Do you need to wash raw chicken before cooking?

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Food safety authorities recommend not washing raw poultry before cooking. Washing chicken can spread dangerous bacteria around the kitchen. Yet many people continue to do so.

Yes, a Dutch study found that 25% of consumers often or almost always wash chicken. One analysis showed why many people still do it.

Some believe that feces and other substances need to be washed off chicken meat. In reality, however, modern processing techniques mean that chicken carcasses do not need to be cleaned.

Others believe that washing with a slightly acidic solution (such as vinegar or lemon juice) kills bacteria. In contrast, studies have shown that washing raw poultry in lemon juice or vinegar does not remove bacteria and may increase the risk of cross-contamination.

The surest way to disinfect chicken is to cook it properly, for a long enough time, and at the right temperature.