19 Things You Should Never Do In A Kitchen | HuffPost Life

19 Things You Should Never Do In A Kitchen

Julie R. Thomson— The Huffington Post

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Stuart Minzey via Getty Images

Spilt milk on kitchen floor

The kitchen, a wondrous place full of delicious possibilities, can also be a dangerous one. There are hot surfaces and sharp objects all around, and things can get ugly if one is not careful -- from something as benign as a ruined meal to more serious outcomes like severe burns.

Folks, there are do's and don't's when it comes to proper kitchen etiquette. We found the best reddit thread on the subject that has input from industry chefs and home cooks alike. (Who better to weigh in on the subject than those who are learning from their mistakes?) We fact-checked each brilliant piece of advice listed below, credited to the reddit user who wrote it.

Without further ado, here are things you should never do in the kitchen:

1. Never try to catch a falling knife. Just take a step back. (kirkl3s)

2. Don't add dry flour or cornstarch to hot liquid. It'll cause hard-to-whisk-out clumps. Instead, add dry ingredients such as those to cool liquid first to make a slurry and whisk that into the hot liquid. (ThePrimCrow)

3. Never use wet oven mitts to handle hot pots or pans. Heat tranfers a lot faster through wet cloth than dry ones. (razain86)

4. Don't put a hot glass dish on a wet surface. Or, a hot pan on a glass table. OR, hot liquid into an actual glass. It will shatter, and make a big ol' mess (unless of course it's Pyrex glass -- that's been created to withstand heat). (JimmyL2014)

5. Never serve a dish before you taste it. It will almost always need more salt. (amliebsten)

6. Never forget to wash your hands after chopping a chile. Your eyes will thank you. (magicbullets)

7. Don't confuse baking soda for baking powder. Things won't work out as you hope. While both are leaveners they work in entirely different ways. (Taramonia)

8. Never scrape your knife against a cutting board to move food off of it. It'll dull the blade faster than you can say whoops. (baccus82)

9. Don't use metal utensils on a non-stick pan. It'll ruin the coating on the pan. (Andre_the_Pliant)

10. Never mix water and hot oil. Bad things will happen and you could get seriously burned. (nothesharpest)

11. Don't use a dull knife. It's far more dangerous than the sharpest blade in the world. (Every_Name_Is_Tak3n)

12. Never try to beat eggs whites that have a little yolk in them. It just won't work. Save yourself the time and aggrevation and start over.

13. Don't ignore what salt can do. Salt is what makes food taste good. Learn how and when to use it. (PukasScondor)

14. Don't forget: hot glass looks like cold glass. But they both feel very different. (thesteveinator)

15. Don't stir the rice. (Unless you're making risotto.) Rice should be left to cook undisturbed for best results. (Zeppo_is_Dead)

16. Don't cook bacon naked. Grease jumps. You could get hurt. (someredditorswife)

17. For perfect baking results, use a scale not measuring cups and spoons. It'll guarantee the same results every single time. (Pyroboy5)

18. Do not cut steaks right off the heat. Give them time to rest so they can retain their juices. (yunohavenameiwant)

19. If a fire starts in your oven, don't open the door. Opening it will feed the fire by giving it oxygen only making it worse. Instead, turn off the oven and allow the fire to burn itself out. If it doesn't go out, call 911. (Chasing-Amy)

Also on HuffPost:

10 Foods You Should Always Keep In Your Kitchen

Eggs(01 of29)

Eggs are nature’s perfect food. Packed with protein, satisfying, and super quick and easy to make, a couple of eggs with some toast and greens is the perfect meal, whatever time of day. Eggs can also be used as an excellent source of protein in salads, or as portable snacks when they’re hard-boiled. Huge bonus: eggs have been vindicated of their cholesterol-raising reputation. Most people can safely eat one to two eggs a day with no side effects, so stop throwing the yolks out! (credit:shutterstock)

All-Purpose Whole Wheat Flour (02 of29)

Whole wheat, all-purpose flour can be used in a wide variety of ways. Season it to dredge meat, tofu, and fish before pan-frying them, pull it out when the kids want to bake cookies at 7 p.m. on a weekday evening, or use it in a roux when making macaroni and cheese, or thick sauces. Select the all-purpose type so you can cook and bake with it. (credit:wayneandwax/Flickr)

