Taking danger out of the kitchen
Growing up in Dhaka, or in any other part of Bangladesh for that matter, we have always seen our mothers and grandmothers cook up diverse delicious dishes rich in spices each telling an age-old different story. However, cooking can be surprisingly dangerous, considering that a kitchen is equipped with sharp knives, hot exposed surfaces, pots of boiling water and pans of sizzling grease. So how can we make things easier for the ones who are newbies taking a fancy to cooking? How can we take the danger out of making dinner?
KNIVES AND SCISSORS ALL THE WAY!
Even the most modern fans of the Bangladeshi cuisine have not been able to come up with tactics for the various activities that go on in the kitchen. Very prevalent in our households are 'botis' (a large curved blade) which are used for cutting things, starting from something as small as fingerling fishes to large pumpkins and beef. This traditional but complex system for cutting veggies is rather dangerous as it often results in the user getting a nasty cut or other unwanted accidents.
Botis are comfortable to use for the people who are accustomed to it but often can cause your toes to get badly cut. A smarter way to replace these is using sharp and well-designed knives or even scissors.
Scissors come in various shapes and sizes with varying degrees of sharpness depending on their intended use. They also come in various bright colours. Add these to your to-buy list and accessorise your kitchen to give it a modern and chic look.
If scissors do not seem to be your choice, you can always opt for knives. Make sure to keep these sharp objects clean and sanitised and boxed properly to avoid any hazards.
CLEAN UP QUICKLY
When you are preparing dinner while nagging teens or tugging toddlers are begging for their evening meal, it is easy to spill a thing or two. Make sure you clean it up as quickly and efficiently as possible to avoid any sort of slipping hazards.
Grease and oil, slippery peelings of various fruits and vegetables prove to be especially dangerous and has resulted in odd slipping accidents.
More bacteria thrive in the kitchen than any other room of the house,so it is extremely important to use proper sanitisers diluted with water.
Needless to say, make sure the utensils you use and the cutting boards are also properly cleaned. Use lemon juice diluted with water to get rid of stubborn stains. Use air fresheners and always take half an hour, every two days to clean the kitchen properly along with the surface of the refrigerator, microwave, stove and even the walls.
At first it might seem like a hassle but cleanliness and hygiene are crucial for a healthy living and you will get used to it in no time.
KNOW YOUR WAY WITH FIRE
This segment is especially important for newbies in the kitchen and also an extremely crucial point to note.
When working in a kitchen, not knowing your way with fire can result in terrible incidents leading to burns and even explosions. Normal fire thrives on oxygen, so smothering a fire with a wet rag or pot cover works well.
Grease fires require special handling; use a pan cover to put out grease fires. Never use water. Microwave fires can be managed by unplugging the microwave, and oven fires should be tackled with baking soda. Always make sure that you have turned off the stove properly before exiting the kitchen.
CLOTHING AND ACCESSORIES
Even if it seems a little farfetched, wearing the wrong kind of attire while cooking may result in a lot of hazards. Bangles and bracelets can get caught on pot handles, long sleeves and long hair can catch on fire.
Having your 'orna' or 'aanchal' accidently burnt or getting stuck in the nooks and crannies of the kitchen is a very common happening, especially if the place is a little congested.
Be attentive to what you wear and steer clear of loose fitted garments, or make sure to keep a clean apron handy.
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