Boy Scouts Cooking Safety Page 5 Prevent Cuts

Cooking Merit Badge Health & Safety

[text-box width=”100%” align=”center”] Boy Scouts Cooking Badge
chefshat-tran
[unordered title=”Areas of Study:”] [line]Health and Safety[/line] [line]Nutrition[/line] [line]Cooking Basics[/line] [line]Cooking at Home[/line] [line]Camp Cooking[/line] [line]Trail and Backpacking meals[/line] [line]Food related careers[/line] [/unordered] [/text-box] [div-line] [text-box]

Prevent Cuts

[unordered] [line]Handle knives carefully, no fingers in front of cutting edge; [/line] [line]As often as possible have someone in the kitchen with you;[/line] [line]Never put knives in a sink full of water. Wash, rinse and dry knives separately;[/line] [line]Never try to catch a falling knife. Let it fall, pick it up, and wash it[/line] [line]Use the right tool for the right task. If you are not sure, then ask;[/line] [line]Do not try to open a can with a knife;[/line] [line]Be sure utensils and ingredients are put away when not needed;[/line] [line]Be careful after using a can opener, remove the lid carefully as it is a razor;[/line] [line]Be careful taking trash away. Some trash has sharp edges; and[/line] [line]Be careful using a box grater or other sharp object.[/line][/unordered]
[/text-box] [text-box] Preventing cuts allows anyone to feel safer in the kitchen.
[/text-box] [text-box] [unordered title=”Using knives correctly:”] [line]Use the correct knife for the job;[/line] [line]Always use a sharp knife, dull ones require more pressure and may slip;[/line] [line]Wash knives separately and store in their proper place;[/line] [line]Teach yourself to cut away from your body;[/line] [line]Do not use knives to open cans, cut string or sharpen pencils;[/line] [line]Pay attention to what you are doing, reduce the number of distractions; [/line] [line]If a knife begins to fall, never try to catch it – step back and let it fall; and[/line] [/unordered]

Other than knife safety when handling broken items on the floor or counter, sweep large pieces of glass with a broom and dustpan, pick-up smaller pieces with a wet paper towel.

My best advise regarding avoiding cuts is that you recognize that your fingers are each worth about $250,000 in your lifetime. Be smart with them. Would you give me a quarter of a million dollars just to cut something you weren’t sure how to cut?

General knife use safety:
Always use a cutting board so you don’t damage your kitchen counter-tops;

When cutting, one hand grips the knife and the other hand must hold the food and guide it toward the blade;

Curl your fingers of the hand that is guiding the food so your knuckles act as a shield and protect your fingertips. By curling your fingers you are making your hand into a spider. The thumb stays way back and out of the way. Thumbs get cut when not making the “spider”.

[/text-box] [text-box title=”Quiz”]

I can prevent cuts by correctly using a knife.

Correct

Sharp objects are common in the kitchen and can be used and handled safely. Memorize and discuss these bullet points and apply them consistently!

Incorrect

If you answered false, first check your attitude. Be prepared to handle knives and sharp objects with care to avoid cuts.

[/text-box]