Cooking Safety (aka Common Sense)

I guess I'll be making a series of non cooking posts while I am away from my dorm and before I can take pictures. So in my college according to the handbook we are allowed to cook things with microwave and a hot pot along with various other applicances that don't have open coils or deep fry things. Of course this hasn't stopped my friends from saying they would hunt me down if a fire alarm ever went off. In most dorms they do have communal kitchens where you are probably more versed in safety. But when it comes to dorm cooking you have to be cautious of new dangers and new risks. Whether it be handling a knife and raw food, or making sure the room doesn't get too warm and set off the sprinklers with the steam. (yes this has happened)

Here are some things I have employed to prevent fire hazards:

1. Always cook on a clean surface away from random paper or other material that could catch fire. If anything I usually cook with a towel underneath the hotpot to prevent it from moving on the sleek surface near my window.
2. Cook near the window or away from the fire alarm. In my old dorm at NCSU some of the sprinklers would be set off by something as simple as the showers steaming up too much. So often times I would crack a door or a window to allow ventilation in the room. In my new dorm there is a nice wide ledge near the window that I use to cook on. It is opposite of the fire alarm and allows me to crack the window for the ventilation I need.
3. NEVER LEAVE COOKING UNATTENDED- Self explanatory and a sorta duh moment, but its actually one of the number one things college students tend to overlook. And with Dorm cooking being the cause of 70% fire alerts in college. We want to be extra safe by not taking that chance. 
4. Unplug cooking appliances after use, some of them like my lovely hot pot wont turn off if you just put it on low. So best thing to do is to just unplug it after you are done cooking. Also follow all the instructions.
5. As much as we don't want to admit or think that things could possibly go wrong, we still have to be prepared. Have some water on hand and even baking soda to help combat dorm fires. 

So this brings me to my second category,  Food cleanlieness. This is a little more simplier alot more common sense.

1. Always clean up your area and dishes as soon as you can. Wash in warm water and soap
2. Don't eat anything that might seem spoiled. 
3. Wash your hands before and after prepping food and after you handle raw meat to avoid cross contamination. This means utensils and cutting boards, etc. before switching foods (meat to veggies or vv)
4. And from a wise friend of mine:  "Try not to cook in bare feet - hot spills or dropped pans/heavy objects can hurt like a mofo":)

So this concludes what i have to say about Dorm Cooking Safety. I may have forgotten some elements but if I have just remind me or comment below.

~Thanks!