Help an idiot: Do I have to wash boneless skinless chicken breast before I put it in the oven?

[limpyhobbler]

I don't usually cook chicken unless it's like chicken nuggets. Do I have to wash these things to get the germs off before I put it in the oven? Thank you from a food idiot.

[Dead_Parrot]

1. You're supposed to cook them?

No wonder nobody comes round for dinner anymore...

[limpyhobbler]

7. that's my understanding...

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. I never have...never had a problem either...

I do wash my hands after handling it, though!

[limpyhobbler]

8. ok cool, I'll definitely wash my hands.

[Arkansas Granny]

3. I don't know that it's absolutely necessary, but I like to wash chicken before I cook it.

It's one of those things that can't really hurt and it just takes a minute.

[LoveMyCali]

6. Actually it could do some harm

I can't remember where I heard it, some cooking show I had on as background noise, said that washing chicken could splash the bacteria around your kitchen. Just cooking it thoroughly is enough to kill any germs.

[Arkansas Granny]

12. That's a new one on me. I've never heard that before.

So, I went looking and, sure enough, the first entry that came up on my search says don't wash.

http://shine.yahoo.com/shine-food/dont-wash-your-chicken-before-you-cook-it-and-9-other-surprising-tips-2475547.html

[limpyhobbler]

17. I had tried searching online and found a bunch of conflicting answers.

I ended up not rinsing just to make it as simple as possible. Thanks again.

[limpyhobbler]

9. Thanks Arkansas granny.

With a screen name like that, you must know what you're doing. I might give it a quick rinse.

[alphafemale]

4. Do they feel slimy?

You may want to marinade them in something. And then make a little tin foil tent. Italian dressing even. Breasts can dry out.

[limpyhobbler]

10. I have 2 packets of Italian dressing from the salad bar at the grocery store.

I could let them sit in that for a little bit.
I'll see when I cut them out of the plastic.

I was just going to spray they heck out of them with olive oil spray and then salt and pepper.

[alphafemale]

16. olive oil is a very good marinade.

two things you need in any marinade is an acid and an oil. Acid is a vinegar or citrus juice. Add spices to your hearts content beyond that.

If you let those things steep in that italian dressing and then keep them in that and cook them in an aluminum foil tent with a little vent at about 375 for 45 you will be happy mouthed.

[Duer 157099]

5. Just don't use soap

The washing is to get the extra blood off (I think, at least that's why I do it). The germs may also get rinsed off, so it's a two-fer.

[limpyhobbler]

11. noted.

gracias.

[blueamy66]

26. My guy has been in the restaurant business for about 40 years.

You bet your butt we wash chicken before we cook it. As well as pork, steak and fish.

You'd be amazed what happens to meat/fish....from the origin to the grocery/meat store.

[Denninmi]

13. I soak it out, in ice water with a little vinegar and just a little salt.

1/3 cup vinegar in a gallon of water, and about a teaspoon of salt. Let it soak for at least an hour. You'll be surprised at how disgusting the water looks after this time. This draws out a lot of the lymphatic fluid, residual blood, etc. Takes away and strong or off flavors.

[Curmudgeoness]

14. I always rinse mine, but I don't know why.

I have also heard that it can spread bacteria, but after all these years, I am still here and I am not sick all the time. If you worry about spreading bacteria, use a bowl instead of a stream of water from the tap. I just don't like to see all the water and blood in the package when I open it up.

Good luck, and bon appetit.

[JitterbugPerfume]

15. yes !!

I repeat YES!

[quakerboy]

18. The germs add flavor

Even more flavor if left uncooked.

[Major Nikon]

19. You don't have to wash it

Cross contamination is the biggest problem when you're working with poultry. The biggest issue is to wash everything thoroughly that came into contact with the raw chicken. Spraying counter tops and cutting boards down with a 50/50 solution of white vinegar and water is not a bad idea.

[libodem]

20. I use a bowl of water in the sink

To wash it off. I don't care what the experts say about splashing the germs around. Point is there ARE germs. I'm careful and most bacterial growth is on the surface so it does make a difference.

[pitohui]

21. i do wash them but i don't know why

presumably you are going to cook them to an internal temp of 160 degrees F or more and in that case the germs are killed anyhow...

[grasswire]

22. Alton Brown says just pat them dry with a paper towel

Do not wash.

Why?

When you wash chicken, splatters go everywhere. Salmonella splatters everywhere.

Food Network says don't wash. Pat dry with paper towel, throw it away.

[Nikia]

23. The germs get killed during cooking

Most of the germs are on the skin, which has been removed for you, but I still wouldn't risk eating undercooked chicken even if you soaked it. If it is cooked well, all the germs will be killed whether the colony count was in the hundreds or hundreds of millions.

[ohiosmith]

24. Yes. But not with your underwear unless you want every cat in the neighborhood trying to crawl up

your pant leg. Take it from one knows.

[emilyg]

25. Rinse and pat dry.