Don't Wash Your Chicken! Germ-Vision Animation

Created by New Mexico State University's Media Productions and its Learning Games Lab:

Although raw chicken and turkey can carry bacteria on their surfaces, research has shown that washing raw poultry under running water in your kitchen sink is a bad idea. When water splashes off a surface, it can aerosolize (turn into a fine spray), so even if you can't see or feel the spray, bacteria from raw poultry could be landing on you, your kitchen towels, your countertops, and any other food you have nearby. Instead, just transfer raw poultry straight from the package into the cooking pan. The heat from the cooking process will kill any bacteria that are present. Then simply clean up any splashes and wash your hands with soap and hot water.

[sytyjedi]

This video is for people who put everything right next to the sink and wash their chicken with a fire hose.

[kiragordon]

Bunch of people in these comments who can’t handle the truth. Even if you dont keep your veggies by the sink, what do you keep, maybe a sponge? The soap bottle? I doubt you’re thinking to wash the soap bottle much. It’s always “its never happened to me” until it does.

[ewang]

If you've got raw salad greens and cheese and stuff right next to your sink while you're washing pretty much anything, you deserve to get salmonella.

[masterincubator]

Good stuff. Hopefully someone invents a way to clean countertops soon

[angelagriffin]

Foods like salads and cheese shouldn't be setting next to the sink. I don't use running water. I have one of those big sinks. I fill a big bowl in an empty sink and wash the chicken in it.

[CarlosRicovslosmolinosdeviento]

The real point is: You are going to cook the chicken and make it safe to eat but you may contaminate other meals THAT YOU WILL NOT COOK and  end up sick. Be carefull and  wash thoroughly every thing that comes in touch

[alliwantisyounknow]

Why dont you fill big bowl with water and put in the chicken?

[canebro]

I'm not worried about the bacteria on the chicken so much as washing off the blood, fat, and preservative fluid on the chicken. Also, that is why you wash your hands, clothes, and wipe down the kitchen every so often.

[campar]

who the hell washes their chicken on full blast? just turn the water pressure down

[alexmate]

instead of telling us "wash the chicken carefully" they tell us "don't wash it"

[bflagg]

one drop of water can contain >100, 000 bacteria. The splashing from the sink aerosolizes and can land all around the area without seeing wetness.

[Joe-hxmg]

Yes cooking all meats to the proper temperature is necessary. Answer to washing chicken is to brine it in water salt and sugar for an hour or two. Even overnight. Keep a special container for brining and clean it good when through. This process will make the meat more tender and flavorful but also clean it. Just be careful when disposing of the brining liquids.

[daibar]

I will continue to not wash chicken like I'm a moron.

[rolmac]

Every time I wash my chicken she gets furious.

[pirossi]

where can I buy a germ-vision? does it come in red?

[NoraCeccopieri]

What is the problem! Wash in a bowl give a "bath" at your chicken with salt and lemon juice... quiet well without splashing to anything or anyone! But do not wash the chicken?, Never! Always wash yoru chicken!

[ashley]

Very interesting. But I'm still washing all veggies!! I've lived in Mexico where a lot of fruit and veggies come from and you'd never considering eating anything that's not washed.

[tiebryant]

Oh germs splattered. Still must wash meat I wash with vinegar

[ladybug]

They're not talking about regular germs here, but food poisoning from samonella. It's not telling you to indulge everything with anti-bacterial product.
I haven't been sick for years because I'm just plain careful.
When were you sick last? It's common sense. Not malarky.

[eppersonelectrical]

Washing it is got to be better than choking it, right????