Do you wash your chicken before cooking it?

Question

Someone made a post about her mom washing chicken and how grossed out she was because she thought it could cause cross contamination from bacteria splashing from the chicken all over the sink and counters posing a food poisoning concern. And someone in the comments mentioned that her question belongs in the Controversy Corner so I thought I should post it here. I’m not on either side because I never cook but many people mentioned they wash it because of feathers, bone fragments, and a bunch of shit found on the chicken, but others said it’s fine to just cook it to a safe temperature.
Now the final question who is in the right? I wanna be presented with facts not just personal opinions. I know the CDC says not to wash it but what is the science behind this? And why do so many people wash it anyways if it is such a great health risk.

Answer

Oh man.
Only 18% of us wash their meat?!
I wash everything before I cook.
Especially meat! 
It has dried blood, bones, chicken has feather bits….
Would also cut off the skin with lot of feather in it…
Needs to be clean!

Answer

With vinegar and lime. All my black people know. 😮‍💨

Answer

No, that’s gross 🤮. Talk about cross contamination. I’ve heard that people do this.. why..

Answer

E.coli and salmonella love water. They grow and thrive in it. That’s why you don’t want to wash chicken. You’re facilitating the spread of potential bacteria. One drop off contaminated water being touched and then transferred to your body will take you out for a bit. It’s not worth the risk! Safe temp and everything dies. No need to facilitate the spread risk of bacterias. 
- medical background

Answer

The science is cross contamination. You're splashing billions of little droplets of raw chicken all over your sink, counters, cabinets, kitchen wall, yourself, the floor. It doesn't just stay contained to the sink. That's the science. Washing it doesn't remove any bacteria. It literally just spreads it. What does kill it? Cooking it properly to the proper temperature.

Answer

No I don’t wash chicken. I always inspect my meat before I think about cooking it. Like what places are people going that they’re finding meat with feathers and crap with it. I wouldn’t wash it if I found that stuff cause it’s immediately going in the garbage.

Answer

it’s a cultural thing often so enjoy this fire you’ve just created

Answer

Not in ur typical wash sense. I soak my meat in lemon and salt. To me that cleaning or washing my chicken off. ESP store bought poultry

Answer

I would never, but I do buy air chilled chicken because the quality is MUCH better. The meat smells slightly sweet and good enough to eat straight out of the package, but of course you cook it. If your chicken doesn’t smell delicious while raw, you should buy better quality chicken. No reason to wash. Germs are microscopic, doesn’t matter if you’re not “splashing”, you’re going to contaminate something in your kitchen that way.

Answer

I do not but I also raise my own chickens and process them myself. They are cleaned well before packaging.

Do you wash your chicken before cooking it?

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