Cooking Equipment Disasters You Can Avoid
August 29, 2019Cooking equipment disasters you can avoid through proper safety procedure and careful proceeding.
Kitchens are the heart of the home, but they’re also home to a lot of cooking equipment that can pose safety hazards. Cooking fires top the list of things that can go wrong in the kitchen followed by injuries from knives, cookware, food processors, microwaves, and blenders. Fires related to cooking peak over the holidays—Thanksgiving has three times the average cooking-related fires.
Keep an Eye on Your Cooking Equipment
Fires involving cooking equipment account for two of every five reported home fires. Unattended cooking equipment accounts for one in three fires, and half are ignited by fat, grease, oil, or related substances, according to the National Fire Protection Association. If you spend a lot of time in the kitchen, take a minute to bone up on these safety tips to avoid accidents.
Stay in the kitchen when you are frying, grilling, or broiling.
If you are simmering, baking or roasting, remain at home and check the food often. Set the timer as a reminder.
Keep anything that can catch fire—potholders, towels, food packaging—away from the stovetop.
Always keep a lid nearby to smother small grease fires by sliding the cover over the pan and turning off the burner.
If a fire starts in the oven, turn it off and leave the door closed.
If the fire gets out of hand, leave the house and call 911.
Keep a fire extinguisher with a minimum 5-B:C rating on hand.
Safety Tips for Dangerous Cooking Equipment
One of the great dangers in the kitchen are those blades of honed steel created to slice through produce and flesh: your kitchen knives. There are too many tips for listing here; there are whole classes dedicated to knife safety. But with some basics in mind and a review of more comprehensive knife safety guidelines, you can lessen your risk of injuring yourself or ditching a digit.
Always use sharp knives.
Do not hold food in your hand while you cut it.
Always cut on the cutting board. (Use a non-slip one or place a damp dishtowel beneath it to prevent it from slipping.)
Always keep fingers on top of the blade in case it moves.
Keep knife handles free of grease or other slippery substances.
Keep knives away from the edge of the counter to lessen the chance of being knocked off.
Never try to catch a falling knife!
Wash knives immediately after use. Do not leave knives in a sink of soapy water where they cannot be seen. Keep the sharp edge of the blade away from you when washing.
Whether it’s fire, knives or blenders, be mindful with your cooking equipment to spare yourself a trip to the emergency room.
Cooking Equipment Spotlight: Choosing the Right Fryer
Choosing the right fryer may seem straightforward. After all, you just need something to hold oil and keep it hot so you can cook some things, right? Not quite. You have a lot of choices, which helps you choose the cooking equipment that’s perfect for your...
Keep Your Foodservice Equipment Coolers Clean & Functional
Whether you run a convenience store or a restaurant, you need safe storage for food that must be refrigerated. Commercial coolers are the foodservice equipment you need – but it’s important to keep them in good shape. Otherwise, your investment won’t give you the...
Keep Pests Out of Your Commercial Kitchen
Having pests in your kitchen is already a nightmare, but if health inspectors find them it gets even worse. Keep your guests safe and your restaurant operating safely. Your commercial kitchen is automatically a target of a variety of bugs and other pests. It has...
Restaurant Supplies: Make a Great Impression With the Right Dinnerware
When customers sit down in your restaurant, what’s one of the first things they see? Yes, the décor, hostess, and more. But there’s something else that matters a great deal – but is often overlooked. It’s the silverware and tableware! People will judge your...
The Best Kitchen Equipment for a New Graduate
If you’re like many people, you know a young adult who will be setting up their own place for the first time this summer. It’s an exciting time, but very nerve-wracking. It’s amazing how quickly the costs add up as you outfit an apartment – especially in the kitchen!...
Outside the Commercial Kitchen: Food Safety While Catering
Many restaurants and other eating establishments like to provide catering for special events. Catering a huge business, worth over $53 billion per year. Catering allows your restaurant to reach customers who might never set foot in your establishment otherwise. It’s...
Help Your Commercial Kitchen Run Smoothly With Proper Leadership
We focus a lot on how having the right equipment can keep your commercial kitchen moving quickly and efficiently. However, it’s not just the equipment that makes the difference in your restaurant’s success. Having proper leadership in your commercial kitchen – and...
3 Times Used Kitchen Equipment is As Good As New
Are you nervous about buying used kitchen equipment? It’s understandable. After all, restaurants are subject to a lot of regulations, and if something goes wrong you could lose your business. However, there are many times that used kitchen equipment makes perfect...
Kitchen Equipment You Need: Wellness Mats
When it comes to serving customers, you leave no stone unturned. You choose the best kitchen equipment, test your recipes, buy the best ingredients, and hire excellent staff. Unfortunately, there’s something that even the savviest restaurant owner often forgets –...
Is Your Kitchen Equipment Ready for National Hamburger Month?
Restaurants can always use a fun and playful way to bring in new customers. Did you know that May is National Hamburger Month? Why not use that fact as an entertaining way to bring in new customers? You can offer a special promotion on a hamburger, or feature other...
Understanding Restaurant Equipment: A Variety of Fryers
You may think of a fryer as a simple machine with a basket and hot oil. If you do, you don’t quite understand this restaurant equipment. You’re missing out on the enormous range of different fryers available! The truth is there are four very different types of...
Why a Frozen Drink Machine is Vital Foodservice Equipment for Your Store
It’s starting to get hot out there, and as summer approaches you should be thinking about how to promote your cold food and drink offerings. Each store will have different foodservice equipment, but if you don’t have a frozen drink machine, you should seriously...
How to Increase Sales From Your Cold Case
As we move into May, it’s time to start thinking about ramping up your summer sales. One of the key focuses can be the cold case in your store. This piece of foodservice equipment can really boost your bottom line. A cold case gives you an opportunity to display...
Keep Restaurant Equipment Safe: Proper Use of a Breading Station
Keeping food safe and sanitary is vital for any restaurant. A lot foodborne illness isn’t the result of the food itself, but rather a misuse of restaurant equipment that causes contamination. A breading station is a piece of equipment that has a lot of opportunity for...
5 Keys to Creating the Perfect Restaurant Seating Areas
Restaurants are about so much more than just food. From the setting and layout of your restaurant to your choice of colors, it takes a lot more than an appealing menu to keep diners coming back for more. When setting up your restaurant, booths and chairs are important...