Kitchen Tools Simplify Cooking for Those With Arthritis 05/01/03

May is National Arthritis Month
Kitchen Tools Simplify Cooking for Those With Arthritis

MANHATTAN, Kan. – People who suffer pain or a loss of mobility or dexterity because of arthritis can experience difficulty performing what once seemed like simple tasks – opening a jar or chopping vegetables – in the kitchen, said Mary Meck Higgins, K-State Research and Extension nutrition specialist.

Arthritis is often associated with aging, but it can affect people at any age. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that as many as 70 million people suffer from arthritis.

There is good news, though. Food companies, kitchen and equipment manufacturers continue to develop new, easy-to-use product packaging and kitchen tools.

Turn down the heat: Arthritis sufferers are encouraged to set their water heater thermostat at 120 degrees to soothe, rather than risk burns from water that is too hot.

– Mary Meck Higgins, K-State Research and Extension

People who are suffering from arthritis or other conditions – such as tendonitis – that may limit their ability in the kitchen, can benefit from new assistive devices and technologies. Almost everyone can, in fact, benefit from products that place less stress on joints and extremities, Higgins said.

When choosing new kitchen equipment or replacing utensils and small appliances, the nutrition educator offers these tips:

* Look for utensils that have easy-to-grip, non-slip handles. The easy-grip handles are larger – or bulkier – but the added size makes them easier to hold.

For essential tasks, such as cutting, consider a rocker-style cutter or rolling pizza cutter that also can relieve stress on joints. Utensils with handles at 90 degrees may seem awkward at first, but they, too, can relieve stress on joints, Higgins said.

* Opt for durable, yet lightweight pans with chubby, easy-grip handles on both sides of the pan.

For cooks who have a favorite pan such as a heavier cast-iron skillet that they just cannot part with, Higgins suggested choosing mitt-like potholders for both hands.

“Protecting both hands will allow a cook to steady a skillet or other single-handled pan while removing it from a cooking surface,” Higgins said.

* Choose baking pans with handles. For example, a cookie sheet with a grip-style handle on each end is easier to hold than rim- or handleless versions.

* Invest in a jar opener that can be mounted on the underside of an upper cabinet, making opening jars easier. Once a hard-to-open package is open, Higgins also suggests transferring the contents that will not be used immediately to easy-open containers.

* Invest also in a non-skid mat to place under cutting boards and mixing bowls to prevent them from slipping.

* Consider small appliances that can complete some cooking and baking steps. If kneading bread by hand is no longer feasible because of pain, consider a mixer with a dough hook or bread machine that will bake the bread, too.

Replacing kitchen equipment gradually can spread out the expense, the nutrition educator said.

Arthritis sufferers and others who are struggling with reduced mobility or dexterity also may benefit from replacing kitchen cabinet handles with lever-like openers, similar to newer, lever-style door handles. The same is true for kitchen and other water faucets, she said.

For more information on selecting kitchen equipment, cooking and meal planning tips, interested persons may contact the local K-State Research and Extension office. For additional information on learning to manage arthritis successfully, interested persons may contact their health care professional and the Kansas Chapter of the Arthritis Foundation at 316-263-0116 or, if outside the Wichita area, 800-362-1108.

K-State Research and Extension is a short name for the Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service, a program designed to generate and distribute useful knowledge for the well-being of Kansans. Supported by county, state, federal and private funds, the program has county Extension offices, experiment fields, area Extension offices and regional research centers statewide. Its headquarters is on the K-State campus, Manhattan.