The kitchen might well be the heart of the home, but it can also be a danger zone. From careless knife handling to improper food storage, there are a number of easily avoidable mistakes that people commonly make in the kitchen, many of which can lead to injuries or illnesses. Here we reveal the 37 most common dangerous kitchen errors – counting down to the most serious of all – and offer practical tips on how to avoid them.

Click or scroll through our gallery to discover the dangerous kitchen mistakes most people make all the time.

The following information and advice has been sourced from reputable organizations, including the British Food Standards Agency, the US National Fire Protection Association, the North Wales Fire and Rescue Service, and the US Consumer Product Safety Commission.

37 dangerous mistakes everyone makes in the kitchen