When it comes to cooking habits, most people learn from their parents or grandparents. Over time, these practices become second nature, whether they are beneficial or potentially harmful.
Dr Sam, who shares health advice on TikTok under the handle @drsamuelgp, told his followers that rinsing raw chicken before cooking it could increase the risk of contamination rather than reduce it.
However, while some social media videos show people using extreme methods to ‘clean’ their chicken – like soaking it in vinegar or lemon juice. Dr Sam stressed that even rinsing it with plain water can be problematic.
In his video, Dr Sam explained: “Why you should stop washing your chicken. I am Dr Sam and this is medical adulting where you will learn interesting medical lessons to help you live your life better.”
“A study found that people who wash their chicken in their sinks ended up contaminating their salads, and this happened because of several reasons.”
“Washing chicken in the sink contaminates the sink, allowing the bacteria from the chicken to transfer to your fruits and vegetables.”
“Three, most people don’t wash their hands for long enough.”
Dr Sam then suggested alternative ways to handle raw chicken that reduce the risk of contamination.
“You can blanch chicken in boiling water and throw the water away.”
“You shouldn’t worry about the bacteria because it will no longer be there once you cook your chicken to 75 degrees.”
Despite his medical expertise, Dr Sam’s advice wasn’t met with universal agreement.
Some viewers insisted that they would continue washing their chicken, arguing that they could simply clean their sink afterward.
Well, he made his case. Whether people take his advice is another matter entirely…
