To think hands are ok?

[Iwasjustabouttosaythat]

DM and MIL both have a serious issue with TV chefs using their hands to mix things. They say it's unhygienic and no one would do that in their own home.

AIBU to think you just get a better, faster mix using hands? And it's annoying to watch people faff around with little spoons and 100 little bowls? And to use my (very clean) hands?

Properly clean hands are more hygenic that most peoples utensils. People like the appearance of cleanliness over the facts of it though.

People have been mixing food with their hands in their own homes since time began

Well not quite since the beginning of time, but you know what I mean.

Hands are perfectly fine!

Clean hands are fine! I get a bit squeamish seeing people with long nails dig their fingers into dough though.

Phew! They both made such a big deal about it. One separate occasions with no knowledge of the other's opinion.

Dove, I agree. And think rings should be removed too.

Eh? Since when was mixing things with your hands frowned upon?
I could see your point if said hands had been sneezed into or used to scratch your arse before starting cooking and not been washed.
People wash their hands before cooking with hot, soapy water.
Hand kneading/mixing is done all across the land!

There are more germs on most chopping boards or the sponge by the sink than there are in a dog's mouth or on the loo seat - using your hands is fine!

It's perfectly normal to mix stuff with your hands. As long as you wash them first, it's perfectly hygienic. Things like meatloaf you just can't mix as well with utensils.

Clean hands are fine, or at least cleaner than the food. For example, I wouldn't wash them after peeling veg before doing something to raw chicken. I would the other way around.

Clean hands are essential to almost all cooking and bakery, aren't they?

Pretty please, can I be allowed to go off topic somewhat? I love this memory as much as I loathe who it’s about... The Chillies’ Revenge. My former DH was cooking himself a curry one night, enough for one, in his usual delightful way. He decided to go for a pee right after dropping the freshly chopped chillies into his curry. I turned the gas off under his dinner while he was screaming and cursing in the bathroom, and crashing about trying to find the first aid kit. I don’t know what he put on his ‘chilli willy’ but evidently it didn’t work very well. It couldn’t have happened to a nicer chap.

And I mix cakes and pastry like my Mum taught me, with my hands.

I went to a bake sale and one woman selling bread told me that she loves kneading dough as her nails always finish up lovely and clean.

Eurrgh, Mindtrope!

I'm reminded of an MN thread a while ago in which a surprising number of people said they didn't wash their hands after changing a baby's nappy.

I haven't bought at a bake sale since - but to answer the OP, it would depend on the hands

My MIL complained that TV chefs didn't wear hair nets.....imagine Nigella in a hair net!

How do they think the "ruubbing in" method of mixing works?