Why It’s Always A Mistake To Rinse Raw Chicken
NEWS
By HENNA BAKSHI
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.