Part 3: 4 Common Myths About Washing Raw Poultry

• “Water Washes Away Bacteria”: Plain water cannot destroy bacteria attached to raw meat; only heat effectively kills foodborne pathogens.
• “Lemon Juice or Vinegar Sanitizes It”: Soaking raw poultry in acidic solutions like vinegar or citrus juice may alter flavor, but it does not reliably eliminate bacteria.
• “Slime Needs to Be Rinsed Off”: Rinsing surface moisture off raw chicken only spreads germs; patted dry with paper towels is the safer option.
• “It’s How My Family Always Did It”: Older generations washed chicken before modern food safety research revealed how easily aerosolized droplets spread cross-contamination.

➡️ TAP “NEXT” TO LEARN HOW TO SAFELY PREP CHICKEN IN PART 4!