With numerous food product recalls in the news due to possible contamination with salmonella, listeria and other contaminants, food and kitchen safety is a very important concern for millions of people.
Fox News Digital spoke to a variety of experts to identify some unsafe practices in home kitchens and how to correct behaviors before someone gets sick.
Read on to find out what the experts had to say.
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On the surface
One of the biggest risks in the kitchen is cross-contamination of bacteria from other surfaces, New York health expert Christine Lusita told Fox News Digital via email.
“Meat and poultry should not be washed,” he said, as washing can spread bacteria present on raw meat to other surfaces.
The safest way to cook raw meat is straight from the package to the pan, a health expert told Fox News Digital. Washing raw meat can spread bacteria throughout the kitchen. (iStock)
“Washing meat is not the best safety method and can increase the risk of spreading to utensils, surfaces and food,” Lusita added.
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Instead, a person should cook food “straight from the package into the pan,” he said.
Another reason you don't need to wash meat before cooking it is that the cooking process itself will kill any bacteria, chef Nickenford Joseph told Fox News Digital.
“Cooking meat to the proper temperature will kill any germs or bacteria.”
“Cooking the meat to the proper temperature will kill any germs or bacteria,” he shared in an email. Joseph is co-executive chef at Vinyl Steakhouse in New York City.
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Cross-contamination can also occur in other areas of the kitchen, both experts said, and some in less obvious ways than others. Read on…
Clean and lean
“Ensuring that water is clean and safe is often overlooked,” Joseph told Fox News digital.
“The quality of the water filter is important when washing vegetables and fruits. Otherwise, you could spread bacteria in the kitchen.”
New York-based health expert Christine Lusita and Chef Nickenford Joseph of New York's Vinyl Steakhouse shared food safety tips. (Courtesy of Christine Lusita; Vinyl Steakhouse)
It's always necessary to wash fruits and vegetables, Joseph said, even if they're peeled.
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“Cross contamination can occur with more than just meat,” Lusita said. “I like to use separate preparation surfaces to avoid any chance of cross contamination.”
It's also important to regularly clean cutting boards, kitchen sponges and dishcloths, Joseph noted, as these products “are often overlooked and can harbor bacteria.”
Unfreeze faults
Thawing frozen meat on the counter, at room temperature or in hot water are “dangerous thawing practices that should be avoided at all costs,” Eleonora Lahud, corporate chef for Florida-based C&H Sugar, told Fox News Digital in November 2022.
Cross contamination of bacteria in the kitchen can be a health risk. Follow the safety tips outlined in this article for the best preparation and cooking tips. (iStock)
Instead, it is recommended to defrost meat with cold water, he said.
Lahud suggested changing the water every 30 minutes to speed up defrosting.
Scrubbing a dubbing
It's also important to remember good hygiene practices during this time, she said.
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“Don't forget to scrub the surfaces and utensils you use,” she said. “Washing them with soap and water will help you avoid contaminating other foods, yourself and your future guests.”
Cleaning while you cook is “the easiest way to control your space,” Lusita said.
Cleaning while cooking is one way to prevent the spread of bacteria. (iStock)
“And use the right kind of cleaning products,” he said. “Don't use the same [cleaning] Wipes from counters to food preparation areas.”
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Also, no matter how clean your floors are, don't eat or cook with food that has fallen on them, Joseph said.
Cross contamination occurs in the kitchen with more than just meat. (iStock)
“One of the biggest misconceptions about food safety is the 'five-second rule' — the idea that if you drop a food on the floor and pick it up within five seconds, it's safe to eat,” she said.
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“This is not true, as bacteria can spread quickly.”
