Kitchen rules for children and adults
tiny world of cooking

Kitchen rules for children and adults

Keeping the kitchen safe and hygienic

Following a few simple rules can keep the kitchen clean, the food tasting good, and ensure that no one ends up with a stomach ache. Even experienced chefs have to follow certain kitchen rules. For children, rules are even more important since they are still learning how to handle food and use kitchen appliances properly.

Why are kitchen rules important?

Rules help ensure that everyone can work together and cooperate properly; otherwise complete chaos could ensue. It’s especially important to make sure processes run as smoothly as possible in the kitchen. After all, this is where food is stored and prepared, meaning proper kitchen hygiene should be compulsory. This can only be maintained if everyone working with food adheres to a few basic rules. This applies to experienced chefs as well as small children.

Most accidents occur at home – and many of these take place in the kitchen. Children in particular must learn what to bear in mind so they don’t injure themselves when using sharp knives or taking pans off the hob. Strict kitchen rules keep them safe whilst at the same time letting them try out new things.

Important tip: Wash your hands properly

Place your hands under warm, running water and always use soap. Rub your hands together until the soap has properly lathered up. Start with the palms of your hands and work your way to the backs of your hands – don’t forget the space between your fingers. Clean your thumbs by wrapping the other hand around them and rubbing with a closed fist. Use a brush to clean your fingernails. Rinse the soap off properly and dry your hands with a clean towel.

Everyone should follow these kitchen rules

No matter whether you’re a child or an adult – hygiene rules apply to everyone. The sooner children become familiar with them, the sooner they’ll start practising them. These rules are:

1.       Wash your hands thoroughly before cooking, during cooking, and before eating, especially if you’ve been preparing meat or fish.

2.       Never sneeze or cough on food. Sick people should not be in the kitchen.

3.       Tie back long hair before cooking so it doesn’t get in your eyes or the food.

4.       Always wear a clean apron or T-shirt to prevent germs from transferring to food. Ideally, a child should have their own apron so that they are more involved in the cooking process.

5.       Bandage any small wounds on your hands. Injuries can occur and should be treated hygienically.

6.       Always wash fruits and vegetables. Knives and cutting boards for meat and fish should also be washed thoroughly after each use to prevent bacteria from accumulating.

7.       Taste the food using clean cutlery only. Only try fish, meat, or eggs when they are finished being cooked or fried.

8.       Keep the workplace clean and tidy as soon as you’ve finished a task. Used utensils are best placed directly in the sink and waste disposed of straightaway.

As an adult, you have to be the role model. If you follow these kitchen rules properly, your children will find them easier to follow. To make sure that your child can always see the rules, we have prepared an infographic that you can print out and hang up at home. Your child can always use this to refresh their memory.

For extra safety: kitchen rules for children

Even young children love to help chop vegetables or mix ingredients together for a cake. After all, they watch you in the kitchen every day and feel grownup when they’re allowed to join in. Letting them participate in the kitchen promotes their independence and self-confidence, and also trains their senses and skills.

To ensure that cooking together with your child is fun for everyone and as safe as possible, it’s a good idea for children to follow some extra kitchen rules. These are the most important ones:

  • Caution, hot!: Hot pots and pans, hobs, and ovens must be handled with special care and are taboo for children to use without adult supervision.
  • Sharp knives should only be used under adult supervision.
  • When using a knife, make sure to always cut away from your body using the correct cutting technique.
  • When using a mixer or hand blender, it is best for children to keep their hands well away.
  • No running in the kitchen so as to avoid collisions with hot pans.
  • Pot and pan handles should never be within reach of children – always turn them so they are over the work surface.

Gradually begin to trust your child more

Even if these kitchen rules make the kitchen sound like quite a dangerous place, it is still important for children to be involved in kitchen preparations. This way they develop a positive, healthy relationship with food and feel part of the cooking process. By seeing that your child can adhere to the most important hygiene and safety rules in the kitchen, you can begin to trust them more and more and gradually introduce them to more challenging recipes.

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