Serious question, ever burn your hand on a hot piece you thought was cool?

I kept grabbing finished work too soon and getting blisters. Then I saw how cooks tap a pan to check heat, so I started lightly brushing my knuckle against the steel. If I feel any warmth at all, I leave it alone. No more burns since I made that simple change.

4 comments

4 Comments

parker_dixon122d ago

Smart move copying the cook's tap. I do the same thing but with the back of a finger, since that skin is more sensitive. Works every time.

brookeb582d ago

Yeah, the back of the finger is key. I do something like that at work all the time with cold glassware, just a quick touch to see if it's actually chilled. Same idea here. That split-second check saves you a world of hurt. It's wild how the simple tricks from one job, like cooks tapping a pan, translate so well to another, like not grabbing hot steel. You find yourself doing that quick brush check on other stuff now too, right?

umaf202d ago

Actually the finger pad works better for heat than the back, since it's more sensitive. Parker_dixon12 had it right with that back-of-finger move for checking cold stuff. That slight difference totally matters when you're dealing with a hot surface.

robinw782d ago

Honestly, we all must look ridiculous doing that little hover-and-tap dance. It's like a secret club where the membership fee is paid in minor burns. You just hope no one's watching the first time you learn not to grab the shiny thing.