Don’t Rinse Turkey, Turkey
Raw poultry looks unpleasant, but rinsing it will not make it any less unpleasant. While washing your holiday turkey a little is the first step in many recipes, it can actually do more harm than good.
According to the New York Times , it doesn’t kill any pathogens, but it doesn’t spread around your kitchen, tools, and life through spraying. What Really Kills Bacteria? Cooking food:
“Washing the chicken will not remove many bacteria,” said Benjamin Chapman, assistant professor of agricultural and human sciences at the University of North Carolina. But it can spread germs to hands, work surfaces, clothing, and nearby dishes or food – a process called cross-contamination. “This washing process can really only increase the risk,” he said. “All I can really do is control it through cooking.”
The New York Times also points out that many recipes (including probably some of mine) recommend cooking temperatures lower than what the FDA deems “safe,” so read this guide if you’re concerned. Aside from cooking meat, your best defense is to keep raw poultry as far away from fresh food as possible and wash your hands, cutting boards, and surfaces in hot soapy water (at least 20 seconds) after you finish cooking. Just don’t worry about bathing the bird; bird baths for the yard.
Do not rinse the bird. A myth to be dispelled before the holidays. | The newspaper “New York Times