12 Food Safety Mistakes You’re Definitely Making In The Kitchen
Washing chicken before cooking
How many times have you washed raw chicken before cooking it? Too many times to keep track? Well, you should stop doing it as it can be dangerous for your health. “I’m always amazed at how often I see people washing or at least rinsing meat,” says Tom Beckman, chef instructor at Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts in Chicago, Illinois.
Truth is, contrary to what our mother or grandmothers have taught us, chicken should not be rinsed prior to cooking as it can spread harmful contaminants onto your hands, sink area, work surfaces, clothing and cooking utensils.
Captain’s tip: Prior to taking out the raw chicken, make sure you’ve prepared the condiments, selected the salt and pepper and put them all in a bowl. By doing so, you avoid contaminating everything you touch around you like the pepper mill or saltbox.
After that, “just pat chicken—and other meats—dry with paper towels, and throw them away immediately,” recommends McManus. Season the meat, throw what’s left in the bowl, and wash the bowl and your hands thoroughly.
