How to Prevent Kitchen Injuries

By Vanessa, January 31, 2010 10:28 pm

The next time you’re around a cook, take a close look at their hands and arms. Chances are, you’ll find quite a few scars. Even the most experienced chefs get hurt sometimes.

I’m no exception. I think I’ve kept Johnson & Johnson in business over the past few years, with all the Band-Aids I’ve bought. But if you want to stop kitchen injuries once and for all, the best defense is a good offense. If you follow these steps, you can avoid a lot of unnecessary cuts and burns.

1. Get rid of as many distractions as possible.

You’ll be more likely to hurt yourself if you’re watching TV or talking on the phone while you’re cooking. (And from personal experience, let me tell you… once you get flour inside your cell phone, its hard to get it out)

2. Invest in a good pair of oven mitts.

I highly recommend Crate & Barrel’s Professional Oven Mitts. They go for about $12.95, and they are worth every penny. While most oven mitts extend a few inches past your wrist, these go all the way up to your elbow. If you’ve ever burned your arms while reaching into an oven, you’ll appreciate these:

3. Never leave your food unattended

If you’ve been reading my blog for awhile, you may remember the Kitchen Aid Mixer Disaster. I was mixing pretzel dough, left my mixer unattended for about 5 minutes, and it fell on the floor and broke. Thankfully, nobody was hurt, but this is just an example of what can happen if you don’t keep an eye on your appliances.

4. Learn how to use a knife properly.

YouTube is a beautiful thing. It has hundreds of videos demonstrating the proper way to use a knife. If you take the time to learn chopping techniques, you can prevent injury and save your knives from unnecessary wear and tear. This video is a great place to start:

If you need a hands-on approach, learning knife skills in person might be more effective. The Chopping Block (in Chicago) offers a great Knife Skills class, which teaches you the proper way to chop, slice, and care for your knives. The Knife Skills class is offered 10 times throughout the month of February. Click here for a class schedule.

5. Last but not least… take care of your hands.

I’m a big believer that clean, capable hands are a cook’s best tool. If you cut yourself while you’re cooking, clean and wrap the cut as soon as possible. And of course, it goes without saying that cooks should wash their hands as often as possible. Every chef has their own favorite hand lotion. A lot of chefs swear by Udder Balm, or plain old vaseline.

My final piece of advice is easier said than done. For the best results in the kitchen (and life in general), just slow down and take your time. You won’t regret it.

Soundtrack to this post: Elvis Costello – Accidents Will Happen

Coming Soon: Fun recipes for Valentine’s Day!