The month of Ramadan is coming to an end. Eid ul-Fitr is the festive day that concludes the month of fasting. Those celebrating this holiday attend prayers, gather with their families and friends and take part in ritual activities. One aspect of the holiday remains the same – food.
One of the highlights of Eid is being able to meet family and friends after a long time. It is common for a household to prepare delicious dishes that they enjoy sharing with family and friends.
In the midst of all this, keeping an awareness of safety in the kitchen is critical during Eid while you are preparing food, cooking, as well as cleaning up afterward. You can prevent accidents in the kitchen by understanding the hazards present and taking simple precautionary measures.
So here are 10 safety tips that you should follow during Eid festivities while working in the kitchen.
10 Safety Tips to Avoid Kitchen Hazards During Eid
1. Clean Your Kitchen Before Getting Started
Thoroughly clean your kitchen and refrigerator, and get rid of any unwanted items in order to make room for your food stock for the month.
It is best to prepare varying ingredients for the week’s meals in advance so that each day you only have to complete the final steps. Make sure you have a sufficient supply of onions, garlic, and tomato sauce in your refrigerator. Clean and spice the meat and chicken.
2. Use Knives Properly
Knives should be used appropriately in order to prevent serious injuries. It is important to take the following precautions to avoid being injured by a knife:
a. Knives should always be handled with caution. Be attentive to your task and refrain from distractions.
b. Ensure that you grip the knife handle tightly and place your other hand over the blade to prevent any contact with the blade.
c. Keeping your knives sharp will prevent you from having to strain when you are chopping, dicing, or slicing.
d. Cut one side of round objects into a flat plane, then lay the plane side down on the chopping board. It will stabilize whatever you’re cutting.
3. Choosing The Right Cooking Tools
Use the right cooking utensils in order to avoid the spilling of hot or sharp items. Make sure to:
a. Maintain food safety by keeping the utensils clean, but be especially mindful when drying your hands or putting away sharp utensils.
b. When handling large, firm foods, use tongs. Handle hot items with caution and be careful not to splash oil or water.
c. For those who find it difficult to grasp cooking tools firmly, use tools with hand grips.
4. Ensure That Hot Dishes Are Handled with Care
The possibility of burns is not limited to you but can also affect those around you. Make sure not to leave food on the stove unattended when the burner is on. Whenever you remove the lid of a hot stovetop dish, wear oven mitts. You may want to angle back the pot handles, so you don’t bump them when you use them.
5. Prepare Yourself in Case of a Kitchen Fire
No one anticipates the occurrence of a kitchen fire. However, everyone should be prepared for such an event.
Follow these steps when dealing with fires caused by grease, microwaves, stoves, and electrical outlets:
a. Check that you have turned off the appliances after using them when you have finished cooking food on the stove.
b. Make sure to hire a gas safe registered engineer to check your kitchen for any gas leakages and issue a gas safety certificate cp12.
c. Put out fires in microwaves, stoves, and ovens by closing the door. Unplug the appliance if it is safe to do so. Contact the fire department immediately if the fire continues to spread.
d. In case of an electrical fire or other fire, you should keep a small fire extinguisher in your kitchen. Never use water to put out an electrical fire.
Read more about fire safety in the kitchen and useful information.
6. Hands Should Be Washed Before Handling Food
During the Eid holidays, it is highly recommended that the hands be washed properly before preparing food. When you switch tasks, such as handling raw meat and then cutting veggies, remember to wash your hands.
Make sure you run clean running water and use soap for at least 20 seconds when you wash your hands.
7. Use Oils Safely When Cooking
Cooking meat and vegetables with oil is a common practice. Make sure that you heat oils slowly to prevent spills and burns from occurring by not boiling them for too long.
Whenever you are cooking or roasting food, keep an eye on it, so it does not burn. You will want to turn off any appliance if you smell something burning or if it appears to be burning. Once you have done so, check the food after a few minutes.
Read more about the safe handling of cooking oil.
8. Keep Calm and Don’t Rush
In the kitchen, rushing around almost guarantees an accident. Take your time while cutting food, don’t rush from station to station, and move hot pots and pans slowly unless you’re a pro.
You don’t want to rush to a doctor’s office or visit a hospital during the Eid holiday.
9. It Is Advisable to Use Two Cutting Boards
Eid ul-Fitr is a holiday where some of the traditional foods consumed include curry and stews. As an example, chicken tikka masala consists of cooked meat and vegetables accompanied by a soup or sauce.
Use two cutting boards when preparing these dishes. The first should be used for raw meat, poultry, and fish, and the second should be used for vegetables. You can make the process easier by color-coding cutting boards, one for raw meat and another for ready-to-eat foods.
10. Prepare Ahead of Time for Family Visits
Friends and family coming over on Eid are a big deal. It is possible that you will encounter this problem as well unless you have an appropriate plan to deal with it.
Simple meals require little effort and little time to prepare. Make sure you are prepared, at least in part, for your visitors one day before they arrive.
It would be beneficial if you could ask a person to help you prepare, lift, and wash the dishes, and if you have children, have them assist you.
That’s All You Should Know About Kitchen Safety Tips for Eid
Eid ul Fitr is a very special event for every Muslim in the world. Guest and family members from afar visit after a long time, and it may become overwhelming. To keep you and your family safe from accidents and food poisoning, you should be aware of kitchen hazards and practice safe handling and cleaning of food.
We hope the safety tips outlined in this article will help you once you start implementing them.