01/8Essential kitchen tips for you
The kitchen occupies an important space in our houses as that is where we cook up those delicious meals, savoury delights, toothsome sweets and the most important, our usual tea and coffee. A majority of time is spent in the kitchen, from chopping veggies and preparing food to cooking it and washing the utensils. There are a few basic things that we must keep in mind whenever we are working in the kitchen to keep ourselves safe and the food as healthy and nutritious as it could be. Here are some tips which you must follow.
02/8Discard stale food
Food tends to go stale very soon in summers. Avoid eating stale food and prepare fresh food for each meal. Make sure you keep the food items in the fridge immediately after preparing them and use them in less than 5 hours. Freshly prepared food has more nutrition and is better for your gut as compared to leftover stale food.
03/8Cleaning veggies
After purchasing fruits or vegetables, straightaway empty them in a bucket of warm water. Add salt, vinegar, baking soda or vegetable cleaning solution to it. Rub gently with your hands and let them remain soaked for a minimum of 20 minutes. Now rinse the fruits and vegetables properly with fresh water, pat dry with a clean cloth and store them in the designated places.
04/8Cross-contamination
The best way to prevent cross-contamination is by keeping raw and cooked food in different boxes, away from one another. While preparing a meal, always chop the vegetables first, then clean the chopping board and then chop your meat, be it chicken, fish etc.
05/8Expired food
Always check the date of expiry while shopping for food items. Reject buying food packets which are close to the expiry date. Be vigilant and check the food packet or box for any cracks or leaks. Before using any food item, check the expiry date and if it has expired, trash it there and then.
06/8Cleanliness in the kitchen
After preparing a particular meal, make sure the gas stove and the slab is wiped clean with a cleaning solution and a cloth. Apart from this, your fridge should be cleaned on a weekly basis. If you have open cabinets in your kitchen, clean them fortnightly, as dust and greases settle on storage containers, making them sticky. If you have enclosed shelves, monthly cleaning is enough.
07/8Using the stove
You might have been cooking for years together but ‘to err is human’. Accidents can happen anytime and the only way to prevent them is to be extra careful while dealing with gas and fire. Make sure the gas stove has been switched off after you are done cooking. If using multiple burners at the same time, be vigilant that you don’t touch a hot pot by mistake.
08/8Personal hygiene
The person who is cooking the food needs to be very careful about his or her personal hygiene. Wash your hands thoroughly before cooking the foods and in between chopping vegetables and non-veg items. Make sure your nails are always trimmed and tidy. Tie your hair towards the back tightly and always wear an apron while cooking.
