Food & Receipts

Poultry Handling and Cooking Best Practices for Optimal Health

Chicken is a popular food item and is used to make a variety of delicious dishes. However, certain precautions should be taken when handling and preparing chicken to ensure food safety.

Administrator

20 April, 2024

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chicken meat is very popular, however, it is necessary to be aware of the potential risk of bacterial contamination if not properly prepared and cooked before eating. Join us to learn some precautions to take when preparing chicken meat!

1Be careful when washing chicken meat

Many housewives have the habit of washing chicken meat under cold running water or blanching it in warm water to clean off dirt before cooking. However, the best way is to soak the chicken meat in diluted water before cooking for about 30 minutes , then rinse it with plenty of water. After cleaning, use paper towels to pat dry.

During the washing process, if water splashes out of the sink or stove, use a disinfectant solution to clean it and wash your hands after preparation to ensure that bacteria are not spread.

Be careful when washing chicken meat

2Recognize spoiled chicken

There have been many cases of poisoning and infections caused by eating spoiled chicken. You can identify spoiled chicken based on the following signs:

Smell: Spoiled chicken has a sour, foul, ammonia-like odor, like rotten eggs.
Color: Fresh chicken has a light pink, off-white color depending on the location of the meat, while spoiled chicken has an abnormal color such as yellow, gray, or green.
Texture: Spoiled chicken will not feel elastic when pressed, and the surface will be slimy and less firm.

Recognize spoiled chicken

3Store chicken properly

Purchased chicken can be stored in the refrigerator or freezer. If you store fresh chicken in the chiller compartment of the refrigerator, it should only be kept for a maximum of 2 days , and avoid letting the chicken juices touch other foods.

For cooked chicken, it can be stored in the chiller compartment for up to 4 days if refrigerated below 4 degrees Celsius in a sealed container.

Meanwhile, freezing chicken will extend its shelf life to a few months , but keep in mind that vacuum-sealing the food storage bag will help preserve it better.

Store chicken properly

4Defrost chicken

To defrost chicken safely and properly, you can follow these steps:

Transfer the chicken from the freezer to the refrigerator chiller compartment to defrost slowly. This method will take more time, so it is suitable for overnight defrosting.
Place the chicken in a sealed bag or zip-top bag and put it in a bowl of cold water to defrost.
Use the defrost function of the microwave.

It is important to note that you should not defrost chicken at room temperature, as this will increase the risk of bacterial contamination and poisoning. Cook the chicken immediately after defrosting!

Defrost chicken

5Temperature for cooking chicken

Raw chicken can contain various types of germs on its skin, and these germs can only be eliminated when cooked. Therefore, cooking chicken thoroughly is crucial for food safety.

According to the CDC, the minimum safe internal temperature for cooked chicken is 165 degrees Fahrenheit (74 degrees Celsius) , which will kill viruses and bacteria.

Temperature for cooking chicken

The above are some notes that housewives should know when preparing chicken to ensure the well-being of their families. Hopefully, this information will help you take better care of your health!

Source: Women of Vietnam Newspaper

Frequently asked questions

It’s recommended to soak chicken meat in diluted water for about 30 minutes before cooking, and then rinse it thoroughly with plenty of water. Pat it dry with paper towels afterward. Be cautious during the washing process, and if water splashes out, use a disinfectant solution to clean the area and wash your hands afterward to prevent the spread of bacteria.

Spoiled chicken will have a sour, foul, ammonia-like odor similar to rotten eggs. The color will also be abnormal, such as yellow, gray, or green, and the texture will be slimy and less firm. It won’t feel elastic when pressed.

Fresh chicken can be stored in the refrigerator for a maximum of 2 days. Make sure the chicken juices don’t touch other foods. Cooked chicken can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 4 days if it’s sealed and kept below 4 degrees Celsius. If you want to store chicken for longer, freezing it will extend its shelf life to a few months, especially if you vacuum-seal the storage bag.

You can defrost chicken safely by transferring it from the freezer to the refrigerator to thaw slowly, or by placing it in a sealed bag in a bowl of cold water. You can also use the defrost function on your microwave. Do not defrost chicken at room temperature to avoid bacterial contamination.

According to the CDC, chicken should be cooked to a minimum internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit (74 degrees Celsius) to eliminate germs and ensure food safety.