Have you ever heard a friend say, “That tastes like chicken” after you’ve offered them your food? It’s one of those popular phrases that you will find every non-vegetarian using often. But, why is chicken so important?
Reasons are pretty obvious — it’s cheap, it pairs well with most of the ingredients out there, and not to forget, the many options it’s available in (boneless, skinless, breast only, wing only, etc.) makes it the favorite meat for most of the cooks out there. But, did you know that there are a few rules and guidelines that you need to follow while you’re handling raw chicken? Yes, if you don’t handle raw chicken the right way, it can harm your stomach really bad. We found some real chick rules that you need to follow when you’re cooking your favorite chicken meal. We’ve laid them out for you-
1. Leaving Your Raw Chicken Out For Longer Than Required
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Most of us, including the well-trained cooks, just unpack the frozen raw chicken and leave it to defrost on its own at our kitchen counters. This often results in us completely forgetting about the chicken meat while we’re busy doing our other chores in the kitchen. We need to understand that even our favorite chicken comes with a time stamp. Okay, we understand that you don’t want to defrost your chicken in the oven or with the help of any other device. So, you leave it out to thaw at room temperature. But there is a time frame for it. Leaving raw chicken out for too long can lead to the development of harmful bacteria which can upset our digestive system. It can lead to foodborne diseases and infections like food poisoning.
Instead: If you just bought the chicken from the market, and you don’t plan on cooking it the same day, keep it in your fridge. Freeze it, if you don’t want to consume anytime soon. And leave it out to thaw, only half an hour before you intend to cook it.
2. Improper Storing Techniques
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One of the many reasons why most non-vegetarians love chicken is because it remains juicy and tender if it’s cooked the right way. Now we all know that chicken is a succulent meat, which is rich with a lot of juices. And if you thought keeping it just like that in the fridge will help, no it will not! The juices from the chicken might leak out making your fridge a stinky hell. And they might contaminate other produce which you’ve been storing in the fridge as well.
Instead: Either buy yourself frozen chicken or place the raw chicken on a plate, cover it with a foil, and keep it at the bottom shelves in your refrigerator. This will prevent the juices from contaminating other foods, in case of any leakage.
3. Rinsing The Chicken Before Cooking
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Yes, this shouldn’t be done. Even the studies have claimed that washing raw chicken before cooking it can increase the chances of contamination (1). The bacteria from the chicken might end up on your sink walls, your kitchen counter or even the apron that you’re wearing.
Instead: It would be better for you if you skip the wash drill here. A better alternative would be to cook your chicken directly in that slow boiler, or put it in an oven, or on the frying pan.
4. Making Marination Mistakes
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Always remember, it’s the warm temperature that precipitates the growth of bacteria in fresh meats. And we all know how a good marinade can accentuate the taste of the chicken to another level altogether. Marinating is what tenderizes the chicken, right? But leaving it to marinade, out in the open, on your kitchen counter is a huge mistake.
Instead: Use a plastic bag or any closed container to marinade it and keep container/bag inside the fridge. Whenever you wish to cook, take out the bag or the container, toss the chicken with the juices, and you’re ready to go.
5. Reusing Tools That Have Come In Contact With The Raw Chicken
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Savvy cooks are the ones who’ve mastered their multitasking skills in the kitchen. You know what we mean, don’t you? Being able to chop vegetables while stirring something that has already been cooking in the pan, is no mean feat. But, with chicken, it’s a risk! Please avoid reusing the utensils that have already been in touch with the raw chicken. This is because raw meats always carry bacteria and this contact can lead to contamination which can even cause salmonella (2).
Instead: Make it a habit to wash the utensils thoroughly if you ever find the need to use them again.
These were a few tips that we wanted you to keep in mind the next time you are handling raw chicken in your kitchens. Do you know of any other that we should know of? Let us know in the comments below.
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