Whether you prepare food every day or occasionally, several kinds of mishaps can happen anytime. For example, while using a mixer grinder to make chutney or a puree, the ingredients may spill out, or while working near the gas stove, you may touch something hot and get burns.
But the most common type of mishap that can happen in the kitchen is getting injured while chopping vegetables. Cutting veggies and fruits is a common kitchen task that you may do every day; it is nearly impossible to avoid this as using veggies is an integral part of the cooking process, and you cannot use or cook the whole vegetables.
Getting cuts can cause severe pain and loss of blood. It the cut is too deep; the pain can last a long time. Not to mention, you would need immediate medical help. While kitchen mishaps during chopping are unfortunate, you can prevent them or at least reduce the impact of the injury by using knowing the right chopping techniques and safety tips.
Using kitchen knives for chopping vegetables and fruit requires you to take appropriate precautions not only while you are cutting and slicing the ingredients but also before and after you use them. Here is a quick list of tips on how to chop vegetables fast safely and avoid kitchen mishaps. So, let’s get started.
Use the right kind of knife
One of the simplest and most effective ways to use knife correctly to avoid kitchen mishap while chopping is to use the right kind of knife. You may probably not need a big knife to cut a cut a cucumber or slice a strawberry; you can use a small utility knife for it. Whereas, if you want to slice a bread loaf or cut a pizza, you may need a serrated knife. The serration on blade help you slick through the bread easily without squishing the bread or sliding off the table.
Use a sharp knife
Many people believe that using a dull knife that has no sharp edges like a butter knife is a safe and they can avoid the cuts. But, using a dull knife would mean you would have to use a lot of force or you may have to push down the knife a lot harder on the ingredients. This increases the risk of the knife slipping from your hand and you or someone around may get injured.
So, to avoid this risk, it is better to always use a sharp knife. It allows you to cut with minimal effort and smoothly. Also, using a sharper knife allows you to have more control over the knife movement and you can avoid cuts and injuries.
Secure the cutting board firmly
A common cause of kitchen mishaps during chopping vegetables the slipping of the chopping or cutting boards. If your chopping board slips or slides while cutting veggies, and fruits, over your countertop, it is better to place some cloth or mat beneath the board so that it does not skid.
Using the board on a slippery surface can cause the knife to slip and increase the risk of injuries.
While chopping focus on only the task at hand
When you are using knives to chop or slice vegetables and fruits, keep all your attention focused only at the job at hand and keep your head down. If you get distracted or try to multitask, you may not focus on the knife and you may end up getting injured. In worst case, you may get a deep cut.
Never wave the knife in the air
As mentioned, you must use the knife with great caution not just while chopping and cutting but also before and after you use them. Never try to talk while chopping veggies and holding the knife in your hand.
If you want to do anything other than chopping or want to talk to someone while chopping, place the knife down in a way that it does not fall. And if does fall, avoid trying to catch in the air as it may cause cuts and injuries.
Store the knives safely
Just as it important to use the knife correctly and use proper chopping techniques, it is equally critical to store the knives safely to avoid kitchen mishaps. After you finish using the knife, make sure that you securely place it back in the knife block or in the kitchen drawer. If you have a limited storage space, you can consider buying a magnetic knife storage strip and mount them on the walls.
These strips don’t take too much space and ensure that the knives are kept safe. If you have children at home, use a blade protector for additional safety.
Use a vegetable chopper
Another effective way to avoid kitchen mishaps while chopping is to ditch the knives completely and use a vegetable chopper instead. It is an incredible kitchen appliance that can help you save you a lot of time and energy in chopping and cutting vegetables, and finish the job a lot faster and with utmost precision.
There are two types of vegetable choppers – a manual vegetable chopper and an electric chopper. A manual chopper, as the name says it all, is operated by hand. It looks like similar to a mixer grinder jar with blades inside it. You put the ingredients you want to chop or dice inside it, close the lid, and pull a string back and forth to chop the veggies. The pull mechanism of the manual chopper is quite smooth, and you can cut and chop the vegetable for your salad, curry or soup within a few minutes.
An electric chopper functions same like a manual chopper but it has an electric motor, which allows faster cutting and chopping, and also you get the cuts of the same size and thickness as you like.
Since both manual and electric chopper does not expose you to sharp blades, they are completely safe to use and there is zero risk of any kitchen mishap.
Get the best chopper from Wipro Appliances
Now that you know how to use vegetable chopper, you can consider buying a manual chopper like the Vesta FC 102 Vegetable Chopper or an electric chopper like the Vesta Electric Chopper 300-Watt DC Motor models offered by Wipro Appliances.
A manual chopper could be an ideal choice if you are looking for a basic chopper and you cook food for a small family of 2-3 members. In contrast, if you live a joint family with more than 5 members, you may have to cut and chop a large quantity of veggies. But you can save yourself a lot of time by investing an electric chopper.
It has a powerful motor, and robust set of blades that can make chopping a quick and easy task for you.
