Hi

I read another report today about something like one in six chickens in the supermarket carry whatever bug they do and how important it is to cook it thoroughly.

What I didn't know was that you are not even supposed to wash the chicken in the sink as the bacteria or viruses can splash to the surroundings.

I am very careful with this and do worry about it but not to the extent of not washing it at all.

Are the bugs living on the surface of the bird then?

Suffice it to say even when the waters splashed around a little, I have to date not suffered any illness around this.

And doesn't it say on the instructions to wash it?

Ive never washed chicken and ive never been ill from not doing so

Great, seems to be the safest answer then

If you wash it and think you may have splashed "bacteria or viruses" to the surrounding area then wash the surrounding area to disinfect it.

If you wash a chicken, typically the inside gets washed too and it is the inside which often carries the norty bacteria. Water then gets splashed around, hands get contaminated, hands turn taps on and off transferring the bacteria to the taps. These bacteria are still there when supposedly clean hands are using the taps so it's recommended that you give the taps a quick squirt with an anti-bacterial spray occasionally when you know you've been handling chicken or other meats.

I'm not someone who gets too neurotic about cleanliness though I have to be careful because I cook for paying guests but I do think that it is worth understanding the principles for handling, storing (in a fridge) and preparing uncooked meat.

And also understanding that blowing your nose and not washing your hands immediately can be a bad thing when prepping food!

Its been said many times on here NOT to wash your meat in the sink. Its the cooking that kills the bacteria, not water! Its a great way to splash bacteria around your kitchen too.

I always used to wash chicken etc. but forced myself to stop doing it a few years ago. Apparently it isn't only yhte splashes that you can see which spread the bugs but an aerosol type spray which gets all over the place.

I remember a study from some years ago where they examined toothbrushes and always found poo bacteria on them - even when they were in a separate bathroom from the toilet. Those things get everywhere.

Thanks guys for your responses, I will go for not washing.

Here's a story that knocks the theory of raw chicken juices easily making you ill. I had a friend who had a cheating husband. Whenever she defrosted chicken breasts for a meal, she would pour the bloody juices into an old screwtop salt shaker, and hide it under the kitchen sink. When she suspected he was going off to see his other women, she would make his toast as usual in the morning, shake loads and loads of the raw bloody juices all over the slices and then spread butter and marmalade on top of it. He ate it without noticing a thing, and never fell ill once ! She tried it with pork as well, all to no avail. To think those juices had been in a warm kitchen, not even refridgerated, and yet still he was completely fine, not even a tummy ache. He must have had a strong constitution or something

Reminds me of the story of the woman who put dog meat as in dog food in her cheating hubbys steak and kidney pie and he asked for more.

Even assuming the story is true, not every chicken is contaminated with salmonella, campylobacter, etc bacteria. Therefore randomly taking chicken blood and pouring it on a bread doesn't prove - or disprove - anything.

i bet he's been barking mad ever since

LOL, more like his pathetic wife

I've never washed chicken and never had a problem.

Who in their right mind would wash meat !! Bizzare idea

Depends on what kind of meat and how it's packaged. or sitting in blood, definitely. From a butcher (trimmed) or a roast, usually not.

The heat cooking kills just about anything lurking on the surface. The point made is that limiting contact with kitchen surfaces helps to prevent spreading the bugs around.

If you're really paranoid but want to rinse it, you can prepare a simple brine of salt and lemon juice.