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Stay in the kitchen. Avoid distractions. Establish kitchen rules if you have children. Choose the right sized pot for the recipe. Use pots and pans with care. Use oven mitts. Use a sieve or colander for straining. Keep flammable objects away from the stove. Be careful when using the microwave.
If you are frying, grilling, broiling, or doing anything else on your stove, you should always remain in the kitchen to keep an eye on things. You can multitask, as long as you stay in the kitchen. For example, if you are baking a cake, you can prepare the frosting while the cake bakes. Don't try to do other things while you are cooking. Your attention should be completely on what you are trying to do, especially if it involves heat and sharp objects. Stay in the kitchen and off the phone. Using a timer can help, especially if you are worried something might distract you from your cooking. For example, if you are making icing while your cookies is in the oven, check on the cookies to make sure that they don't burn. Set up some ground rules for when you are cooking to avoid accidents. You can either tell your children that they are not allowed in the kitchen when you are cooking or you can designate an area of the kitchen where children can be. Be consistent with your rules and your children will take you seriously. Change the rules as your children grow older and more responsible. For example, a toddler may get in the way while you're cooking, but a teen can help you out. Most recipes will tell you what size pot you should use, so read them carefully. If you put too much food into a pot, it can overflow, creating both a mess and the potential for fire or spills.Handle large pots with care. They are heavy, so carry them with both hands. If you can't move it on your own, ask someone to help you. Turn the handles towards the middle of the stove when cooking. This will ensure that pots are not accidentally knocked off the stove or pulled down by a young child. Be sure to open hot pots away from your face, otherwise the escaping steam may burn you. If you have young children or nosey pets, you may even want to cook on the back burners whenever possible. Keep lids near to pots and pans in use. If you have a fire, turn the stove off and cover the fire with the lid. Don't use glass lids to put out fires, however, or they may break. These should be proper mitts with insulation and not a dishrag. Mitts are a better choice than pot holders for carrying things because they give you better grip. You should always wear something over your hands to protect from burning when carrying hot pots or pans. Make sure your mitts are dry and still have their insulation before using. If they are wet or worn out, you can easily burn your hands. You should use mitts whenever taking something out of the oven. You should also use them if your pot or pan doesn't have an insulated handle, such as a cast-iron skillet. When pouring hot water out of a pot, using the top to hold in what you are cooking can release steam on your face and hands. This can cause burning, and make you drop the pot as well. Use a strainer for vegetables, pasta, and anything else that requires draining boiling water. If the pot is very heavy, use a colander to ensure that both of your hands are free. Set the colander into the sink, then use both hands to handle the pot. This includes towels (both cloth and paper), potholders, food packaging, or anything else that might catch on fire. Some liquids may also be flammable, especially household cleaners. If the packaging tells you to keep the product away from heat, move it away from the stove. Always let food cool for a minute or two after running the microwave, and be careful when tasting food, as microwaves can heat things unevenly, creating hot spots. Remove covering very carefully, as escaping steam can burn. Never put anything that is made from metal into a microwave. This includes dishes with metallic designs. Make sure that whatever you put into the microwave is heat-safe. Some plastics may melt, while some thin glass may shatter.