CDC Warns Do Not Wash Your Chicken

Don’t wash your chicken before cooking it can actually do more harm…

The latest warning from the Center for Disease Control has many around the DMV and nation talking. The CDC is telling consumers to not wash their raw chicken before cooking it.

Officials say that washing raw chicken can actually spread dangerous germs to other area and utensils in the kitchen. Officials with the CDC say an estimated million people get sick from consuming poultry that has been contaminated.

The government agency has released a link to a list of way you can prevent from getting food poisoning with chicken. It includes


1. Place chicken in a disposable bag before putting in your shopping cart or refrigerator to prevent raw juices from getting onto other foods.

2. Wash hands with warm soapy water for 20 seconds before and after handling chicken.

3. Do not wash raw chicken. During washing, chicken juices can spread in the kitchen and contaminate other foods, utensils, and countertops.

4. Use a separate cutting board for raw chicken.

5. Never place cooked food or fresh produce on a plate, cutting board, or other surface that previously held raw chicken.

6. Wash cutting boards, utensils, dishes, and countertops with hot soapy water after preparing chicken and before you prepare the next item.

7. Use a food thermometerExternal to make sure chicken is cooked to a safe internal temperature of 165°F.

8. If cooking frozen raw chicken in a microwavable meal, handle it as you would fresh raw chicken. Follow cooking directions carefully to prevent food poisoning.

9. If you think the chicken you are served at a restaurant or anywhere else is not fully cooked, send it back for more cooking.

10. Refrigerate or freeze leftover chicken within 2 hours (or within 1 hour if the temperature outside is higher than 90°F).

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