This post is also available in: 
Italian
Spanish
French
Many of our daily habits we have may not look dangerous, but they potentially are. Scared? You should be, as our homes are more dangerous than we think. With a bit of awareness however, consideration and wisdom, you can avoid most of the dangers you might face.
Don’t put water in the frying pan
Frying the perfect dish is an art, and like all the arts alike, it can be mastered only through practice. If during your journey to the perfect fried dish suddenly the oil takes fire (yes, that can happen) DON’T try to extinguish the fire using water!
Oil and water do not mix together, and throwing cold water on the frying pan will only make the pan spatter oil and fire around the kitchen. This might cause serious burnings to the cook or even burn down the kitchen.
The best thing to do is turn down the heat under the pan and cover it with a metal lid (remember that a glass lid may shatter). With the lid on, the fire will consume all the oxygen inside the pan and shut itself off.
Don’t refreeze things that have already been defrosted
Freezing food doesn’t kill bacteria; it only makes them “dormant”. When food is defrosted, the bacteria wakes up and starts to proliferate again. The more you frost and defrost food, the more bacteria you’ll find in your food. It’s as easy as this.
Beware of the hob
Be careful when you cook, don’t leave the hob on after you finish. Above all if you also forget a pot on it. If the pot is full, you will burn the content. If the pot is empty, you will overheat it. Burn and overheating are never good. In the best scenario, you find the kitchen full of smoke and unpleasantly smelling.
And never boil an empty kettle: even if modern electric device safely switch off if they overheat, it can become dangerously hot nonetheless. And for sure overheat a kettle will not help you to have a long living device.
Wash your dishes (and pans, and lids, and chopping boards…)
If you share your house, washing your dishes carefully is not only a sign of respect for the other tenants: it’s also a matter of hygiene.
Leftovers stuck to crockery can develop bacteria that can cause various degree of food poisoning. Not only plates, pans and crockery; you need to wash also lids and chopping boards, even if they look like clean – especially if you chopped raw meat or cover some grease food.
Dry the floor after your shower
Again, not just a matter of respect, it is also about safety. Wet floors are slippery, and even if you manage to not fall, you can injure yourself.
Don’t charge your device on your bed
Electronic devices such as phones can become really hot when charging. Don’t believe us?
Check this out
Speaking of electronics: please don’t use a device if it has a damaged cable. Damaged cable can give you shocks and even start a fire.
Lock your door
Even if you live in a quiet area, locking the door is always a good idea. It’s better to have someone ringing at the door than find a complete stranger in your dining room.
