Even if you think you know how to use a knife and you’ve been using a knife for years, there’s always a chance that you could get careless or unlucky and cut yourself. However, the more you know about how to safely use a knife, the less likely you are to get a cut so bad that it requires medical help. So to help you get to this point with your knife use, here are three knife safety tips to help keep you out of the emergency room.
Know Which Knife To Use
One of the first things that you should know about knives in order to keep yourself safe when using them is to know which knife to use in which situation.
If you’re having a younger child or an older adult in a senior living facility cook with you, you may want to give them a safety or child’s knife so that the chances of them getting cut are reduced. But if you’re going to be using a knife yourself in the kitchen, you’ll just want to make sure that you’re using the best knife for whatever you’re planning to be cutting or chopping. Use a knife that’s too big and you could risk getting cut. Use a knife that’s too small and you could also risk getting cut. So to give yourself the best chance at being safe, you’ll want to vary the knives you use based on what you’re trying to accomplish with them.
Keep Your Fingers Curled
When you’re using a knife to cut or chop something, the hand that isn’t holding the knife is going to be the one that’s holding the food item. Usually, this opposite hand is the one that’s most likely to get cut when using a knife. But there are things that you can do to help keep this from happening.
One of the best things you can do is learn how to keep the fingers on your hand curled under so that the knife moves closest to your knuckles and not over your fingertips. This can help to keep your fingertips from getting in the way as the knife moves downward.
Learn How To Move The Knife And Your Hands
As you’re using a knife, it’s when the knife and your opposite hand are in motion when the risk of getting cut is at the highest. Because of this, you’ll need to learn and practice how to move your knife and your hands in safe ways.
With your knife, you can use it in a chopping motion and rock it back and forth to cut things. As you do either of these motions, you’ll want to make sure that you’re holding what you’re cutting firmly with your opposite hand while also keeping your fingers out of the way by moving them along the food item little by little as you cut.
If you don’t want to end up in the emergency room while you’re trying to prepare a meal, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you hone your knife skills.
