In the culinary world, countless traditions and techniques have been passed down through generations, shaping the way we handle and prepare our food. However, not all of these practices are safe or recommended in today’s modern kitchen.
One such task that has recently come under scrutiny is the washing of raw chicken, a practice that, while common in some cultures, could be putting you and your family at serious risk, per a food safety expert.
For many, the thought of handling raw chicken is enough to make them uncomfortable as it’s widely known that raw poultry can harbour harmful bacteria such as Salmonella and Campylobacter. This is why many often try to minimise contact with it, quickly transferring it from packaging to pan.
However, there’s a divisive debate stirring online, with some cooks insisting on elaborate rituals to wash and cleanse their chicken before cooking.
These methods range from simple rinses to multi-step processes involving limes, vinegar, or baking soda. Some even advocate for a 10-step chicken washing guide using salt, lemons, and flour, which has left the internet community divided.
Supporters of the practice claim they can taste the difference if chicken isn’t washed and feel it’s a necessary step for cleanliness.
‘My parents [have] been washing chicken all their lives and are 65… still alive [and] healthy as ever. I wash my chicken too,’ commented one person.
‘All that dirty water justifies how important this is,’ echoed another.
‘Well done, I do the same. Very clean people,’ said a third one.
On the other hand, others were not convinced.
‘The only way chicken or meat is clean[ed] is through heat,’ argued a commenter.
‘This increases the spread of bacteria in your sink area,’ opined someone else.
But what does science say about this controversial kitchen task? According to food safety experts, washing raw chicken is not only unnecessary but can also be very dangerous.
Erina Male, a food safety consultant from Western Australia, warns that ‘introduces harmful bacteria to your kitchen especially if you use the same sink as you use to wash your fruit and vegetables.’
Celebrity cook Bobby Parrish has echoed this to his 1.5 million followers, explaining that rinsing chicken with water can inadvertently contaminate your kitchen surfaces, utensils, and other foods, ‘making it very, very dangerous in your kitchen.’
The practice of washing chicken may have historical roots in regions where refrigeration and storage conditions were less reliable, leading to a slimy texture on the meat that people felt compelled to wash off.
However, in the country, the chicken you buy at the supermarket has already undergone rigorous cleaning and sanitising processes before it reaches the shelves.
Male said that ‘to process chicken,’ they are washed in a food-grade chlorine tank to reduce bacterial levels, a process known as sanitising. Furthermore, temperature control during packaging and delivery is tightly regulated, and the absorbent pad beneath the chicken in the packaging, colloquially known as a ‘meat diaper,’ serves to soak up any bacteria-laden liquids.
According to experts, the answer to how you can ensure your chicken is safe to eat is simple: cook it properly.
Chicken should be cooked to an internal temperature well above 75 degrees, which is sufficient to kill any harmful bacteria present.
‘Any good quality fresh chicken shouldn’t be washed. It doesn’t need to be,’ Male adds.
Our YourLifeChoices readers, do you or do you not wash raw chicken? Share your thoughts in the comments section.
Also read: Freeze, thaw, refreeze? What’s safe when it comes to food storage?
