A whole raw chicken on a cutting board.

Why It’s Always A Mistake To Rinse Raw Chicken

NEWS

By HENNA BAKSHI

Hand holding packaged chicken breast.
While there’s an ongoing debate about whether one should rinse raw chicken or not, in reality, you’re doing more harm than good when you wash poultry.
Woman holding her stomach in pain.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is very clear on the matter and asserts that people put themselves and their families at risk of foodborne illness by washing raw poultry.
Hands washing raw chicken under running water in a kitchen sink.
Washing raw chicken can spread harmful bacteria, such as Salmonella and Campylobacter, to kitchen surfaces, utensils, and your hands, heightening the risk of cross-contamination.
A pile of whole carrots.
This can affect ready-to-eat foods, such as produce or cooked dishes, kept outside. The USDA warns to prepare foods that will not be cooked before handling raw meat and poultry.
Closeup of a person washing hands with soap.
They also advise thoroughly sanitizing all surfaces that have potentially been touched by raw meat, poultry, or their juices. Remember to wash your hands immediately after.
Raw chickens being inspected on a conveyer belt.
As for the chicken, packaged raw poultry is cleaned when it’s processed, and cooking it to the right internal temperature is the most effective way to kill any remaining bacteria.