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.
