Do you wash chicken?

[beebee25]

I have a friend who was horrified when a foreign visitor washed chicken and spread chicken juice everywhere. I don't wash chicken but back in the 80s I did as that seemed to be the thing to do. Do you wash your chicken?

No

Lots of weird membranous stuff and tiny bits of extra meat maybe that has resulted from the butchering process. Even if you wash very nicely packaged chicken breast, the water goes cloudy and looks rank.

100% No and for what it's worth I'm in south Europe.

No

Correlation does not equal causation.

I have never washed chicken and also no one in my family has ever had salmonella.

Rinsing mince is even more rank

What bits are coming off your chicken though? Are you using a jet washer?

Hell no.

Yes that's exactly the point, for all of the pearl clutchers who claim it's inevitable that washing chicken will cause food poisoning. It might increase the risk of proper hygiene isn't adhered to, but it certainly doesn't happen where I'm from (land of chicken washers).

I put chicken in a bowl, fill bowl with water and immediately bits are apparent and I pour off (rinsing stage). If I'm using legs or skin on parts, I then sprinkle with salt, massage in for a few seconds and occasionally then use lemon juice or vinegar to massage further. I then rinse off a further few times until the water is clear and no bits are apparent.

I remember visiting a friend in the 90s, she was a few years older than me and helped making the dinner because her mum was disabled (sure she was 17/18 at the time). Sunday roast she was preparing this day everything normal to my eyes, tatties peeled, carrots topped, peeled and chopped, same with sprouts and green beans....then came the chicken 🐔 out the packaging and under the sink and filled with cold water and salt. Never seen it before that in my own parents or anyone else. I wondered to this day why?

She is still alive, so it can't be that bad 🤣.

Dont fancy trying that mind you 🤢

Nope - having worked in food retail and sat through more than one presentation about the dangers of campylobacter from chicken (which is what gets spread around by washing) I never would.
Also our meat in the UK isn’t chlorinated so no need to “rinse the chemicals off” which is an argument I’ve heard before

All American cooking videos do it but it’s because of their horrible chlorinated chicken I think. No need at all here.

Yes but not rinsing it in sink and splashing bacteria everywhere. I use warm salted water in a large mixing bowl, gently put it in and wash it and remove all the white gristle bits. I then throw all the grey nasty water down the toilet, disinfect the bowl, wash hands thoroughly.

I fail to see how its any different from people marinating their chicken, then having to wash the dish/bowl it was marinating in? Or brining it in salt water? What about washing the chopping board that you cut it on?

I know that the advice is not to wash meat/chicken, people who do put it in a bowl of water &vinegar/lemon juice, then rinse it off. That minute or 2 does add a better flavour.

Yes. 🇯🇲

My husband is from the Caribbean and washes chicken. He splashes raw chicken water all over the kitchen, drives me nuts

You wash the bowl and chopping board because they need to be clean for when you use them again.
You cook chicken then eat it.

But the bacteria on the chopping board and mixing bowl is still "being splashed all over the kitchen". It's the same thing.

@Dentalmum2 I put those kitchen items in the dishwasher. I’m not putting my chicken in there

And if washing a chicken involves putting in a bowl of water and rubbing with lemon etc, how do you wash mince?

No, because I'm going to cook it.

I wash all meat and I do think it’s usually cultural (family from the middle-east). I also “rinse” mince. I am extremely hygienic, I cook for 6 most days and we are all still alive and healthy.

NO!!

Washing chicken is both unnecessary & horribly unhygienic. You’re about to put it in a hot oven or a hot pan. Then cook it to an internal temperature of >75C.

That will very effectively kill any pathogens without distributing them around the kitchen first.

My washing up technique does not involve splashing anything all over the kitchen. I also use anti-bac washing up liquid to clean my dishes. Some people have dishwashers.
I hope no one is cleaning chicken with soap, but this is MN 😶

No!!!

This is exactly what I’ve never understood. The people I know who ‘wash’ chicken aren’t running it under the tap and getting out the dishmatic then washing the dishes straight after.
They soak it in a bowl.
I don’t wash chicken but I do put it in a bowl with herbs/spices/yoghurt/oil or whatever before I cook it. I don’t see the difference.

My sister does. Shes a bit dumb tho

See I wouldn't put any chicken utensils in the dishwasher without properly washing and disinfecting first. That isn't good hygiene practice. Tiny bits of the chicken could still be on the chopping board after it's gone through the dishwasher.

I wash mince by piercing the bottom of the bag it's in numerous times and pouring water in the mouth of the bag, the water 'fountains' out the holes and I do this until it runs clear. It's more rinsing, if we want to be pedantic.