BEFORE YOU START: FOOD AND SAFETY

Health and safety in the kitchen

Follow these simple steps to cook safely and learn about food and hygiene in the kitchen.

• Wear a clean apron, tie back long hair and roll up your sleeves.
• Wash your hands with warm soapy water, especially after using the toilet.
• Cover any cuts or sores with a blue plaster.
• Do not handle food if you have a bad cold or are sick.
• Keep pets away from the kitchen area.
• Do not lick your fingers or equipment.
• Use a clean spoon when tasting food, and always wash it after every use
• Wash all raw food such as fruit and vegetables before using them.
• Check Best Before/Use By dates.
• Cut or chop food on a chopping board.
• Wipe down surfaces and chopping boards regularly, cleaning any spills immediately. Use clean dish cloths and tea towels.
• Wrap food waste in newspaper and place in a bin.
• Take your time. Never run in the kitchen area.
• Make sure handles do not stick out over the edge of the hob.
• Wear oven gloves
• Take care with sharp knives.

Following a recipe

A recipe is made up of the following:

• the amount of ingredients you need
• the equipment you need
• a step-by-step set of instructions for making the dish.

Ingredients

• Measure out all the ingredients before starting to make the recipe.
• Use either metric or imperial measurements, not both. Use a set of scales, measuring jug or measuring spoons, as appropriate.

Equipment

• Gather all the equipment before starting to make the recipe.
• If you need the oven, make sure that the shelves are set to the correct height and it is preheated to the right temperature.
• You may need to prepare cake tins or other equipment in advance – check the recipe.

Topics for 11-14 year olds

• Curriculum relevance for 11-14 year olds