Three Foods To Wash And Not Wash Before Eating
Often, out of habit or because we believe we are doing the right thing, we make mistakes in handling food, leaving the way for bacteria to contaminate and make us sick. Keep reading and find out how to handle these foods the safest way for your health and your family.
Never wash:
Chicken
Most people think they should wash the chicken before cooking it to get rid of the bacteria that may be present, however, this is a totally incorrect practice.
When you put the chicken under the tap or in the water, this water contaminates with the bacteria that inhabit this type of meat. These bacteria, which are totally invisible to the human eye, are now out of control, on the counter, on the table, wherever that water has splashed and on all the surfaces they have come into contact with.
One of the most common bacteria of the chicken is salmonella and is responsible for leaving mostly sick children. According to WebMD , this type of contamination can present symptoms that include diarrhea, fever, and abdominal pain. This disease manifests between 12 and 72 hours after the infection has occurred (ie after the person has been exposed to the bacteria), and the illness lasts between 4 and 7 days.
Bacteria that live on the chicken can be destroyed by cooking the chicken at a temperature of 75 degrees Celsius. According to published studies, 47% of the people who wash the chicken end up being affected with this infection.
Eggs
When eggs are processed before they go on sale, they are covered with a protective layer (not harmful to our health) that isolates the bacteria and prevents them from contaminating other foods.
You should never wash the eggs after you have bought them and before cooking them, since you will remove this protective layer.
Fish
Like chicken, washing raw fish will not eliminate bacteria, but will create a conducive environment for them to spread everywhere.
Always wash:
Cans with food before opening them
You should never open a can with food before washing that can, especially the lid to prevent any bacteria that are present there from contacting the food you are about to eat.
It is also important to rinse (in the case of vegetables, for example) what is inside the can to eliminate preservatives that have been placed.
Fruits and vegetables with edible peel
Always and without exception you should wash all fruits and vegetables with edible peels. You should do this when you are about to eat the food and with cold water. Some people also use soap to wash, but this is not good since the porous surface of the fruit or vegetable will absorb some of the soap, and this is not healthy.
If you want to further reduce any bacteria that may have remained, use a paper towel to dry the food before consuming it. It is important for you to know that as much as these foods say they are organic does not mean that you should not wash them, and the water sprays with which the markets keep them fresh for longer does not mean they are already washed .
Fruits and vegetables with NON-edible peels
Potatoes, bananas, oranges, etc., have inedible peels. It is worth mentioning that the potato peel can be eaten. However, it is necessary to wash these foods because they are covered with soil and bacteria that can be transferred to the Inside the fruit or vegetable as you manipulate it.
So, when you get any of this above mentioned foods, make sure you dont wash some, and wash the others.