When should you wash your hands -This is #1 in my Jr. Chef Safety Series

When should you wash your hands is always discussed before we ever begin cooking at Jr. Chef Camp. Let’s discuss why washing your hands while cooking matters so much. Of course, whether you’re cooking at home or at a friend’s house, keeping those hands clean is super important. After all, making sure everyone’s food is safe and yummy is a big responsibility. If you have ever gotten sick from eating something that was not safe, you know exactly what I’m talking about. You can click this link for more information about what can happen if you don’t wash your hands.

Why is handwashing so crucial? Well, think about it. Our hands are constantly in contact with various surfaces, from doorknobs and countertops to smartphones and utensils. Hands pick up invisible germs and bacteria that, if transferred to food, can cause illness and that is a bummer for everyone involved. In other words, the reasons we have rules in the kitchen are clear: it’s all about making sure we keep everyone who eats our food safe.

Here are 10 rules for hand washing all chefs know:

1. Always before touching anything used to prepare food, such as knives, bowls, cutting boards, or measuring spoons.
2. Wash your hands before touching food that will not be cooked, like when you’re making a salad or a sandwich.
3. Before and after handling raw meat, fish, and poultry.
4. After you handle trash or take out garbage.
5. Wash your hands whenever you pick anything up off the floor. Remember, you wouldn’t eat directly off the floor, so let’s keep anything from the floor out of your food.
6. Without exception, after using the bathroom
7. Whenever you pick up dirty dishes or anything with mold on it
8. Always wash after you taste or eat anything with your fingers
9. Wash your hands whenever you touch a phone, a pet, a door handle or money.
10. Wash your hands after you blow your nose, cough, sneeze, touch a cut or burn.

Now that you know when to bust out the hand soap, let’s make you a handwashing pro by reviewing the following:

Five steps your need to do when washing your hands:

1. Wet your hands: Use clean, running water to wet your hands. Make sure your hands get all wet and soapy!
2. Soap it up: Put some soap on your hands. You can use liquid soap or bar soap – whichever you like best!
3. Scrub, scrub, scrub!: Rub your hands together and scrub everywhere – don’t forget between your fingers, under your nails, and the backs of your hands. Sing the “Happy Birthday” song twice to make sure you’re scrubbing long enough!
4. Rinse away: Rinse off all the soap with clean, running water. Wave bye-bye to the soap suds!
5. Dry off: Grab a clean towel and dry your hands completely. Now your hands are clean and ready to go!

I know it might seem like chefs spend a lot of time washing their hands. You might even wonder how we have any time left to actually cook! But here’s the thing: creating great food is a process that requires time and care. Ensuring that it’s not only delicious but also safe to eat is part of my responsibility as the chef.

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At Artful Chefs, we’re all about cultivating a love for the culinary arts in kids. More importantly, I believe that we are teaching valuable life skills. During classes and parties, Jr. Chefs discover the benefits of working together, the satisfaction of sharing fun experiences, and the excitement of celebrating a job well done.