Do you wash raw chicken before cooking it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Best not to. You end up with contaminated sink and dirt water spray. Cooking is what cleans it.

This. Oven at over 400 degrees cleans chicken.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wash all meats before cooking. I imagine the chicken fell off the conveyor belt, the poultry worker sneezed on it etc.

And if it did fall on the ground and someone sneezed on it, do you think a cold water rinse kills any of that?

My parents ALWAYS wash every meat and I still don't understand what it does. It's the cooking that kills stuff not the water rinse. And then like others suggest they go thru the production of soaping up the entire sink to clean etc. It's just a lot of work when the benefit is unclear.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes but I do agree it may be cultural.

I was taught to wash chicken (not spraying from the faucet) but in a clean stainless bowl or sink with citrus (limes/lemons) to get rid of the slime that is on US chicken and remove extra feathers (yes they are there) and cut skin/fat, etc. You wash your sink/counters with bleach on a daily basis.

Since I've been aware of USDA guidelines, etc. but it doesn't change the way I do it. I will say it kinda grosses me out that a lot of oeople don't inspect each piece because what I buy in US stores always has extra feathers or junk that needs to be removed and just cook directly from package - but I don't say that out loud lol.

Yep…I do the same.

My Caribbean card would get revoked if I don’t wash my chicken with a water, salt, and vinegar or lime/lemon wash, then remove fat and feathers. Then I season and let the chicken marinade at least a couple hours (preferably overnight) before I cook it.

[Anonymous]

I’ll rinse it if I want to dry rub it as I find patting it dry is easier once it’s rinsed

I think people are generally too worried about food borne illness. I wouldn’t wash my chicken for this reason but I also won’t avoid washing for this reason either.

[Anonymous]

The chicken has been sneezed on dropped on the floor accidentally, of course, I'm gonna wash my chicken thoroughly.