How to Teach Kids About Cooking and Food Safety (2024)

By

Linda Larsen

Linda Larsen is a journalist, quick-cooking and slow-cooking expert, and accomplished cookbook author with over 30 years of experience in testing and developing recipes.

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Updated on 12/28/22

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How to Teach Kids About Cooking and Food Safety (1)

We think that teaching kids to cook is one of the most valuable things you can do. These are skills they will use for a lifetime. But it does take some time, and some lessons will have to be repeated. Stick with it, and your kids will gain a valuable new skill.

Difficulty: Easy

Time Required: 1 hour

Here's How

  1. The first rule is about Food Safety. Basic rules include: keep your hands clean, wash them often in soapy water, don't lick your fingers while preparing food, separate raw and cooked foods, and cook food to the proper temperature. Be careful about cross-contamination. Don't put cooked foods on platters that held uncooked food. Wash utensils after you use them, and keep uncooked foods away from foods that will not be cooked.
  2. Tie back your hair, make sure you don't have any loose clothing or dangling jewelry. Wear shoes in the kitchen. If you cook barefoot, you risk getting burned with hot mixtures or cut with knives or forks.
  3. Always begin by reading the recipe through completely; be sure you understand the instructions. Gather all your ingredients, utensils, and pans that you need before you start.
  4. Hot mixtures can burn quickly. Use hot pads when removing food from the oven or microwave, and never lick or handle hot food. If you hurt yourself, tell an adult immediately. And have a well-stocked first aid kit in the kitchen at all times.
  5. Be careful with knives. Kitchen knives should be sharp, and which work best. Learn how to work with knives and practice before you start cooking. Don't put knives into the soapy water because someone could reach in and get cut. In the dishwasher, place knives point side down.
  6. If a fire starts, call an adult immediately. NEVER put water on a fire. If the fire is small, throw baking soda on it to smother the flames. If the fire is in a pan, ask an adult to put the lid on the pan to remove oxygen from the fire. If flames are large and leaping, call 911 and leave the house immediately.
  7. Make sure that pot handles are turned away from the front of the stovetop. If they're hanging over the front of the stove, the pot with its hot contents could be knocked onto the floor, and you.
  8. Never taste uncooked food. Unless you are using pasteurized eggs, don't lick the bowl or the mixing spoon. Remember that raw flour can contain pathogenic bacteria too, so don't taste any food with uncooked flour in it. And be careful when tasting hot food. Foods from the oven should cool for at least 10 minutes for entrees and side dishes, 30 minutes for bread, and 20 minutes for cookies. If the recipe says to cool completely before serving, follow that instruction.
  9. When you're done cooking, clean the kitchen. That means wipe up spills, place utensils and bowls in the dishwasher, clean pans, and put ingredients away.
  10. Before you leave the kitchen, make sure all appliances are turned off and are clean. Unplug mixers and food processors. Clean off the stovetop after it has cooled. And wipe down the inside of the microwave with damp paper towels.
  11. Work with your kids at first, then when you're confident they understand the rules of the kitchen, stand back and see them soar!

What You Need

  • Recipe
  • Ingredients
  • Pots and Pans
  • Spoons and Other Utensils
  • Hot Pads
  • Timer
  • Soap and Water
How to Teach Kids About Cooking and Food Safety (2024)

FAQs

How to Teach Kids About Cooking and Food Safety? ›

Here's How. The first rule is about Food Safety. Basic rules include: keep your hands clean, wash them often in soapy water, don't lick your fingers while preparing food, separate raw and cooked foods, and cook food to the proper temperature. Be careful about cross-contamination.

How do you teach kids about food safety? ›

Here's How. The first rule is about Food Safety. Basic rules include: keep your hands clean, wash them often in soapy water, don't lick your fingers while preparing food, separate raw and cooked foods, and cook food to the proper temperature. Be careful about cross-contamination.

How do you introduce food safety? ›

Introduction to HACCP for Food Safety

The store person/kitchen hand/chef – receiving and storing food safely and within the correct time frames and at the right temperatures. The chef preparing the meal – maintaining good personal and kitchen hygiene.

