I feed Steve in the same enclosure, but I do all the rat handling with tongs. The scent gets on them rather than my hands and I don't get my hands close enough for him to strike them.

Consistency seems to be key...actually, for awhile, Steve equated the microwave timer with food. I heated water, then set a timer for how long the food should thaw. He learned that on the day I'm out more than usual, 'ding' means food.