that none of these items will be needed, it is best to be prepared.
Stress and fatigue can cause one to make silly mistakes so try to remain as stress-free as possible. If possible, have a good night's sleep and wake up fresh and ready to begin the holiday with enthusiasm.
Don't try to do all the work yourself; ask for help from a reliable friend or family member and don't be afraid to delegate.
In preparation for the big day, remove all unnecessary items from the work surfaces - make sure the floor area has no hazards lying around and see that there is a clear, unhindered passage from fridge to work surfaces and from the stove to the sink/dishwasher.
If there are young children present, ask a responsible adult to take charge of them and keep them away from the kitchen while you are cooking.
Pets should also be banished from the kitchen - tripping over the cat while carrying a roasting pan with a large turkey can have disastrous consequences and no-one wants to spend Thanksgiving in an emergency room.
Wear comfortable but close-fitting clothes- flowing dresses with wide sleeves can get hooked on pots or brush against hot stove tops. Never cook barefoot, as boiling liquids can spill over onto the floor and sharp utensils could fall off counter-tops and cause damage to unprotected feet. A protective apron is also a good idea.
Make sure there is an abundance of pot holders, oven gloves or padded mitts handy. Never use damp pot holders as they transmit heat. Also avoid using tea towels to take pans off the stove as they are not thick enough to protect against hot handles.
Turn pot and pan handles so that they are over the centre or sides of the stove, not over the front where someone could bump into them. Also check that the handles are not over an adjacent hot plate where they could give an unsuspecting person a nasty burn if grabbed.
If food catches fire in a frying pan, smother the flames with a tight-fitting lid; the lack of oxygen stifles the flames immediately.
Make sure there are no pot holders/towels/ curtains which could be blown onto, or could fall onto, a hot plate and start to burn.
To avoid slipping on a messy floor, wipe up any spills as soon as they happen.
As soon as the cooking is finished, switch off the plates and oven. If washing up by hand, take extra special care when washing sharp utensils. Leave hot pans to soak and wash them only when they have cooled down.
Thanksgiving should be a pleasant and enjoyable holiday for everyone, even those who have to do the cooking. A few necessary precautions and a little commonsense will ensure that the day passes off without a hitch and will be a day that friends and family remember for years to come.
