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GAF do you wash your meat?

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TheOfficeMut

Unconfirmed Member
I mean, it makes sense that bacteria on meat will die in the cooking process, but with chicken specifically I need to rinse that shit because I will not feel comfortable despite knowing they are all but destroyed under a flame.

I simply do not like the idea of throwing non-rinsed chicken onto a skillet.
 

Carlisle

Member
What? No. People wash their meat? What good does that do if you're just gonna be cooking it anyway? If anything I'd expect it would increase the risk of getting bacteria splashed around your kitchen.
 

rezuth

Member
I'm shocked to learn people wash meat, I just can't fathom this. Never heard about anyone doing this in Sweden.
 

Clockwork

Member
Yep.

MNhzafh.jpg
 

Mook1e

Member
I always wash raw chicken with vinegar or citrus before cooking.
My entire family can tell when chicken has been cooked without washing and when it isn't washed, it tastes "raw" in a way even when cooked through.
My wife also has what can only be described as an allergic reaction to chicken that isn't washed. She feels prickles on her skin.
 

muu

Member
anything on the outside is going to be dead dead, so no. If it looks semi spoilt I'll cut the edges off.
 

Tagyhag

Member
Huh, I never actually thought about doing so, I was always under the assumption that cooking it would get rid of the worst germs.
 
Nope.

The heat from my grill will kill off the bacteria

No, just pat dry.

Ding ding ding.

If you're cooking properly, you're going to kill whatever bacteria is there.

Particularly with steaks I'll dry them with paper towels and season them before putting them on the grill or in a pan if I'm searing them on a stove. With meats I'm marinating I take them directly from the packaging into whatever container I have for the marinade (either a glass bowl or a ziploc bag).
 

Phased

Member
Anything bad on the meat will be destroyed by the cooking process. That's kind of the entire point of cooking it (besides being delicious)

When something goes bad cooking it won't fix this and you should just throw the meat out, but it seems to me that all you're doing is washing off potential flavor if you rinse off meat for some weird reason.
 

A Fish Aficionado

I am going to make it through this year if it kills me
I always wash raw chicken with vinegar or citrus before cooking.
My entire family can tell when chicken has been cooked without washing and when it isn't washed, it tastes "raw" in a way even when cooked through.
My wife also has what can only be described as an allergic reaction to chicken that isn't washed. She feels prickles on her skin.

wat.

Poultry allergy is real, but rare.
 

ZOONAMI

Junior Member
Fish is the only thing I will wash, potential chicken if it's those chicken breasts that are individually wrapped, those get kind of slimy.
 

Zoe

Member
I mean, it makes sense that bacteria on meat will die in the cooking process, but with chicken specifically I need to rinse that shit because I will not feel comfortable despite knowing they are all but destroyed under a flame.

I simply do not like the idea of throwing non-rinsed chicken onto a skillet.

From the USDA site:
Some consumers think they are removing bacteria and making their meat or poultry safe. However, some of the bacteria are so tightly attached that you could not remove them no matter how many times you washed.
 

TheOfficeMut

Unconfirmed Member
From the USDA site:

I said I understand this but I still feel uncomfortable unless I at least put chicken under water. I do not care what that website says. It's an innate feeling and that's it. Hopefully over time I drop the habit.
 

gaiages

Banned
I haven't even heard of washing meat before @-@

I mean obviously it can be done but I've never once actually seen someone do it
 

The Boat

Member
I always wash raw chicken with vinegar or citrus before cooking.
My entire family can tell when chicken has been cooked without washing and when it isn't washed, it tastes "raw" in a way even when cooked through.
My wife also has what can only be described as an allergic reaction to chicken that isn't washed. She feels prickles on her skin.

I don't know about your wife's reaction, but it's natural that your family tastes the difference between chicken with or without vinegar and citrus. That doesn't mean they're tasting anything dirty or harmful bacteria if you don't wash it, it just means they're eating meat prepared in a different way.
 
You honestly are increasing your risk of contracting a food-borne illness by washing meat, so no, I never wash meat.

Source: PhD in Food Microbiology
 

gruenel

Member
I always wash raw chicken with vinegar or citrus before cooking.
My entire family can tell when chicken has been cooked without washing and when it isn't washed, it tastes "raw" in a way even when cooked through.
My wife also has what can only be described as an allergic reaction to chicken that isn't washed. She feels prickles on her skin.
Where do you buy your chicken? Just to be sure I never shop there.
 

Akuun

Looking for meaning in GAF
I usually rinse solid meats, but don't bother trying with ground meat. I didn't think about cross-contamination.

What about residues from packing materials, like plastic wrap? Does it make sense to rinse that off?
 

Mook1e

Member
I don't know about your wife's reaction, but it's natural that your family tastes the difference between chicken with or without vinegar and citrus. That doesn't mean they're tasting anything dirty or harmful bacteria if you don't wash it, it just means they're eating meat prepared in a different way.
I don't use pure vinegar and/or citrus. I also use water to rinse it after. We don't always want vinegar or citrus flavored food, of course.
 

marrec

Banned
I don't use pure vinegar and/or citrus. I also use water to rinse it after. We don't always want vinegar or citrus flavored food, of course.

Food prepared in a different way tastes differently.

This is not proof that you should be washing your meat.
 

akira28

Member
I need proof that I should not be washing my meat. Mere suggestion will not do. Do not post any links, I have google too.
 

Mook1e

Member
Food prepared in a different way tastes differently.

This is not proof that you should be washing your meat.

So, again, I never said it was proof of anything...
The question was asked and I answered it and provided my experience with doing it.
 

velociraptor

Junior Member
Yes I always wash my meat. I always have.

But apparently I'm not supposed to.

Washing your meat... I'm curious by how much this increases the risk of food borne illness.

I've washed my chicken breasts for the past 3 years and have had zero issues.
 
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