The other day I had a group of students start their class day by opening a few beef shoulder clods that were in vacuum bag. I was in the class, away from the sink where they were opening. I walked out to find them rinsing the beef off with cold water. I immediately called everyone together to explain why this was a bad idea. I asked why they were doing it and the response was "I thought it was making the meat safer".
The idea of washing meat is certainly not a new one. For years home cooks were told to wash poultry and that would make it less likely to make their family ill. Many an unscrupulous restaurateur has rinsed chicken that is starting to turn with a mixture of salt water and lemon juice, jeopardizing the safety of their customers simply to save a few bucks.Deer hunters have oftenhosed off their catch to remove excess hair after removing the hide. But would it be normal to see someone rinsing off a steak or chop?
Back to the rinsing of fresh poultry. A large percentage ofchicken or turkey will have some bacteria pathogens on its surface. Does rinsing it off in your kitchen sink remove that bacteria? The reality is rinsing basically spreads the bacteria further around the kitchen as it drips. But that's not to say when you open a poultry bag that you can't rinse off the excess juices to slightly freshen the bird. That may be something you do for flavor reasons but it does not reduce the bacteria counts and should be done with caution to be sure not to cross-contaminate the whole area. It is always wise to wash down the area with soapy water with a cap of bleach in it.Here is a short article on the problem with rinsing. ( it also has a great old clip of Julia Child )http://consumerist.com/2013/08/26/quit-washing-your-chicken-it-just-sprays-germs-everywhere/
What about red meat? If an item is stored in a vacuum bag for a few weeksit will purge out liquids that resemble blood. The purge will surround the meat and when the bag is opened the user will be tempted to rinse it. Red meat should never be rinsed. It dilutes flavor and is certainly not needed. Red meat is better trimmed as opposed to rinsed. Removing a thin layer of the fatand exterior membraneswill be enough to clean it.
On the much larger level, how are processors rinsing meat products? Almost all meats are rinsed at some stage in their production. For poultry, birds are stunned, bled and then dipped into hot water to loosen their feathers. The feathers are then plucked off by machines. Needless to say the birds are not clean at this point. The birds are then eviscerated and finally chilled. All of this process is very fast, just a few minutes from start to finish. At the chilling stage most birds are dipped into an ice water bath. Poultry companies have rinses that are applied along the way to reduce pathogens, primarily Salmonella and Campylobactor. The rinses in the past contained elevated chlorine counts butrecently there are different products that are now used. An article in the Washington Post explains the process modern poultry companies are using http://apps.washingtonpost.com/g/page/national/chemicals-might-be-distorting-chicken-safety-test-results/342/ Today we see less chlorine and more peracetic acids and cetylpyridinium chloride(also found in mouthwash). This is what chicken and turkey companies are doingto reduce pathogens.
What are beef companies doing to clean their carcasses? The major scare for beef is strains of E-Coli and the prevention starts with washing the carcass with very hot water before the hide is taken off. After evisceration the split carcass is either washed with hot water and steam again or sprayed with a mild lactic acid. These pasteurizing methods are effective, especially for beef of higher quality that is then chilled for a day or two.
But the truth about cleaning is meat is going to have pathogens. Sure we can say animals should be kept in cleaner environs before heading to market and they may help but bacteria loves meat and the way to control it is always proper handling and cooking.
FAQs
While there is no ideal frequency, experts suggest that showering several times per week is plenty for most people (unless you are grimy, sweaty, or have other reasons to shower more often).
Is it better to wash or not wash hair? ›
Most people don't need to wash their hair daily, or even every other day. How often you should wash your hair depends on quite a few factors. The basic answer, according to Seattle-based integrative dermatologist Elizabeth Hughes, is that you should wash it once it's oily and feels unclean to the touch.
Is it better to wash or not wash your face? ›
Though cleansing your face in the morning can improve some people's skin health, it's not necessary for everyone. People with sensitive skin or inflammatory skin conditions such as eczema, rosacea, and psoriasis may find cleansing twice a day too drying, said Stull. “It's important not to overdo it,” she explained.
