by Sarah Staples

Created on: February 06, 2009   Last Updated: February 07, 2009

For many, the kitchen is the heart of the home. As such, it can be a very busy place with much coming and going, as well as an area for food preparation. It may be a place of socialising and entertaining. It may be a family room. It may double as a laundry or storage area. The kitchen can also however be a place of danger. Following these golden rules will help keep your kitchen a safe and homely place.

1. Hygiene is of great importance in every kitchen. As the kitchen is primarily a room for food storage, preparation, cooking and possibly eating, every effort must be made to ensure cleanliness. A multitude of bacteria could reside on surfaces, chopping boards and utensils unless correct precautions are taken. These bacteria could result in diseases such as gastroenteritis if contamination of food were to occur.

Surfaces should be kept as clear as possible to allow thorough cleaning. Surfaces should be regularly washed using dedicated cleaning cloths, hot water and an anti-bacterial spray. Separate chopping boards should be used for preparing different food groups, and these should be carefully washed in hot soapy water after use. Most importantly, clearly label the board you use for fresh meat and fish.

Hand hygiene is of greatest importance, and everyone involved in food preparation must ensure his or her hands are washed. Children should be supervised in washing their hands before meals.

2. Sharp objects such as knives and processor blades can be very dangerous, especially if they are found by young children. All blades should be appropriately stored with a protective cover, or in a knife block. They should be kept out of the reach of small children.

Knives should be kept sharp as a blunt knife could slip when being used, resulting in injury.

3. Fire can be a major risk in a kitchen. You may cook with a naked flame, use a deep fat fryer, or have matches around. A fire can start suddenly and can spread rapidly. Fire can quickly kill. It is important to be vigilant of fire risks when cooking, and to ensure matches are kept out of the reach of children.

You should have a fire blanket or fire extinguisher in your kitchen, and know how to use it in the event of a fire.

It is important to have a smoke detector in your home, and ideally, your family should discuss an emergency plan to follow in the event of a fire. Most importantly, if a fire does occur, evacuate your home and ensure the fire services have been called. Do not re-enter your home until you are advised by

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