Should You Rinse Chicken Under Running Water? Many People Are Quietly Washing Incorrectly and Causing Trouble without Realizing

Washing under a flowing water tap is considered to be a washing technique that brings many benefits in order to help dirt flow away from food faster and easier. Especially with vegetables, washing under a flowing water tap is the right way to do it.

But what about chicken, duck, goose, and pork? These meats can accumulate dust and bacteria during transportation. The longer the meat is kept at the market, the more bacteria it becomes contaminated with.

The purpose of washing meat is to remove impurities such as animal fluids, excess blood, and some dirt and odors. However, in reality, it is difficult to wash bacteria off meat with water. That’s why washing chicken and other meats under a flowing water tap does not have the same effect as washing vegetables. To remove odor, we should put them in a container mixed with salt, vinegar, or ginger wine. Keeping them under a flowing water tap will spray water everywhere, dispersing bacteria and viruses. And the bacteria and viruses in the meat can cross-contaminate other utensils, causing more harm. According to The New York Times, PGS Benjamin Chapman, a professor in the Department of Agriculture and Human Sciences at North Carolina State University, said that washing raw chicken under a water tap not only does not remove many bacteria but can also spread bacteria to hands, sink surfaces, clothes, utensils, or nearby food. This process is called cross-contamination of bacteria in food. The consequence is that we encounter more harm than benefits.

So, here’s how to properly wash chicken and other meats

Fill a container with water, add salt and rub it onto the meat, then dip the meat in the water. Make sure the water flows directly into the drain, avoiding the water from splashing around or strong actions that cause water to splash. Then let the meat soak to eliminate any foul smell, and twist the water, add vinegar or wine to soak and wash the chicken.

You should soak the chicken, bones, and meat for about 20 minutes in the water to remove the fishy smell and the impurities in the bones that can secrete into the water. After that, rinse with cold water multiple times to remove bacteria. Remember to pour the water away neatly to avoid splashing onto other items.

After handling the raw meat, the chopping, slicing, and other utensils need to be washed with dishwashing water to disinfect and clean bacteria.

If you have a scratch on your hands, it is necessary to wear gloves when handling raw meat. Even if your hands are completely healthy, wearing gloves is essential when handling meat. Then wash the gloves with dishwashing liquid.

When storing, chicken should be placed in the last compartment of the refrigerator and make sure to wrap the meat in a specialized bag or box to prevent cross-contamination to other food items. After buying raw chicken from the store, it should be immediately stored in the refrigerator, avoiding leaving the meat outside for too long. Although the refrigerator temperature is not enough to kill Campylobacter bacteria, it can inhibit their growth.

To defrost chicken quickly, you can thaw it in a water basin, or use a microwave, or sprinkle salt and vinegar on the surface to speed up the thawing process and prevent the strong development of bacteria.

Chicken meat is good for health, but it is easily contaminated with bacteria and undergoes changes at room temperature due to its high protein content. Therefore, it should be processed immediately after purchase, if not then it should be stored in a refrigerator.