How important is it to wash? ›
Why wash? Our body builds up sweat, oils and dirt every day. In our modern environment, the very air is not very clean and this will also cling to our skin. Bacteria loves to eat up the dirt on our skin and the bacteria then deposit waste onto your skin.
What happens to your body if you don't wash? ›
Poor hygiene or infrequent showers can cause a buildup of dead skin cells, dirt, and sweat on your skin. This can trigger acne, and possibly exacerbate conditions like psoriasis, dermatitis, and eczema. Showering too little can also trigger an imbalance of good and bad bacteria on your skin.
How long can humans go without washing? ›
Generally, she says "you should be showering, bathing or cleansing yourself every two to three days." Though, if you're working out or engaging in an activity where you are sweating a lot, you may have to shower more often. The biggest problem that may stem from not showering enough? The stink.
Are there benefits to not using shampoo? ›
For those with fine, brittle hair, Dendy Engelman, a dermatologist based in New York, says the no-poo method can help improve your hair's bounce. She says harmful ingredients like detergents are often added to shampoos to cleanse, but they can end up drying out your hair and leaving it looking flat.
Does your hair benefit from not washing it? ›
There are some benefits to not washing your hair, especially if you have dry hair, damaged hair, or tightly curled hair. Depending on your ethnic background, less frequent washing can also help reduce breakage and hair loss.
Do you really need shampoo? ›
You might think it won't hurt, but washing your hair regularly is incredibly important for the health of your hair and scalp. "Shampooing removes sebum or oil that normally coats the hair shaft," says Brendan Camp, MD, a double board-certified dermatologist at MDCS Dermatology in New York.
Why is my skin better when I don't wash it? ›
"Some people may just not be genetically predisposed to breakouts or may produce less [oil],” says Batra. If that sounds like you, you may actually find your skin looks better when you ditch your cleanser.
Water alone is not sufficient to remove dirt, make-up, and other impurities. Therefore, washing your face with only water benefits very few factors. What's more, the optimal pH value for the skin on the face and body lies between 4.7 and 5.75.
Is washing with water enough? ›
Water alone may not effectively remove dirt, oils, and sweat, while soap and shower gel can help eliminate odor-causing bacteria.
How often should a woman shower? ›
Many doctors say a daily shower is fine for most people. (More than that could start to cause skin problems.) But for many people, two to three times a week is enough and may be even better to maintain good health. It depends in part on your lifestyle.
How often should you really wash? ›
Every time you wear them: tights, leggings, yoga pants, exercise clothing, T-shirts, socks undershirts/underpants and swimming suits. Every two days: hand towels and dish towels. Every three to four times you wear or use them: bath towels, bras, slips, dresses, sweaters, skirts, pajamas, slacks and jeans.
What happens if you don't wash yourself? ›
If you don't wash your body, it makes it easier for germs that cause actual skin infections to flourish. If you didn't wash at all, dirt, sweat, dead skin cells and oil would start to accumulate, and infections or ongoing skin conditions can become more serious, more difficult to manage, and harder to undo.
Is body wash really necessary? ›
It's better to use body wash or shower gel if you typically notice that your skin feels dry, stripped, or flaky after a shower. Body wash, in particular, contains hydrating ingredients meant to coat your skin and seal in moisture.
Do you really need to wash clothes? ›
T-shirts, tank tops and camisoles should be washed after each wearing. Outer clothes like dress shirts and khakis can be worn a few times before washing unless it is hot out and you are sweating or they are visibly dirty or stained.
Is it OK to not wash your body? ›
It also depends on your personal preference. If you feel better with a daily showering routine, go for it. If you would rather skip some days, that's OK, but never go more than two or three days without washing your body with soap.
How often do humans really need to bathe? ›
There's no one-size-fits-all answer to this question. Many doctors say a daily shower is fine for most people. (More than that could start to cause skin problems.) But for many people, two to three times a week is enough and may be even better to maintain good health.
