Kitchen Safety Tips

At Green Chef, we are committed to our customers’ health and safety. While we are not fire safety experts, the following guidelines set out basic kitchen safety practices to mitigate potential accidents or harm while cooking.

Sharp Objects

• Keep knives or other sharp objects out of the reach of children.
• Keep sharp knives sharp to avoid the knife slipping while cutting.
• Always cut away from your body.
• Secure cutting boards to the counter (use a damp towel under the board if the board does not have rubber gripping).

Hygiene/Clothing

• Always wear closed-toed shoes.
• Avoid wearing loose clothing around fire and burners.
• Avoid wearing loose jewelry and accessories that might get caught on kitchen appliances or fall into food.
• Tie hair back (both to avoid fire hazards and mixing with food).
• Wash hands with warm soapy water for 20 seconds before and after handling raw meat and poultry, and after using the restroom, changing diapers, and handling pets.

Pots & Pans

• Use hot pads to move hot objects. Some of our recipes include transferring a pot from stove top to oven.  Be especially careful when removing a pot from the oven.
• Turn pot handles inward and away from the front of the stove.
• Do not leave pots and pans unattended.
• Open covered pots away from your body and stir food away from your body.

Fire Safety

• Avoid placing fabric materials (e.g., potholders, aprons, dish towels) near open flames and hot surfaces.
• Turn pot handles away from the stove.
• When frying with oil, if you notice smoke or oil smells, turn off the burner and remove the pan from the burner.
• Keep a fire extinguisher in or near the kitchen.
• Do not extinguish grease or electric fires with water—use a fire extinguisher, baking soda, salt, or a pan cover to smother the fire. If the fire cannot be controlled instantly, call 911 or the local fire department.

Electrical Appliances

• Keep electrical appliances away from water.
• Ensure electrical appliances are fully off and unplugged before touching sharp blades.
• Do not use hands to release food from a food processor.
• Ensure all connections are grounded and do not use appliances with frayed cords.
• Avoid plugging in too many appliances into one outlet.

Other Environmental

• Do not put hot grease into water, or water into hot grease.
• Clean up spills or grease promptly to avoid slipping.
• Wash cutting boards, dishes, utensils, and countertops with hot soapy water after handling and preparing foods and between uses.
• Sanitize your dishcloths and sponges on a regular basis.
• Be careful around hot steam and avoid direct facial contact with hot steam.
• Keep a first aid kit in the kitchen.
• Have emergency numbers available (911, poison control, local fire department, etc.).

For more food safety information, see our safe food handling tips.

Have any other questions? Feel free to check out our other FAQs or reach out to us! Just email [e-mail] or call us at 888-236-7295. Happy Cooking!