If you grew up in a home where rinsing chicken under the faucet was treated as an unshakeable law, prepare to have your kitchen habits turned upside down. For generations, many home cooks have believed that rinsing raw chicken before cooking it was essential for hygiene.
Also read | Stop eating chicken every day: Study says it can lead to cancer
But according to Delhi-based cardiologist Dr Alok Chopra, that seemingly harmless habit was doing the exact opposite: it was actively contaminating your kitchen counters, utensils, and surrounding food.
You may be making your kitchen less safe. Washing can spread harmful bacteria around your kitchen. What makes chicken safe is proper cooking — not rinsing. Think about what’s usually sitting near your kitchen sink: freshly washed fruits, drying dish towels, clean spoons, or an open bowl of salad. A single microscopic splash carrying Salmonella can turn your innocent kitchen counter into a food safety hazard. So, if cleaning with water doesn’t remove bacteria, what actually keeps your chicken safe? Dr Chopra highlighted the fundamental of kitchen hygiene: “The step that makes chicken safe is through cooking. No amount of running water, vinegar, or lemon juice can sanitise raw meat as effectively as high heat does, as Dr Chopra’s post bluntly stated: “Heat kills harmful bacteria. Washing doesn’t. Breaking a habit can feel uncomfortable at first, but adjusting your routine is surprisingly easy once you streamline your steps. Dr Chopra summarised the ultimate rule into a simple, memorable mantra: “Skip the sink. Go straight to the pan. Also read | Chicken vs mutton: Which meat offers better protein and overall health benefits? Unlearning cooking traditions can be tough, but when it comes to foodborne pathogens, letting go of the sink rinse is one of the simplest upgrades you can make for your health.
Taking to Instagram on September 30, Dr Chopra issued a warning, asking a straightforward question: “Still washing raw chicken before cooking it?
