Why You Shouldn't Rinse Raw Meat Before Cooking It (Even if Your Recipe Says To)

Both professional and home cooks have been rinsing raw chicken and turkey before cooking it for what seems like forever. It's one of those divisive practices—either you do it or you don't, and people tend to be rather opinionated on their stances. Pro-rinsers argue that it removes bacteria, and if Julia Child recommends it, how could it be bad? But in the years since Child wrote that "it is probably wise to give [chicken] a thorough washing and drying before storing or cooking," studies have found that rinsing often does more harm than good. Does Washing Raw Meat Really Make a Difference... more

more