A Tip to Minimize Kitchen Stress

Do you have a small army of little helpers in your kitchen? If your home is anything like mine, there are probably plenty of eager hands ready to assist when preparing meals. Cooking with your twins or more is a lot of fun, but it requires a parent’s full attention. Turn your back to stir a pot on the stove, and you’ll need eyes in the back of your head to make sure little hands do not reach out for a sharp knife or a just-opened can sitting nearby. Opened can lids can be quite sharp and could cut curious fingers. The first time I administered sutures as a medical student was stitching up the finger of a patient who accidentally sliced herself opening a can of tuna; I have been extra-aware of the risks of opening a can ever since.

The traditional can opener has had a recent improvement that eliminates some child safety stress in the kitchen– the “no sharp edge” can opener. I had heard about these newfangled gadgets a while back, but it seemed wasteful to buy a tool that we already have in our kitchen drawer. However, this week we purchased and used our new fancy-pants can opener, and I regret not having made the switch sooner! Not only are the edges on the can and lid smooth, the process is more sanitary– the lid is removed, instead of punctured open. There are a variety of manufacturers and prices; you can enter “can opener- no sharp edges” in your internet search engine to get an idea of the ranges.

The holidays are coming up fast, and if you enjoy spending time cooking with your little ones, think about making an investment in a “no sharp edge” can opener. You’ll have one less thing to worry about when cooking with, and for, a crowd.