Do you wash your hands before preparing food?

[Darkdiamond]

My mum was a nurse and it was drummed into us to always wash our hands before preparing food, even if it was just a piece of toast. Now I do it every time I go to prepare food without thinking.

However through the years, being in other people's homes and living with flatmates, I noticed that I'm very much in the minority. I even saw a friend change a nappy, clean her hands with a wipe and then put the kettle on the make me a cup of tea. I declined!

I did read on mumsmet previously that lots of people don't wash their hands after changing a dirty nappy (and don't see the point). I mean, that really shocked me, so I'm expecting to hear that lots of people don't clean their hands before preparing food.

So, what about you? What's your policy when it comes to preparing food and hand washing? And what's it based on?

Yes, I’m a real fuss about hand washing. Always wash them when I get home from being out and before prepping food.

Unfortunately, I tend to have dry hands, especially in the winter so the washing doesn’t help. I get through a lot of hand cream!

Before,
During multiple times,
And after,
This is normal!

Always. And also wash them several times when cooking. For instance handling raw meat and eggs. Then wash my hands after chopping food and have to open something or go in the fridge.

Yes, just basic hygiene knowledge from school and home. During and after too. Previously I'd grab a snack without, but not so much now I have cats as I've probably stroked one of them since my last hand wash!

I'm more careful when cooking or prepping for others (DP doesn't fully count!), hair properly tied back, surfaces sanitised, short sleeves. I

Of course!

That's what I thought too before I got exposed to so people who just don't do it. I feel like I'm in the minority having seen so many people just not wash their hands before cooking.

@Catandsquirrel I always ties my hair back before I cook too and felt a bit 🤮 when I saw Meghan Markle with her long hair hanging down in the ad for her cookery show. I just kept imagining pulling a hair out of her cake 😄

Yes and I've noticed a lot of other people don't. I find it a bit gross.

Yes always

I have really bad eczema on my hands from washing them so much after having a baby so I generally don't if I'm just cooking for myself. I never get sick though.

Always, even before a snack on the move like a chocolate bar or apple, I'll get the anti-bac gel out, and several times whilst cooking/preparing food between handling different raw foods etc.

Yeah I know they probably edit because watching a proper handwash isn't exactly riveting tv but I hate when the handwash is 10 secs long and there is no evidence of soap. I also hate all the cooks with long hair not tied back. And finally the ones who taste with a spoon and then double dip - I can't bear it.

Jamie Oliver should wash his hands as I have never seen any cook touch food with bare hands so much.

Yes always, my Mum doesn't so she is banned from my kitchen

I always wash my hands before preparing food, it's basic hygiene and common sense, surely? A sole exception could be that I'm eating leftovers by myself, from a plate and I haven't been handling anything.

If I'm doing meat, I get my daughter to turn the tap on and squirm soap on my hands. Alone, I'll fill a bowl with hot, soapy water and run the tap to rinse off, as necessary.

We went on holiday over New Year and got back on Sunday, I'm still rough from food poisoning on that day, even though everywhere we ate was decent and clean. It may have been from touching a door handle, or bannister, you just never know.