to wash or not to wash?????

[jack daniels]

chatting to a friend of mine today we both discovered that I wash all meat before cooking it - including mince, she doesn't wash any of hers.
I can't cook meat without washing & draining it first. I know some people will say that cooking it would kill all the germs but I think you don't really know where it's been or how/who has handled it in whatever way.
I also 'wash' fish in salt & vinegar or lemon juice which takes some of the strong 'fishy' smell out of it

Anyway I was wondering how many people wash or don't wash & their reasons for doing so

tia Anna x

[marval]

I never wash mine.

[funnygirl]

I wash all meats except mince.

[Mamyalynne]

As Anlyn has already said if you are simply rinsing it in cold water, then you are not destroying any germs at all. DT has a very valid point about the spreading of washing meat spreading bacteria around the sink area.

[douglas9401]

We gave up washing mince, took too long pegging it out to dry afterwards.

[snags]

You wash mince? The individual strands?

[maggiebee]

Lol Douglas! Have never washed meat, chicken or fish. Cooking process would kill off any bacteria better than rinsing in cold water.

[HowardKennitby]

I don't wash meat, chicken or mushrooms.

[giveup]

Wash chicken but nothing else.

[Anlyn]

I'll rinse mushrooms to get any remaining soil off Howard..they can be quite gritty if you don't.

[DTCwordfan]

should not rinse mushrooms Anlyn as they will soak the water up....they are highly porous. The best way to clean them is to use a slightly moist paper towel

[Anlyn]

They're mostly water anyway....?

[DTCwordfan]

yes and you are adding to it when you rinse them - they cook better without the addition.....

[shoota]

If you wash meat you run the risk of separating the fibres completely.

[Anlyn]

Think my sister has some baby wipes or something...I could use those!

[lorri24601]

I have never washed meat for the exact reasons DT said,splashing any germs (that would be killed off in the heat of cooking anyway) from splashing round the sink and surronding areas and then becoming a seperate hazzard.

[maggiebee]

My mother used to say "you've to eat a puckle dirt afore ye dee"

[bushbaby_de]

I tend to only wash meat if its been in the freezer, because it can be a bit slimy when it defrosts. For fresh meat I might pat it with a bit of kitchen roll, but otherwise it comes out of the packet, rests on the side for a bit, then into the oven etc.

[TheOtherHalf]

At college, we were told not to wash meat except if you were rinsing out the insides of a fresh turkey or chicken, and then pat dry and make sure you clean everwhere down including the sink as it can cross contaminate. I still do this and even wear disposalable gloves when doing so. I always wash fresh fish too

[Mickeyjohn8]

Washing the meat does not destroy bacteria, whereas cooking it at the relevant temperature will kill the bacteria.

[jno]

don't have the water too hot or the colours will fade. Iron at low heat after spinning dry is best.