Why It's a Mistake: Washing raw meat, chicken, turkey, or eggs can spread germs to your sink, countertops, and other surfaces in your kitchen. Those germs can get on other foods, like salads or fruit, and make you sick. Solution: Don't wash meat, chicken, turkey, or eggs.
However, washing raw poultry, beef, pork, lamb or veal before cooking it is not recommended. Bacteria in raw meat and poultry juices can be spread to other foods, utensils and surfaces. We call this cross-contamination.
Never wash pre-washed lettuce or greens before eating them.
But no matter how steadfast your kitchen hygiene may be, any leafy greens that come prepackaged in a container that says "triple washed" shouldn't get a pre-prep wash, experts say.
Wash fruits and vegetables, but not meat, poultry, or eggs:
Rinse fruits and vegetables before peeling, removing skin, or cutting away any damaged or bruised areas. Scrub firm produce like melons or cucumbers with a clean produce brush. Dry produce with a paper towel or clean cloth towel.
You should never wash raw fish in your sink, either.
Remove the scales from fish if a recipe calls for it, but leave your fish unrinsed to prevent your kitchen from becoming a breeding ground for germs.
Food Safety experts (including us at USDA) do not recommend washing raw meat and poultry before cooking. Many bacteria are quite loosely attached and when you rinse these foods the bacteria will be spread around your kitchen.
Put simply, if you wash raw chicken, you are cross-contaminating your kitchen. Yes, fresh fruit and vegetables should be washed with cold water before preparation, but raw poultry should not. Don't worry: Properly cooking chicken will destroy any pathogens. In fact, it is the only way to destroy those pathogens.
Bottom line: When it comes to produce with inedible peels like bananas, melons, oranges and grapefruits, always wash them, peel and all, with these simple steps: Wash all fresh fruits and vegetables with cool tap water immediately before eating. There's no need to use soap or a produce wash.
All produce, from leafy greens or fresh herbs to firm fruits and veggies, should be washed before eating. Use baking soda and cold water when washing produce to help remove chemical residue and dirt.
Certain fruits don't need to be washed before they are peeled. As a general rule, you can forego washing if it has a thick peel that you don't intend to eat. Bananas and avocados are a great example of this. For thin-skinned fruits and veggies, the FDA recommends you always rinse your food before eating.
Gently rub produce while holding under plain running water. There's no need to use soap or a produce wash. Use a clean vegetable brush to scrub firm produce, such as melons and cucumbers. Dry produce with a clean cloth or paper towel to further reduce bacteria that may be present.
Wash "in order," starting with lightly soiled items. This usually includes glasses, cups, and flatware. Washing these items first followed by plates/bowls and serving dishes.
"However, since carrots are grown in the ground, washing/scrubbing is important if you do choose not to peel," he adds. Of course, you should always wash your produce to reduce your risk of illness and pesticides, so hopefully, that's nothing new.
“Although this seems to be a common step in preparation among home cooks and was recommended in the past, professional chefs do not typically rinse poultry,” he says.
Clean fruits and vegetables before eating, cutting, or cooking, unless the package says the contents have been washed. Wash or scrub fruits and vegetables under running water—even if you do not plan to eat the peel. Germs on the peel or skin can get inside fruits and vegetables when you cut them.
The ideal place to store bananas is on the countertop, where they can ripen naturally. You can refrigerate bananas once they've achieved your ideal level of ripeness; however, refrigerating bananas too soon or for too long can have detrimental effects on your bunch.
Washing fruit and vegetables in vinegar is a good way to remove potential bacteria. Use a solution of three parts water and one part vinegar. Plain water is also effective at removing most bacteria. Vinegar will not make produce last longer.
Dirty Dozen 2023
As in 2022, strawberries and spinach continued to hold the top two spots on the Dirty Dozen, followed by three greens — kale, collard and mustard. Listed next were peaches, pears, nectarines, apples, grapes, bell and hot peppers, and cherries. Blueberries and green beans were 11th and 12th on the list.
Eggs have small pores which harmful bacteria can enter. Even shells that appear clean can carry germs. Even so, eggs do not need to be washed. If not washed, they can keep without spoiling for weeks without refrigeration.
Why You Should Always Wash Rice. The reason for washing rice (or any food, for that matter) is cleanliness. Rinsing rice removes dirt, dust, debris, chemicals, and bugs—in short, you're getting rid of the types of things you probably don't want to eat in your finished rice dish.
Avoid rinsing chicken, soaking chicken, using vinegar to clean chicken, or using soapy water to clean chicken. If you use paper towels to pat dry the meat, throw that paper towel or paper towels away immediately, then wash your hands. 4. Stay away from porous surfaces.