It is a habit passed down through generations of home cooks. You take the raw chicken out of the package and rinse it in the sink before seasoning. It feels like you are cleaning the meat, washing away the slime and germs.
However, food safety experts warn that this is one of the most dangerous things you can do in your kitchen. Washing raw poultry does not remove bacteria; it spreads it. You are essentially creating a biological hazard zone in the room where you prepare your family’s food. It is time to unlearn this “clean” habit for the sake of your health.
When the water from your faucet hits the raw chicken, it doesn’t just run down the drain. It splashes off the uneven surface of the meat, creating a microscopic mist. This aerosolized spray contains dangerous pathogens like Salmonella and Campylobacter.
Research shows that this spray can travel up to three feet in every direction. It lands on your clean dishes, your sponge, your faucet handles, and your countertops. You cannot see this bacterial layer, but it is there, waiting to cross-contaminate your salad or fruit. You are effectively painting your kitchen with food poisoning.
Heat Kills Bacteria, Not Water
The only thing that can kill the bacteria on chicken is heat. Your oven or skillet is the sanitizing tool, not your tap water. Cooking poultry to an internal temperature of 165°F ensures that any harmful bugs are destroyed.
Washing it beforehand adds absolutely no safety benefit. It only increases the risk of spreading those bugs to ready-to-eat foods nearby. Trust the thermal process to do the cleaning for you. If the chicken is slimy or smells bad, washing won’t fix it; you should throw it away.
The Paper Towel Method
If the surface moisture on the chicken bothers you or prevents browning, there is a safer way. Do not use water. Instead, gently pat the chicken dry with paper towels. Do this directly over the package or a dedicated cutting board to catch any drips.
Immediately throw the paper towels in the trash and wash your hands for 20 seconds. This removes the moisture without creating a splatter zone. It allows for crispy skin without the risk of contaminating your entire sink area.
What to Do If You Forget
If you catch yourself washing chicken out of habit, you need to sanitize the area immediately. Do not just rinse the sink with water. Use a disinfectant spray or a bleach solution to clean the sink basin, the faucet, and the surrounding counters.
Wipe down the backsplash and move any drying dishes to the dishwasher for a sanitize cycle. You have to assume that everything near the sink is compromised. It is a hassle that is easily avoided by simply skipping the wash step next time.
The Bottom Line: Keep It Dry
Modern food processing is not perfect, but washing meat at home causes more problems than it solves. Break the generational cycle and put the chicken straight into the pan.
Your gut and your kitchen surfaces will thank you. Focus your cleaning energy on your hands and your cutting boards, not the meat itself.
Did you grow up washing chicken, and is it hard for you to stop?
What to Read Next…
- Recall Alert: 13,000 Pounds of Chicken Recalled Due to Listeria Risk
- Recall Alert: Popular Ground Beef Brand Pulled for E. Coli Risk
- Healthy Doesn’t Mean Safe: 9 Grocery Habits That Quietly Raise Your Food Poisoning Odds
The post Kitchen Safety: Stop Washing Your Chicken (It Spreads Bacteria Everywhere) appeared first on Budget and the Bees.
