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What is the first thing you do when you bring chicken home? Rinse it thoroughly, then rub it with salt and ginger, and some households add a splash of rice wine. For many of us, washing chicken is almost a reflex. Yet food safety guidelines advise the opposite, and their reasoning is quite convincing.
Do you need to wash raw chicken?
Raw chicken from the shop is ready to cook and does not need washing first. The concern is the splashing. When you run water over raw chicken, tiny droplets carry bacteria from the chicken onto the sink, the counter, vegetables and dishes nearby. One survey found that of every 7 people who scrubbed their sink after washing chicken, 1 still had bacteria left in it.
If you are used to washing it, turn the tap down low to cut the splashing. Afterwards, clean the sink and counter with hot, soapy water, then wash your hands for about 20 seconds.
Keep a separate board and plate for raw chicken
Use one cutting board only for raw chicken. Never put cooked food or raw vegetables on a surface that held raw chicken, even for a moment. After use, wash the board, knife, plate and counter with hot, soapy water before touching anything else.
Storing raw chicken in the fridge
Put raw chicken on the bottom shelf in a sealed container or wrapped well, so the juices cannot drip onto other food. Raw chicken keeps only one to two days in the fridge. If you cannot cook it in time, freeze it on the day you buy it.
How cooked is safe
It is hard to tell by eye whether chicken is cooked through. The surest way is a kitchen thermometer: chicken is safe when the inside reaches 74 degrees Celsius. Push the probe into the thickest part of the meat, away from the bone. For thin pieces such as a breast, insert it from the side.
If you would like to remember why a good bowl of phở gà starts with the chicken and the broth pot, have a look at the article on Hanoi Phở Gà.
Read the article on Hanoi Phở Gà
Quick answers
- What about washing chicken with salt, ginger or rice wine?
- The guidance says raw chicken does not need washing, whatever you wash it with. What makes chicken safe is cooking it hot enough: 74 degrees Celsius on the inside.
- How long does raw chicken keep in the fridge?
- One to two days in the fridge. If you will not cook it by then, freeze it.
- How long can boiled chicken cool on the table?
- No more than 2 hours. After that, put it in the fridge and use it within 3 to 4 days.
