5 Don’t Wash the Chicken
This is another piece of advice that might seem to run contrary to our assumptions about health. Many of us will wash the chicken, assuming that we are killing off the bacteria that live on its surface and thereby making it more hygienic.
In fact, though, cooking the chicken is what kills off the bacteria – which is the entire reason that we do it! Washing your chicken won’t have that effect, and in fact, it is more likely to simply transfer that bacteria to your hands, face, cooking surfaces and more. Handle the chicken as little as possible then get it into the oven, that is how you ensure it is clean and healthy.
This is why the Foods Standards Agency actually advises against washing poultry. And the other thing to keep in mind is that washing chicken will dry it out and make it significantly less tasty. So just don’t do it!