Don't get the chop: be safe when preparing fruit and veg

Mums cook up to three dinners a night

14th Jun 2012

We all know that getting our five a day is important for good health.

After all, fruit and veg contain essential vitamins and nutrients, not to mention that all-important fibre!

And while peeling carrots, tearing apart salad leaves and biting into a juicy apple might be simple enough to figure out, there are a few fruits and veg that can be a bit more intimidating if you've never prepared them before.

In fact, a survey from Just-Eat.co.uk revealed that 88 per cent of Brits have injured themselves in the kitchen - and 67 per cent of those injuries were the result of preparing a vegetable.

Topping the list of most dangerous veggies are pumpkins, swedes and butternut squash - three delicious foods that are wonderful additions to soups, stews and roasts.

According to the research, around 40 per cent of the injuries were said to have occurred because the vegetable was difficult to cut. However, another 37 per cent admitted that their accident was due to them trying to emulate the veg chopping habits of their favourite celebrity chefs.

So how do you avoid such mishaps in the kitchen?

Public health advisor at the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, Sheila Merrill, explained: "Good preparation is crucial when it comes to preventing kitchen accidents such as severe cuts, so make sure your knives are sharp and in a good condition, use a vegetable peeler where appropriate and do not rush chopping."

It might sound strange that a sharp knife is safer than a dull one - but a good blade will easily slice through even the most stubborn of root vegetables or squash, while dull knives could get stuck or require you to use more force, thus creating a potentially dangerous situation.

And before you tie on your PVC apron and start chopping away on a difficult vegetable, be sure you know what the best preparation method is.

Butternut squash, for example, should first be cut in half cross-wise to create a tall slender piece and a squat, round piece. You can then slice these length-wise and scoop out the seeds with a spoon. Finally, remove the skin with a peeler and chop the flesh into the size you need.

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