Since the kitchen is the main place you handle and prepare food, hygiene is more important in this room than anywhere else. So, to help you stay clean and safe in the kitchen, we’ve got some hygiene tips that will come in handy in your kitchen.
Wipe down surfaces regularly
Bacteria can live on your surfaces in your kitchen for several days, so you should be cleaning them regularly. Wipe them down either with soap and water or an antibacterial cleaner. You can buy sprays or wipes to do this, whichever you find more convenient. Your kitchen countertops are the main area to focus on as this is where you prepare food, so wipe these down at least once a day.
You should also wipe down your cabinet doors and handles on a regular basis. It can be easy to forget about these, but you and other family members are frequently grabbing the handle and touching the cabinet fronts, and potentially spilling things down them, too, so they also need cleaning. And don’t forget about your kitchen sink, oven, fridge, and other appliances when it comes to cleaning.
Separate preparation areas
If you’re preparing and cooking raw meat, you must make sure that this doesn’t come into contact with the other food ingredients you’re preparing. The juices from raw meat can cause salmonella and other illnesses. At the very least, you should use separate cutting boards for chopping raw meat and vegetables, for example. Also, wash your hands thoroughly before and after handling raw meat.
Keep trash enclosed
You’ll be throwing away a combination of organic waste, food packaging, and other trash items in your kitchen. Using a trash can that’s open to the air in the room provides a breeding ground for bacteria that you and your food are exposed to. Choose a closed trash can to conceal all of this and ensure that you empty it on a regular basis.
Handle food properly
There are certain safety guidelines when it comes to preparing, cooking, and storing food in the kitchen. One thing you should do is always thaw frozen meat in the refrigerator rather than out in the open on your countertops. Alternatively, you can thaw it in a bowl of water or the microwave, but do not leave it out on your kitchen countertops for hours.
After ensuring the meat is properly thawed on the inside, it is important to cook it thoroughly, especially with meats like chicken. When storing cooked food, make sure it has properly cooled down before placing it in the refrigerator or freezing it. But don’t leave it out in the open for more than two hours.
Is your kitchen designed with food safety and hygiene in mind? Contact The Kitchen Center if you need support with designing or redesigning your dream kitchen.