This Thanksgiving, minimize cooking disasters and health hazards by following these Thanksgiving safety tips. That way you’ll be able to give thanks that your family is healthy, your food is delicious, and your home is safe.
There’s an old saying that goes “There’s too many cooks in the kitchen.” Reduce accidents by limiting the number of people in your cooking space. Don’t let the kids run around while there’s food on the stove or while dishes are being moved around from the countertops to the table. Rather than have people socialize in the kitchen, designate the living room or dining hall for family conversation.
Before the cooking begins, take preventive steps to make your kitchen a safe zone. Move the fryer away from the wall and free from moisture. Over 4,000 fires happen during Thanksgiving; don’t let it happen to you! Always keep a fire extinguisher under your sink or nearby. Check to ensure that your smoke alarms are working properly just in case. To save energy, unplug any small appliances you likely won’t be using such as a toaster or coffee pot.
To prevent any upset stomachs, handle your turkey with care. Keep your turkey in the freezer up until the day before you cook it. When defrosting, thaw in the refrigerator then keep the turkey under cold water till it is no longer frozen. Change out the water every 30 minutes to eliminate the chance of bacteria build up. Begin cooking the turkey immediately after it has been thawed. Make sure the turkey is cooked at 165 degrees minimum.
Avoid cross contamination by keeping cooked and raw food separate. Always wash with your hands with soap and water after touching raw food and keep your counters clean.
Remember, when serving leftovers, keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold. In most cases, leftovers should be eaten within the next 3 days,
If one of your dinner guests begins to choke on their meal, call 911 if they cannot breathe or cough. Give your guest 5 sharp blows on the back with the heel of your hand to dislodge any food.
To avoid giving your pet a choking hazard, do not feed them any bird bones as they can tear open an animal’s internal organs. Other foods to avoid giving your pet are fatty foods, chocolate, onions, raisins, grapes, rising bread dough, or corn on the cob. It is a good idea to feed your pet before the guests arrive as your dog may become more excitable with people around and eat faster which may lead to choking or bloating.
As long as you practice good judgment, you shouldn’t need to stress too much. Have a happy Thanksgiving!
Have questions? Give us a call!
AZ Insurance Team
480-535-5709
*All policies are a little different and this may not be applicable to your insurance policy, talk to your agent to see what your policy covers.*
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