Controversy in the kitchen: should you wash chicken or not? Answer displeases many

Some people still continue with the practice of wash the chicken before cooking out of habit, tradition or the belief that doing so can remove dirt from the meat. But, is it true? See the best way to guarantee security food without increasing the risk of contamination through the use of non-recommended practices.

This custom of washing chicken was very common in the past, but many experts have now highlighted the problems with this practice. Even health authorities also recommend that people stop this habit, which can open the door to a series of risks.

Washing the chicken: can it or not?

So, the first certainty to consider is that it is not recommended to wash the chicken before cooking for a few reasons. The main one is the risk of cross-contamination.

When you wash raw chicken in the kitchen sink, you risk spreading the bacteria present in the meat to the sink, utensils, surfaces and other foods in the kitchen. This can lead to cross-contamination and increase the risk of foodborne illnesses.

Another important point is that water does not eliminate bacteria, which proves yet again that this old habit doesn't make much sense. Water cannot eliminate the bacteria present in raw meat.

If this is your concern, the most important thing is to be careful to cook the chicken at temperatures (above 74°C), being the safest method to kill bacteria and make the meat safe for the consumption.

Also, remember that a mistake in washing meat leads to a loss of nutrients, which are removed during washing. Therefore, abandon this practice now and pay attention to correct cooking, which is much more efficient and follows food safety guidelines, avoiding cross-contamination in the kitchen.