As November rolls round, we usually begin to shift our focus to Thanksgiving and the busy vacation season.  After I was in operations, our busiest day of the yr was Thanksgiving, so it was usually all hands-on deck for our restaurant. This was additionally the at some point of the yr that we served turkey, outdoors of the sliced selection that we used on sandwiches and got here in precooked. One query that at all times appeared to come back up is that if one ought to wash the uncooked turkey within the prep sink earlier than seasoning it and putting it within the ovens to prepare dinner.  Regardless of its historic prevalence, this age-old custom comes with vital meals security dangers and, in all actuality, yields little to no advantages. Though it could be extra frequent in shopper kitchens than it’s in most foodservice operations, it does warrant a dialogue of why this isn’t a clever thought.

Whereas the ritual of rinsing turkey could also be a typical apply for a lot of, the apply has been frowned upon by well being specialists for a few years.  The United States Division of Agriculture and the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention, have actively discouraged the apply.

WASHING POULTRY IN THE SINK CAN CREATE A BREEDING GROUND FOR BACTERIA, TURNING THE VERY PLACE WHERE YOU PREPARE FOOD INTO A POTENTIAL HAZARD.

Before everything, washing uncooked poultry within the sink doesn’t obtain the specified end result that many would possibly assume. Rinsing uncooked poultry doesn’t successfully get rid of micro organism or pathogens that could be current on the floor of the meat. Identical to a easy rinse of your palms has little to no impact on discount of micro organism in your palms, the identical is true with poultry. The truth is, the splashing water can result in the spreading of those microorganisms to close by surfaces, exacerbating the chance of cross-contamination.

Uncooked poultry can harbor dangerous micro organism equivalent to Salmonella and Campylobacter. These pathogens are recognized to trigger foodborne sicknesses, resulting in signs starting from abdomen cramps to extra extreme situations that will require medical consideration. Slightly than counting on water to take away micro organism, the best method to make sure poultry is protected to devour is thru correctly cooking the poultry to 165˚F, as warmth kills these dangerous microorganisms.

Washing poultry within the sink can create a breeding floor for micro organism, turning the very place the place you put together meals into a possible hazard. The mix of water, natural matter, and the porous nature of kitchen surfaces can foster the expansion and unfold of microorganisms, placing your small business (or household) in danger each time you utilize the meals preparation sink.  Plus, in a busy foodservice kitchen, this danger is amplified by the fast-paced nature of business kitchens, the place the swift motion from one process to a different could result in oversight and compromise meals security.

The age-old custom of washing poultry within the sink will not be solely pointless however poses a substantial danger to your well being. As an alternative of counting on water to get rid of micro organism, give attention to correct cooking strategies and limiting cross contamination. Keep in mind, on the subject of poultry, it’s higher to be overly protected within the kitchen than sorry on the dinner desk (or later). Threat Nothing.