Greens (03 of29)

Greens are a simple way to get your five to seven servings of vegetables a day. Since a serving of salad is 1 cup, you can easily knock three to four servings off in one meal. Arugula, romaine and spinach make great staples. They can be eaten raw, or sautéed and thrown into pasta, eggs, or used as a side dish sautéed in garlic and olive oil with pine nuts and currants. (credit:Rain Rabbit/Flickr)

Italian tuna (04 of29)

Avoid the white Styrofoam, otherwise known as white tuna in water. It tastes like crap and it’s also super-high in mercury. A tastier, lower-mercury choice is Italian-style tuna, which is canned in olive oil. Make sure it’s skipjack, which is a light variety that’s low in mercury compared to yellowfin or albacore. Italian tuna needs little to no mayonnaise (unlike Styrofoam, which needs about a gallon to make it palatable), and it’s a lot more than just sandwich filling. It can be added to pasta, salads, or macaroni and cheese. (credit:shutterstock)

Greek yogurt (05 of29)

Filling and delicious, Greek yogurt will satisfy you with its high protein content, and its thick texture. Get the 2% kind so you get a bit of fat with your yogurt. Greek yogurt can also be added to smoothies, or to hot oatmeal for a protein boost. You can bake with it, make dips and marinades with it, and eat it on baked potatoes instead of sour cream. Entire Greek yogurt cookbooks have been written, making it easier to find a recipe you’ll love. (credit:Veganbaking.net/Flickr)

Prepared Proteins(06 of29)

If you don’t batch cook, you should really start. It’s the only way to ensure you’ve got prepared, home-cooked food in your kitchen during the week. Otherwise, you’ll find yourself scrambling after working all day, or while you’re trying to pack your lunch. A tray of chicken breasts, a pork loin, a batch of marinated tofu, some chipotle black beans with maple syrup. If you cook off two of these, you’ll eat happy for at least three to four days, without the stress or resorting to processed or restaurant food. (credit:lynn.gardner/Flickr)

Frozen Fruit (07 of29)

Frozen fruit can be picked locally and frozen, and retains its nutrients because it’s not sitting on a truck all the way up from Florida or Mexico. It’s frozen at the peak of ripeness, right where it’s picked. It doesn’t go bad , and is perfect for adding to yogurt, smoothies, oatmeal, baking, and even a sauce for chicken. (credit:Pawel Pacholec/Flickr)

Coconut Milk(08 of29)

Coconut milk should be a staple in your pantry, use it along with lime to marinate fish, in oatmeal to add flavour, or in your baked goods. You can even add it to smoothies, curries, and as a non-dairy milk alternative in recipes. (credit:John Revo Puno/Flickr)

Mini Chocolate Chips (09 of29)

Semi-sweet mini chocolate chips add big flavour to pancakes, trail mix, and cookies. A tablespoonful of them when you’re craving something sweet does the trick. You can even melt them over low heat to make a fondue dip for fruit. (credit:{-Maria-}/Flickr)

Garlic And Onion(10 of29)

Do you really have to ask? Use them for everything savoury. (credit:highboom/Flickr)

NEXT: New Uses For Pantry Staples(11 of29)

Coffee(12 of29)

As much as ants love sweet things, they hate coffee. Its scent is too strong and repels them. If there is a place in your kitchen where you have an ant problem, try sprinkling some coffee grounds to deal with your pest problem.From "5 Uses For Coffee" (credit:Shutterstock)

Coffee(13 of29)

When you have to get rid of the grinds from your coffee maker, don't think of it as garbage. Instead, think of it as fertilizer. The coffee grounds are chock full of nutrients that will help your plants grow. (credit:Shutterstock)

Coffee(14 of29)

Whether that Craigslist find was owned by a smoker, or your gym bag left a lasting impression before it went to the washing machine, we all find ourselves with a stinky situation sooner or later. In those cases, reach for coffee grounds. Place the spent grounds in a bowl near the odor source. This has proven so effective, coffee grounds are even being used to take the stench out of sewage. (credit:Shutterstock)

