It is a well known fact that food generally needs to be washed before cooking. There are, however, some exceptions to this rule. Playtech News explains in the lines below why you should not wash chicken meat before cooking it. You can expose your entire family to significant danger. Here’s what this is about!
Here’s why you shouldn’t wash chicken before cooking it!
It is no longer news that, as a rule, the food we cook or eat must be washed very well. However, in some cases, it is not recommended to resort to the procedure for the reason. It can be about increasing the risk of the food becoming dangerous or losing the flavor of its taste.
Chicken is one such example. Specialists from the Department of Agriculture of the United States of America do not recommend washing it before cooking. The main reason has to do with the phenomenon of cross-contamination. This refers to the fact that bacteria present on raw chicken spreads to other surfaces in the kitchen, such as counters, utensils and the sink, which can increase the risk of developing foodborne illness.
Most of the time, foodborne illnesses are caused by bacteria such as Salmonella or Campylobacter. If you want to avoid exposing your family to such a risk, experts recommend not washing chicken meat before cooking it. The bacteria present on the raw piece of meat will be automatically destroyed during the cooking process.
Washing chicken is not an effective way to remove bacteria. When you rinse the chicken under water, it can splash and spread bacteria into the surrounding area, making it harder to control their spread.
Warning from experts at the Department of Agriculture
“Even when consumers think they have cleaned the sink effectively after washing poultry, studies show that bacteria can easily spread to other surfaces and foods,” explained the Assistant Secretary of the United States Department of Agriculture.
On another note, modern food production and handling practices have significantly improved safety standards, including for chicken. As a rule, before being exposed for sale, it is inspected by specialists and processed according to strict guidelines. All to minimize the presence of harmful bacteria.
Read also: What is in the chicken meat from Lidl, Kaufland or Carrefour. Don’t buy it if it says this on the label!
To ensure that the bacteria present on raw chicken meat does not spread, it is important to keep a few things in mind. Keep the chicken in the refrigerator before cooking it and don’t forget to wash your hands very well before handling it.
