When you are staying alone as a student, you are in the most exciting phase of your life. The thrill of living on your terms is what most students look forward to. However, one of the tasks that requires your attention is kitchen management.
While planning and preparing your meals is not difficult, you need to pay attention to your kitchen’s safety. There have been instances of pressure cooker explosions and fire breakouts in the kitchen when you are unmindful. You need to exercise caution and say yes to the best guidelines that keep you safe.
As a student, you will have a lot to address, from tuition classes to extracurricular activities and preparing for exams. Hence, it is necessary to adhere to the kitchen safety tips mentioned in this article to avoid any hazards.
Store Knives Well and Prevent Falls and Slips
Knives only work for you when you keep them sharp and store them securely. A sharp knife is always best to use as it needs negligible force to cut across food. It also helps to reduce any slip risk and injuries caused by it. Make it a point to store your kitchen knives in a knife block safely.
Also, have a drawer organizer if you wish to, or a magnetic strip for averting all accidents. Make sure that there is easy access as well. Once you make this arrangement, you will be safe from any unwanted cuts and bruises caused by mishandling sharp knives.
You might have falls and slips in your kitchen. It’s a common hazard in places that are susceptible to spills. Hence, the best way out here is to clean up the spills with a proper towel or a clean cloth. If you want, make use of slip rugs and mats where spills might take place, for instance, close to the countertops or sinks.
Choose Your Electric Pressure Cooker Carefully to Avert Explosions
As a student, you would want to eat healthy and cook your meals by yourself. Hence, investing in a pressure cooker will seem like a wise decision, and, in most cases, it is. But you need to be aware of the product you buy and check if it has defects so that you don’t encounter any accidents.
Recently, there have been incidents of Instant Pot explosions that you should note. In March 2024, AboutLawsuits.com shared the story of Darryl Doss, who filed a lawsuit against Instant Pot manufacturer. He suffered from substantial and severe burn injuries because of an explosion of the Instant Pot DUO 6-Quart Electric Pressure Cooker. As he opened the lid, the contents exploded onto him.
Darryl said that this accident could have been avoided if the cooker’s safety features didn’t fail. He further added that the explosion happened because of the cooker’s faulty design. It allowed him to rotate and remove the pot lid when the food inside was under pressure. Even though the brand advertised ‘pressure control features’, it still couldn’t prevent the accident.
TorHoerman Law states that while the precise number is not known, Instant Pot explosion cases have gone up. The victims have reported painful injuries such as third-degree burns in the chest, wrist, hands, and eye injuries. These companies failed to assess the product’s safety features and put public safety at risk.
Hence, you should examine the electric pressure cooker you wish to invest in thoroughly and then buy it. If you find anything doubtful or suspicious, reconsider your decision. Also, note the brands recalled for pressure cooker explosions and avoid them.
Exercise Caution When Using Cooking Appliances
From an oven to an electric mixer, every kitchen appliance comes with an instruction manual. The manufacturer lists certain protocols that you need to adhere to for safety. Make sure that the appliance cords are placed away from any hot surfaces to stay away from any damage or melting.
Additionally, you shouldn’t be overloading the electrical outlets. It can cause overheating and electric fires, which can cause severe injuries that might pose long-term risks to your well-being. If things go out of hand, it can even take your life.
Make Sure to Ventilate Your Kitchen
You need to make sure that your kitchen is well ventilated. It is necessary to ensure that the air quality is good. Also, correct ventilation helps to prevent the buildup of steam, smoke, and fumes. If you want, you can also make use of open windows or exhaust fans while you are cooking to enable fresh air to circulate and eliminate foul kitchen smells. Once you do this, your kitchen will have a healthy and comfortable cooking environment.
Stay Prepared for Emergencies
Even if you implement the safe cooking and kitchen management tips, there’s a chance of an accident. That is the truth you need to accept and stay prepared for. Hence, start by familiarizing yourself with the fundamental first aid procedures, for instance, treating burns, minor cuts, bruises, and injuries.
Make sure that your kitchen space has a first aid kit with necessary supplies like antiseptic wipes, bandages, and pain relievers to address any emergency. You should also keep the fire extinguishers in the correct place and know the correct way to use them. That will control a small fire explosion and prevent it from becoming an unmanageable one.
Summing up, staying alone as a student allows you the space to live the way you want. But you will have a lot of tasks to manage at your end, from house cleaning to cooking. In matters of the kitchen, you must implement a few safety tips while cooking and managing the space, so that you don’t encounter any accidents. The guidelines mentioned above will ensure that your kitchen space is safe and you don’t encounter any accidents.
