Is it sufficient to wash utensils, which have touched chicken, with soapy water

In the kitchen, I am very health conscious and try to prepare and store foods with care

After working with a whole chicken, I usually wash the chopping board and knife with hot (but not boiling) soapy water (in particular, the dish soap I use is Fairy Liquid)

But, is this actually sufficient in killing all the unwanted germs and/or bacteria? I've seen maybe 1 article and people on forums stating that you should use bleach instead - is this necessary?

Best Answer

This question addresses whether or not soap kills "germs". The answer to your question has more to do with how pathogen free you really need to be. Firstly, knowledge about where your chicken comes from and how it was processed helps. Indeed, bleach or other kitchen approved sanitizers designed for commercial kitchen use are effective at eliminating bacteria. The question is, to what degree do you really need to take this in your own kitchen? I think personal comfort levels and needs vary for the home cook. For me, cleaning hands, tools and surfaces with hot soapy water does the job. I've never had a problem. However, I could see instances where one might want to be even more careful. For example, if a family member or guest had a compromised immune system one might want to play it extra safe.

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Quick Answer about "Is it sufficient to wash utensils, which have touched chicken, with soapy water"

Campylobacter can survive in your kitchen for up to 4 hours, and Salmonella can last for up to 32 hours (and both can be found on raw poultry). Cleaning with warm, soapy water can physically remove dirt, grim and some bacteria from a surface, but it does NOT kill bacteria.

How do you clean utensils from raw chicken?

Use hot, soapy water to thoroughly wash plates, utensils, and cutting boards that touched raw meat, poultry, seafood, eggs, or flour.

Does Dish Soap clean raw chicken?

\u201cWhen you're working with chicken you're right to soak it\u2014but don't soak it in soap because it won't do anything,\u201d explained Keith Warriner, professor of food safety at the University of Guelph. \u201cPlus, if you just soak it in soapy water and it splashes, you now have salmonella everywhere.\u201d

What happens if you wash chicken with dish soap?

Unfortunately, washing chicken does you no favors in the pathogen department. \u201cThe act of washing a raw chicken will only spread [these bacteria],\u201d says Detwiler. Whether or not you use soap, scrubbing chicken splashes its juices around onto surrounding countertops, foods, and utensils, the CDC explains.

Can you rinse soap off chicken?

Never use soaps or detergents on your meat or poultry products. They can contaminate your food with chemicals and make it unsafe to eat. Some consumers may wash or rinse their raw meat or poultry because it's a habit or because a family member they trust has always washed their meat.

How \u0026 Why I wash Chicken before cooking

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Images: Armin Rimoldi, Ron Lach, cottonbro, cottonbro