The kitchen is a place for everyone to use - as long as we are doing it safely!
There are some key things you want to make sure you are doing, and some things to discuss with the adults in your kitchen.
In all of the skills and rules below - levels of parent supervision is important as kids develop their confidence and independence.
Watch these Videos for Kitchen Safety Basics...
...Discuss with your parents or carers how they stay safe in the kitchen.
Roll up your sleeves, remove dangly jewellery, and tie your hair back before cooking. Aprons are cool!
Always wash your hands before cooking, after handling meat, and whenever they feel dirty.
Keep your hands dry - wet hands can be slippery.
Have one tea towel for wiping benches and one tea towel for wiping your hands.
Have seperate chopping boards for meat and vegetables. Never use a board used for meat with other food items.
Keep wiping your benches and make sure your dishes are clean before and after using them.
Wash and wipe your spoon after you taste something. Try not to stick your fingers in the food to taste!
Never be too close to the oven when you open it. Hot air will rush out. Stand back a bit. Let some heat come out before reaching in with your hands.
Always use oven mitts to get things out of the oven or moving hot pans and pots.
Always know where your hot item will go on a bench. Make it close to the oven. Try not to walk across the kitchen with a hot container.
Always set your oven shelves in place before heating the oven.
On the stove turn the pot handles away from where your body is (but away from other burners).
Be super careful when taking a lid of a pot or pan. Steam can burn very badly.
Ovens and stovetops stay hot for a long time - always assume an oven is too hot to touch with your bare hands.
Move about the kitchen in a calm way. Let other people know where you are moving to.
Never run in the kitchen
The kitchen is not a place for active games, balls or toys.
Never threaten anyone with any kitchen equipment - tea towel, utensil or knife.
Always wipe up any spills off benches and floors. They can be slippery.
Use extreme caution when working with hot and boiling liquids. Splashing can cause burns. Ask an adult for help.
Place a damp tea towel under your chopping board. It will stop it moving, slipping and rocking.
Always pick up knives by the handle - never the blade
Always put your knife at the top of your chopping board, away from you.
Always warn people when you are moving in the kitchen with a knife.
Carry a knife by your side and with the blade facing backwards.
Never put a sharp knife in a sink of water.
Turn appliances off when you have finished with them.
Make sure cables aren't hanging over the edges of benches, sinks or where knives are being used.
Watch this video:
How many things did this lady do that are not safe in the kitchen?
Discuss it with your parents or carers at home.