Ten Tips for Kitchen Knife Safety
April 10, 2014
It’s imperative that you clean and sanitize your blades after cutting meats.
Research shows that the tight economy has contributed to a continuing spike in culinary school enrollments over the past few years, as Americans seek recession-proof job options. If you’re among those looking to make a living in the kitchen, or your simply inspired by your favorite cooking show to jazz things up for your own dinner table, it’s a given that you’ll be working with knives.
For the culinary-minded newbies out there, Sarge Knives offers a few tips for safety when using kitchen knives:
- Ditch the distractions: It takes just one quick misstep with a sharpened blade to cause serious injury. Turn off the TV or radio and send the kids out to play.
- Wash your hands: A lot. Wash them thoroughly with warm, soapy water for at least 20 seconds to effectively ward off illness-causing bacteria and germs. Do this after each food you cook, especially meats.
- Keep it clean: Constantly clean your cutting board, countertops and blades between food items – especially after meats. It’s best to let cutting boards air dry, as drying cloths can hold and transfer bacteria.
- Keep ‘em sharp: Trying to cut with a dull knife is a serious safety hazard. Its dullness prompts the cutter to apply more force, which can make for a more serious potential injury should the blade slip.
- Curl your fingers: Always curl your fingers when cutting foods of any sort. Leaving them laid out flat or straight is a good way to lose a fingertip.
- Maintain contact: When chopping, mincing or dicing foods, be sure to keep the tip of the knife on the cutting surface as you lift and chop.
- Resist the urge: Licking the spoon is fine. Licking the knife blade – not so much. Not only do you risk slicing your tongue, you’re also creating a food safety issue.
- Keep your distance: While it may seem more comfortable to lean against a countertop while cutting foods, it’s also dangerous. A slip of the blade can cause a stomach injury.
- Walk this way: It’s best to avoid walking with a knife at all. But if you must, walk with the blade facing downward.
- Put them away: When you’re done using your kitchen knives, clean, sanitize and store them safely away, particularly if you have children.
Happy cooking!
