Washing chicken is unfortunately fairly common in the United States. People think it reduces salmonella risk. They’re the opposite of correct, but that’s why they do it.
Common was a bad choice of wording. ‘Not uncommon’ probably would have been a better way to put it. It’s more prevalent in certain cultures, often brought by immigrants from less economically developed regions. There are historical reasons for this, and we could get into the sociology of it, but the point is that where these people’s parents or grandparents came from, rinsing meat made practical sense. Industrial agriculture and cold chain logistics remove any benefit to washing meat, but culture doesn’t turn on a dime.
Important to note that “washing” chicken sometimes involves a brine and citrus soak, which is closer to marinating if you ask me but they call it washing the chicken. Washing under the faucet is just a bad idea but people do it and they mostly don’t die. Another argument for breaking down socioeconomic barriers, I suppose.
Washing chicken is unfortunately fairly common in the United States. People think it reduces salmonella risk. They’re the opposite of correct, but that’s why they do it.
How do we know it’s common? I’m in the US and i never heard of washing chicken.
I’ve heard of defrosting it under running water (in a container placed in a sink) but that’s it.
Common was a bad choice of wording. ‘Not uncommon’ probably would have been a better way to put it. It’s more prevalent in certain cultures, often brought by immigrants from less economically developed regions. There are historical reasons for this, and we could get into the sociology of it, but the point is that where these people’s parents or grandparents came from, rinsing meat made practical sense. Industrial agriculture and cold chain logistics remove any benefit to washing meat, but culture doesn’t turn on a dime.
Important to note that “washing” chicken sometimes involves a brine and citrus soak, which is closer to marinating if you ask me but they call it washing the chicken. Washing under the faucet is just a bad idea but people do it and they mostly don’t die. Another argument for breaking down socioeconomic barriers, I suppose.