This Meat Cooking Myth Could Actually Do More Harm Than Good

How many times have you heard the phrase “Don’t trust everything you see on the internet”? Thousands, I’m sure. But now that we live in a time when almost all of our daily information comes from the internet (and social media especially), it can be harder to separate fact from fiction. 

While there are plenty of chefs creating great, informative cooking content on platforms like TikTok, social media can also be a breeding ground for false information, especially when it comes to food safety. In a recent Reddit thread, users shared the cooking myths they know to immediately distrust when they see them shared on social media, and a common answer was one we know all too well: washing meat. 

“Washing meat is still a surprisingly prevalent bad practice,” wrote user DyotMeetMat.

In reality, no, you should probably not be washing your meat before cooking it. This is commonly known among many home cooks, but if you’ve been fooled by the internet lore, read on to find out why this practice is ill-advised.

Why You Shouldn’t Wash Meat Before Cooking It

The myth purports that washing meat can make it safer, but only cooking meat to recommended temperatures effectively kills any harmful bacteria on the meat’s surface. On the contrary, washing meat can actually make your kitchen more susceptible to the spread of foodborne illnesses.

Raw meat can carry harmful microorganisms and pathogens like Salmonella, E. coli, and Listeria that, if ingested, can cause serious illnesses. So, when you’re preparing raw meat (especially chicken), the fewer surfaces and utensils the meat touches, the better. And, after handling, sterilizing all contaminated surfaces is essential. 

When you wash raw meat, those microorganisms can infect your sink and spread around surrounding areas (up to three feet away from the sink!), increasing the chances of you or your food coming in contact with dangerous bacteria. As one Reddit user put in layman's terms, when you rinse meat, “​​all you're doing is making it wet and splashing germs around your kitchen.”

In fact, a study from the USDA showed that individuals who wash raw poultry put themselves at greater risk of foodborne illness than those who don’t. The CDC, FDA, and USDA all agree on this one: “Do not wash meat.”

Exceptions to the Rule

It's worth noting that in certain cultures, the practice of washing meat is a ritual that has been passed down through generations. Washing meat can also be a part of the overall recipe preparation in certain cuisines. These methods usually involve a salt or vinegar soak that contributes to the flavor, and the wash acts more like a marinade than just a quick rinse. Plus, using this soaking method keeps things more contained and therefore safer than rinsing in the sink.

Another caveat: If you are catching and killing your own meat (like wild game), there are very different rules to prepare the meat safely. Similarly, if you live in a country where the meat standards and quality are different, further cleaning measures may be necessary. But, for most of us picking up cleaned, prepared, and packaged meat cuts from the grocery store, rinsing your raw meat is strongly discouraged from a food safety perspective.

So, if you ever hear this myth from chefs on the internet, don’t buy it. Sure, you can still follow their recipes—just don’t follow their misleading advice.