What You Need To Know To Enjoy Chinese Hot Pot Safely

Hot pot isn't just a meal; it's a communal dining experience. Consisting of a central pot of piping hot soup or broth, diners are encouraged to select various ingredients to cook in this aromatic broth. Chinese restaurants have round tables to encourage communal eating. Likewise, hot pot is a dish designed to facilitate sharing with friends and family and bonding over delicious food. However, because many of the ingredients laid out for a hot pot are raw, there can be some danger of contamination if you don't know how to navigate the experience safely. Don't let this turn you off from enjoying hot pot, though, because it can be completely safe.

One of the biggest dangers comes from the raw foods themselves, which, if improperly cooked can lead to Salmonella and Listeria. When eating hot pot, it's crucial to avoid cross-contamination by using separate chopsticks or tongs for each ingredient. For example, you never want to grab a piece of raw seafood with chopsticks used to grab a piece of raw beef. Every ingredient should have its own set of chopsticks or tongs — in the event you don't know how to use chopsticks. Either way, utensils used for raw food should never touch cooked food.

If you're fixing a hot pot at home, you'll want to make sure you're getting high-quality ingredients, and that any meat is sliced super thin for fast cooking. However, take note of some of the easiest food safety mistakes to make when prepping the food, such as cutting raw ingredients on the same cutting board without cleaning it, as this can increase the likelihood of foodborne illness through cross-contamination. 

While cross-contamination is one of the biggest dangers of hot pot, you also have to make sure that the food is in the broth long enough for it to cook thoroughly. If meat is undercooked, the risk of food poisoning increases as potentially dangerous bacteria hasn't been killed off. In addition to that, bear in mind not to overfill your pot, as this can cause uneven cooking.

Thinly sliced beef won't take but 30 seconds to a minute to cook, while pork, chicken, and seafood should be simmered for one to two minutes, depending on thickness. Things like premade fish balls and dumplings can take up to five minutes, while veggies will depend on the type. For instance, leafy greens like bok choy will take much less time than root veggies like sweet potatoes. It's also worth mentioning that you should be careful with shiitake mushrooms, which can cause an itchy rash when undercooked. These mushrooms should be cooked for five to seven minutes to break down the lentinan that can cause reactions. 

With all that said, when you keep in mind basic food safety, hot pot is easily one of the most enjoyable meals you'll ever have, and it's a great way to spend an evening with friends and family!