Are you supposed to rinse raw meat before cooking?

sb44

I remember seeing someone on tv once who said she washed and dried raw chicken before cooking.

I was wondering if this is something that you should do with all raw meat except mince, before freezing or cooking.

kj*daisy

I never have! So don't know, I know they tell you not to wash the turkey at Christmas to avoid spraying potential food poisoning germs around!

PasturesNew

People used to rinse out chickens, but more modern advice is to just chuck them in the oven. The reason for this is that the water people were rinsing the chicken with would splash on work surfaces/elsewhere - and potentially cross-contaminate prep areas, or even other food. The cooking in the oven will kill all bacteria anyway.

unimaginative_user_name

I never have either. I even once heard that if you wash chicken you risk spreading salmonella in the sink.I'd be interested to hear what other people think.

Mojoworking

This was on some program recently and it was a resounding "no" for spreading bacteria etc - I do know that some people swear by it though and wash everything, but I'll believe what I've seen on TV (as it suits me in this instance ;-))

valk_scot

I agree, you're more likely to get food poisoning off the sink from washing the meat than from sticking it unwashed into the pot or oven and cooking it.

sb44

That's ok, I will remain a member of the unwashed then, as it were!



Cheers.

freezspirit

I've noticed on some american cooking programmes that when they use chicken breast they will soak them in a bowl of water with salt and lemon juice for 10-20min before using them in the recipe.

I must admit I wash meat and fish before I use them but don't know why. Nobody else at home does it so I don't know where I pick it up.

sb44

freezspirit wrote: »

I've noticed on some american cooking programmes that when they use chicken breast they will soak them in a bowl of water with salt and lemon juice for 10-20min before using them in the recipe.

I must admit I wash meat and fish before I use them but don't know why. Nobody else at home does it so I don't know where I pick it up.

Don't know about the salt but I suppose the lemon helps tenderize the poultry, not that chicken would need much tenderizing.

RedLass

I don't wash any meat or chicken as routine, but if for example, beef or lamb is particularly slimey/bloody because of the way it's been packed, I might give it a wipe with some kitchen paper before cooking or marinating etc. Not because I'm worried about anything harmful though.

gibson123

I only wash meat if it is getting a bit old and is slimy.