Kitchen perils demand a first aid kit

Most chefs have scars that tell of kitchen mishaps: burns, cuts, and abrasions are a job hazard. Home cooks face these same perils and most of us also have physical reminders of injuries that occurred at the cutting board, cooktop, or oven. When I was in college, I worked at a pizza place and for the longest time I had a comet-shaped scar on my wrist from a deck oven burn. I have smaller scars as well: one at the base of my thumb from a mandoline injury and a few forearm burns from my home oven. You would think that I’d have band-aids or burn cream in the kitchen for such incidents, but I don’t (there is, however, a fire extinguisher). However, Jaya Saxena’s recent article in Eater reminded me that I should make room for a first aid kit in my kitchen.

Saxena spoke with restaurant chefs on what they recommend since they are cooking all day, every day. Eric Huang (formerly of Eleven Madison Park in NYC), recommends having an aloe vera plant because they are hardy and therefore become a never-ending source of ointment to soothe burns. If you do burn yourself, don’t run cold water over the burn, because it can decrease blood flow to the area, worsening the injury.

Alyse Whitney recommends always handling pot handles with kitchen towels, even when they aren’t hot. That way you build muscle memory so you don’t forget that the cast-iron skillet you took out of the oven five minutes ago is still hot (BTDT). I have slip on handle covers that I use when I take the pan out of the oven so even if I forget, my hands are protected.

Knowing which recipes have the potential for the most mishaps is also key. If you are going to deep fry, for instance, make sure you leave enough room in the pot for the oil to bubble up – never fill it more than halfway – and don’t plan any other activities that could take your attention away from the task at hand. Investing in a non-slip mat is also a good idea, to keep you from slipping on a spill. I used to put a protective coating on my floor that makes it have a gorgeous sheen – at least until I slipped on some water and banged up my elbow. Now it gets a more matte finish.