What are the 5 steps to food safety describe? ›

These five simple keys to safe and healthy food are: keep clean, separate raw and cooked, cook thoroughly, keep food at safe temperatures, and use safe water and raw materials. "Following these five keys helps consumers know they are handling foods safely and preventing microbes from multiplying," said Dr.

Why is cooking important to food safety? ›

Thorough cooking is very important because it kills harmful bacteria in food. If bacteria survive in food because it is not cooked properly, it could make your customers ill.

What is the best way to teach children about safety? ›

Reassure your children that their safety is your #1 concern. TEACH your children. Set boundaries about places they may go, people they may see, and things they may do. Reinforce the importance of the “buddy system.” It's OK to say NO – tell your children to trust their instincts.

What are the 4 key steps to food safety? ›

The four basic safe food handling behaviors — clean, separate, cook, and chill — will keep our food safe. Food safety risks at home are common.

What are examples of food safety? ›

Clean: always wash your food, hands, counters, and cooking tools. Wash hands in warm soapy water for at least 20 seconds. Do this before and after touching food. Wash your cutting boards, dishes, forks, spoons, knives, and counter tops with hot soapy water.

What is the first step of a food safety plan? ›

The first step in developing a food safety HACCP plan is conducting a hazard analysis. For each step of food processing, your HACCP team needs to perform a hazard analysis to identify possible biological, chemical and physical hazards.

What is the first step in developing a food safety training program? ›

The first step to develop a food safety training program is to assess your current situation and identify your needs and goals. You can do this by conducting a gap analysis, which is a systematic process of comparing your current performance and practices with the desired standards and outcomes.

What is the danger zone in cooking? ›

Bacteria grow most rapidly in the range of temperatures between 40 °F and 140 °F, doubling in number in as little as 20 minutes. This range of temperatures is often called the "Danger Zone."

What are the golden rules of food safety? ›

Cook raw food thoroughly.

Thorough cooking will kill the pathogens, which means the temperature of all parts of the food must reach at least 70 degree Celsius. Uncooked fruits or vegetables should not be eaten, unless they can be peeled. If milk has not been pasteurized, it should be boiled before use.

What foods are high risk? ›

What are high-risk foods?
  • cooked meat and fish.
  • gravy, stock, sauces and soup.
  • shellfish.
  • dairy products such as milk, cream and soya milk.
  • cooked rice.

What is the best way to prevent poor food safety? ›

Preventing foodborne illness by following these four easy steps: Clean, Separate, Cook and Chill.
  1. Clean: Wash hands and surfaces often.
  2. Separate: Don't cross-contaminate.
  3. Cook: Cook to proper temperatures.
  4. Chill: Refrigerate promptly.

What are the 4 types of food hazards? ›

There are four types of hazards that you need to consider:
  • Microbiological hazards. Microbiological hazards include bacteria, yeasts, moulds, and viruses.
  • Chemical hazards. ...
  • Physical hazards. ...
  • Allergens.

How do you teach children about food and nutrition? ›

10 Good Eating Habits to Teach Kids
  1. Eat breakfast daily. Breakfast is essential for giving children energy and focus. ...
  2. Eat lots of fruits and vegetables. ...
  3. Eat snacks in moderation. ...
  4. Drink plenty of water. ...
  5. Listen to your body's hunger cues. ...
  6. Avoid overeating. ...
  7. Eat meals together as a family. ...
  8. Avoid eating in front of screens.

Why is food safety important for kids? ›

Food contaminated with harmful bacteria and viruses that cause illness spread quickly among children as they share toys, food, toilet facilities, mats, and come in contact with other articles handled by children who are sick or have recently been sick.

What is food safety short summary? ›

Food safety is a scientific discipline describing handling, preparation, and storage of food in ways that prevent food borne. This includes a number of routines that should be followed to avoid potentially severe health hazards. In this way food safety often overlaps with food defense to prevent harm to consumers.

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