To wash or not to wash

@BarBaraPrz (52093)
St. Catharines, Ontario
June 24, 2026 9:38am CST
Do you wash your raw chicken before cooking it? Apparently, this is a no-no, as it can contaminate other foods by splash-back in the sink. Personally, I've never washed chicken, and can't remember my mother ever doing it.
https://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/news/should-you-wash-raw-chicken-ontario-expert-settles-debate/article_6ad90de5-6e89-53e8-8553-c71938a4e853.html?source=newsletter&utm_content=a09&utm_source=ml_nl&utm_medium=email&utm_email=E0E2D5C00F9C2F232847B12F27000
9 people like this
9 responses
Michael
@Wrexxo (6461)
•
24 Jun
We just rinse in water like any other meat
3 people like this
BarBaraPrz
@BarBaraPrz (52093)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
24 Jun
Part racoon, are you?
3 people like this
Fleur
@Fleura (36147)
• United Kingdom
24 Jun
So you rinse all meat before cooking?
3 people like this
Michael
@Wrexxo (6461)
•
24 Jun
@Fleura yes..
3 people like this
RasmaSandra
@RasmaSandra (100396)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
24 Jun
Lately I have just had raw frozen chicken, But when I did make fresh I would wash it,
2 people like this
BarBaraPrz
@BarBaraPrz (52093)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
25 Jun
Why?
1 person likes this
BarBaraPrz
@BarBaraPrz (52093)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
25 Jun
@RasmaSandra Ok, but why do you wash it?
1 person likes this
RasmaSandra
@RasmaSandra (100396)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
25 Jun
@BarBaraPrz for my budget, frozen is cheaper, and I can have it whenever; it stays in my freezer.
1 person likes this
Amber
@AmbiePam (126154)
• United States
24 Jun
No, I have never done that. It amazes me that people do.
2 people like this
BarBaraPrz
@BarBaraPrz (52093)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
24 Jun
Yeah, I could never understand it.
2 people like this
Juliaacv
@Juliaacv (57401)
• Canada
24 Jun
I will rinse the chicken, but I always disinfect my sink before and after I use it, so now worries about lingering germs.
2 people like this
BarBaraPrz
@BarBaraPrz (52093)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
25 Jun
OK
1 person likes this
Anna
@LadyDuck (508738)
• Italy
24 Jun
No, I do not wash the raw chicken. I check that it's perfectly clean and no residuals inside.
2 people like this
BarBaraPrz
@BarBaraPrz (52093)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
24 Jun
Unless it's something the cat dragged in, I don't see the point of washing meat.
2 people like this
Anna
@LadyDuck (508738)
• Italy
25 Jun
@BarBaraPrz - It makes no sense to wash meat.
1 person likes this
Marie Coyle
@MarieCoyle (62415)
•
24 Jun
I do not wash chicken. As you said, it spreads more germs from the splashing. Besides, I don’t wash any other meats. I do wash my hands well before and after handling raw meats, but that’s standard practice for me.
2 people like this
BarBaraPrz
@BarBaraPrz (52093)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
24 Jun
And washing beef is just washing off the flavor.
2 people like this
Marie Coyle
@MarieCoyle (62415)
•
25 Jun
@BarBaraPrz I agree, that would make no sense at all.
1 person likes this
Fleur
@Fleura (36147)
• United Kingdom
24 Jun
No. Why would you wash chicken specifically and not any other meat?
2 people like this
BarBaraPrz
@BarBaraPrz (52093)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
24 Jun
A misguided belief in removing salmonella?
2 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (387382)
• Rockingham, Australia
25 Jun
I don't wash any meat before cooking it.
1 person likes this
BarBaraPrz
@BarBaraPrz (52093)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
25 Jun
Neither me.
1 person likes this
Valentina
@valherma00 (5255)
• Zagreb, Croatia (Hrvatska)
27 Jun
according to one video on youtube, concerning the korean culture, it says it is good cause, chicken and other meat has a better flavour but, like you, i don't wash it also, my hands would stink and i hate that.
1 person likes this