Is it safe to wash meat packaging before throwing it away?
Is it recommended to wash plastic packaging for raw meat before disposing of it? I see advice to just rinse it with soap in the sink to prevent the bin from smelling.
However, I also see it is usually not recommended to wash raw meat as there is a risk of cross contamination - wouldn't the same risk be here as well?
Clarification: I mean before throwing it into bin for landfill
Best Answer
Rinsing or washing the container is no worse than rinsing or washing a plate on which you have let your meat rest. But do it when you take your meat out, not a couple of hours later, to avoid spoilage starting.
If you send yours to landfill, cleaning it is for your comfort.
Where and when I grew up we would never bother, but we did accept that bins smell of spoiled food. If you want to keep your bin from smelling you may want to clean it.
Pictures about "Is it safe to wash meat packaging before throwing it away?"
Should you rinse packaged meat?
Meat and poultry are cleaned during processing, so further washing is not necessary. Never use soaps or detergents on your meat or poultry products. They can contaminate your food with chemicals and make it unsafe to eat.Does washing meat get rid of bacteria?
Washing raw meat with plain water is ineffective at removing bacteria and may cause more harm than good by spreading foodborne pathogens to other foods and across cooking surfaces.What can I do with raw meat packages?
To avoid contaminating other recyclable items, dispose of meat-soiled plastic wrap in the garbage. However, many kinds of plastic bags and film are recyclable if you are willing to take them to a collection location for recycling. Many grocers and larger retailers accept plastic bags, wrap, and film for recycling.How should you wash raw meat before handling them?
When it comes to food safety in the kitchen, it's important to keep your work area clean from bacteria and the possibility of cross-contamination. It's best to use hot, soapy water to wash utensils, cutting boards and other surfaces you use, especially when handling raw meat and poultry.More answers regarding is it safe to wash meat packaging before throwing it away?
Answer 2
Disclaimer: The question got edited into something completely different.
You know those large garbage bins used on garbage day? Though plenty of people use only garbage bags, at my household we have our regular sized garbage cans in our house, and those large garbage bins out beside our house.
Every time we have a meat container (be it a Styrofoam plate, plastic packaging, etc.) to dispose, we go outside and dump it into that large garbage bin. Applies to bad weather too.
Answer 3
Immediately throw it in your normal trash. Absolutely don't rinse it, that's a great way to spread contamination everywhere. Smell has never been a problem for me as I have a covered garbage can in the kitchen and regularly move the garbage to the trash collection point outside.
Answer 4
I have a "reframing" approach that may work for people with large (but not full) freezers: I keep a plastic container in the freezer, and put any "likely to be smelly" trash --- things like shrimp-shells, meat-packaging, etc. --- into that container and close the top. This largely delays rotting, so it does not matter whether you wash the packaging or not. On trash day, I empty the container into the trash before taking the trash out of the house.
I'm embarrassed to say that it took me more than 35 years of adult life to think of this, but it sure works well!
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Images: Laura James, Thesis, Karolina Grabowska, Karolina Grabowska