One of the most common pastimes for every holiday celebration, is to come together for a meal. No matter if you celebrate Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, Christmas, or nothing at all— these later months are a great excuse to bring everyone together. While a family meal is almost always heartwarming, preparing that meal can bring along some unexpected dangers. Holiday kitchen injuries are quite common, but also quite easy to prevent. So, we’re here to help…
Holiday Kitchen Injuries: Keeping Spirits Bright and Unharmed
Burns
No matter what you’re cooking, burns are always a concern. However, during the holidays, we tend to cook more. Furthermore, we tend to cook larger portions, more frequently, and— with less experience. All of these things increase the chances of holiday kitchen injuries. To avoid burns, keep towels near the stove, wear long, tight sleeves, don’t cook under the influence, and never tend to hot pans or boiling water without an oven mit.
Cuts
You’re chopping vegetables for turkey stuffing, carving turkeys, slicing potatoes, dicing onions for gravy… Chances are, your kitchen set is being put to work this holiday season. As we’ve mentioned, you’re cooking (and cutting) more frequently. Therefore, you are running the risk of receiving one of those holiday kitchen injuries in the form of a cut finger, or worse. Our suggestion? Keep a first aid kit on hand, cut carefully— again, without alcohol in your system. Lastly, you might consider investing in a pair of cut-safe gloves to help further avoid injuries.
Gastro-Issues
One of the lesser considered holiday kitchen injuries, is stomach issues. Once again, we’ll mention those inexperienced chefs in the kitchen. Maybe the turkey was not washed, prepped, and cooked up to standards. Furthermore, maybe a knife, or cutting board, handled raw veggies, slicing a pie, and cutting the turkey. With all of these things in mind, you can see how small, careless mistakes in the kitchen can lead to issues such as food poisoning.
Aside from food-borne pathogens, there’s also the issue of plain, old indigestion and overeating. Upset stomach, diarrhea, indigestion, heart burn… There are plenty of ways that holiday feast can come back to haunt you.
Holiday kitchen injuries are less common than you having a good time with friends and family. However, every year someone’s family member inevitably ends up with a nasty cut, burn, stomach ache, or something of the like. So, cook (and eat) safe… You never know what a moment of carelessness can lead to.