Vinegar(15 of29)

Do you have light traffic stains on your carpet? Before you go to the store and invest in some heavy duty spot cleaners, try mixing one part vinegar to one part water. Liberally douse the area with the solution and blot with a wash rag. This will help take care of some of the milder stains. (credit:Shutterstock)

Vinegar(16 of29)

A wooden cutting board can be hard to clean, as you don't want to warp the surface or fear that a conventional spray cleaner left chemicals lurking. Instead, fill a spray bottle with one part water and one part vinegar. Spray down the cutting board and wipe it off with a paper towel. No warping, no weird chemicals, no germs. (credit:Getty)

Cornstarch(17 of29)

Did someone get a greasy stain on your wallpaper? Not a problem with cornstarch. Add two tablespoons of cornstarch to two tablespoons of water so it makes a pasty consistency. Rub this over the spot, and it will extract the grease from stain. Just try this on a hidden part of your wallpaper to make sure it doesn't cause any problems. (credit:Credit: Theresa/Flickr)

Baking Soda(18 of29)

You can add baking soda to your wash to not only serve as a fabric softener, but also as a deodorizer. Just pour one-quarter to half a cup of baking soda in the wash as you add your detergent. Learn more from our story on 5 Uses For Baking Soda. (credit:Shutterstock)

Baking Soda(19 of29)

You can polish brass door knobs or window latches with baking soda. Its slightly gritty consistency helps wipe away gunk, but is still safe enough to not scratch the metal. (credit:Shutterstock)

Baking Soda(20 of29)

Remember in elementary school when you would make a volcano-like explosion by pouring vinegar on baking soda? You can use this same science fair trick as an environmentally-friendly drain cleaner. Pour half a cup of baking soda down the drain, followed by cup of vinegar. This helps loosen any debris or clogs. After ten minutes, flush the drain with a pot of boiling water to finish breaking up the clog. (credit:Shutterstock)

Olive (Or Vegetable) Oil (21 of29)

Gardeners take note: You can use olive or vegetable oil to prevent dirt from clumping on your tools. Just coat with a light slick of oil (in a pinch, use cooking spray). You can also use this trick on your lawnmower blades. (credit:Shutterstock)

Cooking Oil(22 of29)

Does the lock on your front door never want to give up your house key? Try wiping your key down with some vegetable oil. It acts as a lubricant, helping the key to get into the lock more freely. (credit:Shutterstock)

Sugar(23 of29)

A classic tip for keeping a bouquet lasting as long as possible, but for a good reason: It works. Add three tablespoons of sugar along with two tablespoons of vinegar to the water in your flower vase. The sugar provides nutrients to keep the clippings alive, while the vinegar fights off bacterial infections. (credit:Shutterstock)

Sugar(24 of29)

Got grass stains? You won't for long, thanks to sugar. Make a thick mixture of sugar and a few drops of water, then work into the stain. Let sit for up to 30 minutes, then wash as usual. (credit:Shutterstock)

Rice(25 of29)

Tired of your coffee grinder being covered with coffee dust and grease? Rice to the rescue! Just run some rice through the cofee grinder and it'll remove the build up. (credit:Shutterstock)

Rice(26 of29)

Ever get your cell phone wet? Or accidentally spill a large glass of soda on your television remote? Before you replace that gadget, try leaving it in a tub (or plastic bag) of rice for a couple of hours or overnight. (credit:Shutterstock)

Rice(27 of29)

Pour a little bit into narrow-necked bottles to remove any lingering dirt. (credit:Shutterstock)

Ketchup(28 of29)

This may technically go into the fridge, but we often store new (unopened) ketchup bottles in the pantry until BBQ time. Or, until we need this tip: Use ketchup to clean tarnished copper. Just dab it on a rag, wipe the surface, then rinse. Check out our story on "How To Clean Tarnished Copper." (credit:Shutterstock)

Peanut Butter(29 of29)

Use this sandwich staple to remove gum from the bottom of your shoes (or anywhere it shouldn't be). Cover the gum with peanut butter, let it sit for 10 minutes, then scrape with a wire brush. Learn more from our story on "How To Remove Gum From Shoes With Peanut Butter." (credit:Shutterstock)

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