Handy tricks & tools for Xmas baking if you have arthritis

03 Dec Handy tricks & tools for Xmas baking if you have arthritis

Posted at 12:00h in Blog by Melbourne Hand Rehab

It’s time to crack open the Christmas decoration boxes, purchase an advent calendar, and start planning the festivities – because Christmas is coming! As we near the end of the year, the nostalgia sets in about traditions that make Christmas so special.

One of these traditions for me and my family is making a gingerbread house, baking cookies and Christmas pudding. If you share this love for Christmas baking, but your arthritis is making it hard for you to continue this tradition, you’re reading the right blog.

Family making gingerbread house. Handy tricks & tools for Xmas baking if you have arthritis.

Here are some tips and tricks that will come in handy when doing your Xmas baking

Gripping

A difficulty many people with arthritis have when baking is gripping objects. This can range from gripping an electric hand mixer to a jar or a knife. To be able to do this without difficulty here are a few suggestions,

Use a stand mixer as an alternative to gripping and holding an electric mixer when mixing ingredients.
Use cookie cutters that have a hand grip.
Use a non-slip mat or jar opener, whilst opening and closing jars to assist with your grip.

Useful tools - tips for living with arthritis

Cutting objects

The pain and discomfort in your joints might make it difficult to grasp and use a knife when baking. Below are suggestions on how to make it easier for your Xmas baking.

Use tools, such as a food processor to cut and chop ingredients.
Purchase a knife with a larger, rubber handle.
Purchase pre-cut ingredients and cool cold foods down, so they aren’t as hard to cut.

Assistive cutting tools for your xmas baking

A large range of assistive products are available at www.ilcaustralia.org.au

Lifting objects

Often it’s not only difficult to grip an object, but lift it to and from your kitchen counters. Here are some suggestions to make it easier,

Slide the object along the counter.
Portion the recipe when lifting, rather than lifting the whole recipe.
Lighten the load by using pots, containers and bowls that are lightweight.

Conserve Energy

If you have many family members like I do and need to make more than one batch of every recipe, here are some ways to conserve your energy and reduce a flare up.

Plan the amount of baking you need to do before Christmas, and allocate it across a couple of days or weeks, rather than just doing it in one day.
Prepare all the ingredients and take breaks regularly so you don’t have a flare up.
Where you can sit at the kitchen table and do baking, for example ice your delicious cookies whilst seated at the kitchen table!

So there you have it, a few tips to help you get back to and enjoy your Christmas baking. From my family to yours, enjoy creating memories and happy baking!