QUESTION:
Should you wash raw meat before cooking it?
ANSWER:
No, it is not safe and not recommended.
SOURCES:
Food & Drug Administration
U.S. Department of Agriculture
PROCESS:
Ongoing turkey salmonella concerns has people sharing this on social media: wash or rinse raw meat prior to prepping and cooking.
But not everyone's convinced, so should you or shouldn't you?
The FDA and USDA both say DO NOT rinse raw meat and poultry before cooking, because washing makes it more likely for bacteria to spread to areas around the sink and countertops. Water can actually splash bacteria up to 3 ft.
According to the USDA, some bacteria are so tightly attached that it can't be removed no matter how many times meat's washed and as for soaking meat in salt water-- the USDA says that's not recommended either due to risk of cross contamination and it serves no real purpose as far as food safety.
So we verified, washing raw meat is not safe or recommended to do before cooking. Using a food thermometer is the best way to ensure bacteria is destroyed.
