Home Meat Should the chicken be washed? Attention to the answer

Should the chicken be washed? Attention to the answer

Have you ever wondered if chicken should be washed before cooking? We already anticipate that The answer is a definit no. This carries a risk that we are going to tell you about today. Read on to find out why.

Chicken should not be washed before cooking

Washing the chicken can, first of all, contribute to spread bacteria. Since doing it under the tap spreads the microorganisms with the water and the humidity contributes to the growth of many of the bacteria.

In the case of raw meats, it must also be taken into account that a good part of microorganisms are the entrails of animals. Therefore, the smaller the animal, the closer to the meat are the viscera. The easier it will be for microorganisms to pass onto the meat. 

Should the chicken be washed?
Person washing a chicken | Source: Saia.es

The risk of cross contamination

La cross contamination It is the transfer of pollutants from a contaminated food to another that is not. The most common example is washing and slicing raw chicken on a kitchen board and then without cleaning it, cutting vegetables on top to make a salad.

By doing this, it is more likely that bacteria can be spread across the kitchen table. It can also be due to all the utensils you use and cause contamination that was not previously there.

Should the chicken be washed?
Individual plate of chicken, potatoes and vegetables

So what should you do, instead of washing the chicken, to kill the bacteria? The best and only solution is to cook the chicken to a suitable temperature. An act as simple as that kills all bacteria and frees you from any complications. Did you know the reason why the chicken should not be washed? And did you know what the term cross contamination means?

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