style="font-size:15px;"> it and mix it together, and blast it with heat, transforming it into dishesyou drool over. But if you don’t know how to use them, or if you’re not
careful with them, some can hurt you. So read the rules before you
touch the tools.
Rule #1 Cook with an adult. Always. And
learn how to handle sharp stuff, hot stuff,
and raw stuff before you get started.
Begin by taking a kitchen tour with an
adult. Learn what your appliances do.
Practice turning them on and off. Ask
about the different settings. What’s
“purée” on the blender? What’s “power
level” on the microwave? What does
“broil” mean on the oven?
And find out how to use a
kitchen timer so the buzzer
can remind you when some-
thing is ready.
Tip
Your kitchen counters
may be too high for
comfortable cooking.
A sturdy stepstool can
bring you up to the
right level.
Rule #2 Dress up—up and away
from stove tops and counters, that
is. Dangling hair, clothes, and jewelry
can catch fire or get caught in appli-
ances. Keep everything rolled up,
tied back, and tucked away. If you
wear an apron, make sure it’s snug
and fastened behind your back. And
wear closed shoes. Bare toes are tar-
gets for hot sauces and heavy pans.
Rule #3 Stay focused
on the task at hand. If
your attention wanders,
you might end up
saying, “What’s that
burning smell?” Or
worse, “OUCH!”
Tip
An apron isn’t necessary
for safety, but it does help
you stay clean. If you wear
one, you can focus on food—
instead of the stain you
just got on your
favorite shirt!
Rule #4 Keep clean. The first thing to
do every time you cook is wash your
hands with soap. The last thing is wash
the dishes—and your hands again. In
between, be careful to keep raw meat
and eggs away from other foods so
that germs don’t spread. Always wash
your hands after touching them—and
countertops and any tools, too. (Tap
Keeping It Clean to learn more.)
Rule #5 Be cool. Hot
stove tops, ovens, and
microwaves can burn you,
even if they don’t look hot.
Handle hot stuff only with
an adult’s permission and
only with that adult stand-
ing right there with you.
Rule #6 Be patient. A
watched pot never boils, they
say. More important, you’re
more likely to hurt yourself
if you’re in a rush. So take all
the time it takes, and make a
pledge: “I solemnly promise, no
cutting corners with safety!”
Rule #7 Stay sharp. Don’t pick
up a knife unless you have an
adult with you AND you know
how to handle it safely. (Tap
Handling Knives to learn more.)
pots & pans
Pots and pans come in all shapes and sizes. Like Goldilocks, you want to
pick the right one—not too big, not too small, but juuust right.
Also called a frying pan, a skillet is a shallow pan used to cook foods
on the stove top. Some have nonstick coatings. Some have sloped sides,
