Far too few children, teens and even young adults know their way around the kitchen. Convenience appears to be king, and in some cases people are unable to make the connection between the food they consume and the plant or animal that it came from. If this is something that you want to avoid for your family then you’re in luck, as this guide contains everything that you need to know to start teaching your little ones some of the most important lessons in the kitchen today. So, if you want to show your children how to thrive in the kitchen, then read on to find out more!
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Safety First!
First and foremost, you need to teach your children the importance of kitchen safety. There are so many different risks and dangers that lurk inside the average family kitchen, so you must take the time to show them how to avoid these issues to ensure they can stay safe and out of harm’s way whenever they are preparing or cooking food. Ensure that they understand the risks associated with knives, showing them how to cut, slice and chop in the most effective, safe manner. Next, explain the dangers of the hob and oven, explaining that anything conductive which touches the hob or enters the oven will also become just as hot. Show them how to use oven gloves properly so the risk of severe burns is greatly reduced. Help them to understand that bubbles in liquids mean that it has reached boiling temperature, making the liquid extremely hot. All of these things may seem obvious to you now, but they’re all facts that need to be taught or shown for your children to understand and take them on board.
Ease Them In Gently
When you feel as though they’re ready to start helping you cook in the kitchen, you must take the time to ease them in gently. They likely have no experience in the kitchen whatsoever, and if they make a number of mistakes having been given too many responsibilities then they will no doubt be put off and develop a dislike for cooking. So, start slowly and encourage them to begin their cooking journey by doing something simple like preparing their own packed lunch for school. This will provide them with the chance to make their own meal without having to do too much cooking! If you think they’re ready to progress a little further, then choose a dish you know they will love such as this chicken enchiladas recipe and encourage them to get involved. Provide them with tasks such as chopping vegetables, stirring sauces, and serving up portions, as these are important yet lower risk jobs that they can rarely get too wrong.
Figuring out how to teach your children some of the most important skills in the kitchen has never been so simple when you can take the chance to utilize the brilliant tips and ideas that have been carefully explained above.