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Serious Eats: Talk

Cooking hazards and other unpleasant side effects.

Posted by dhorst, June 11, 2009

I have some friends and family who just don't know why I put up with sneezing (into my arm) and tearing while up cutting onions. They would much rather go out to eat than cook. They don't understand that it relaxes me and I really enjoy cooking--be it grunt prep work or the finishing of a nice dish or hey, the family's favorite--pizza. Yeah I water up with onions, and I cough when I get a little too close to a sauce that is simmering with hot sauce, vinegar or chile flakes. And do not rub your eyes after dicing hot peppers.
These all seem common sense to me.
On the other hand I do have to say that what doesn't seem like second nature, is opening a hot oven and peering in immediately if you happen to be wearing mascara. I don't wear mascara much, but wow. It became glueish in a matter of seconds from the heat given off by the ovens.
More importantly... I have styled wigs of synthentic material for chemo clients and now from experince, warn them that that they should not open a hot oven with the wig on. It will melt or frizzle in the intense blast of heat.
What are your stories?

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