The kitchen countertop is the most precious piece of property in the house, as it serves as the center of activity where food is prepared, organized, and cooked using kitchen equipment. But having your kitchen countertop as your storage space poses many underlying dangers to your cooking operations. It is important to have strict guidelines on what you keep on your kitchen countertop since having certain elements out can help optimize your operations and protect the health of your loved ones and your equipment.
Raw Meat or Fish
Meat and fish, when raw, have different kinds of harmful bacteria, including Salmonella and E. coli. After placing them on the counter, meat and fish become exposed to the temperature danger zone (5- 60°C). This is where the bacteria will reproduce quickly and contaminate other food and objects in the kitchen.
Cooking Oils Near a Source of Heat
Cooking oils are highly vulnerable to temperature and light changes. The closer cooking oils are placed to a source of heat and light, the higher the rate of oxidation, resulting in the development of bad flavors and a lowering of their nutritional value.
Uncovered Spices
Spices deteriorate in terms of heat and light exposure. When exposed to both heat and light, spices will lose their taste and aroma. Spices placed near sources of heat have a high rate of evaporation of essential oils responsible for giving them flavor.
Important Papers or Letters
Since countertops will definitely come into contact with liquids, oil spills, or food stains, placing important papers on the countertop can result in their permanent loss.
Unsecured Knives
It is hazardous to keep knives carelessly since it increases the chance of injuries. Moreover, it reduces the lifetime of knives because of their quick blunting.
Plastic Containers Close to Heat Sources
Heat causes plastic containers to deform or release chemicals like BPA. Such exposure is not only damaging but also harmful to people’s health.
Openly Kept Potatoes and Onions
Opening and placing them on the countertop will cause the potatoes and onions to spoil rapidly owing to exposure to light in the surrounding environment. In addition, storing them together is another common mistake, whereby onions release ethylene gas that will lead to decay of the potatoes and formation of solanine, which is highly toxic to human beings.
Toxic Chemicals for Cleaning Your House
Household cleaning solutions, such as bleach and chemicals in aerosol form that are stored near your kitchen countertop, pose great danger since you might accidentally swallow them. The chemicals are easily blown onto food and cooking tools by the wind.
Breakable Stemware and Fine China
Storing breakable stemware or fine china on your countertop during meal preparation will put them at high risk of breaking, chipping, and falling from the countertop. Store them in your cabinets or china hutches.
