The Controversial Thing Bobby Flay Does With Raw Chicken - Tasting Table

"Raw chicken can carry germs such as campylobacter, salmonella, or clostridium perfringens, and the main reason why washing chicken before cooking is a bad idea is because of the inevitable spreading of said germs. When you rinse a raw chicken over the sink, all of its germs disseminated around the sink."

"When washed off with water, those pathogens can splash and reach other areas of your kitchen, from the dish rack next to your sink to your sink's handle. Since germs are too small to see, there's no way of knowing whether your deep clean of the sink and its surroundings really did the job."

Chef Bobby Flay and other renowned chefs wash raw chicken before cooking, but this practice contradicts CDC food safety guidelines. Raw chicken carries dangerous pathogens including campylobacter, salmonella, and clostridium perfringens. Washing chicken causes these germs to spread throughout the sink, splash onto surrounding surfaces, and contaminate kitchen areas like dish racks and handles. Since pathogens are microscopic and invisible, thorough cleaning cannot guarantee removal of all germs. Food safety experts recommend avoiding washing raw meat entirely to prevent cross-contamination and foodborne illness.

Read at Tasting Table