licking spoon and putting back in the food
Recently had some guest at my house - while I was in another room one of the guest was sampling the food repeatedly and put the spoon from mouth back in the food. Is this a health concern? Does the food spoil faster?
Best Answer
Safety-wise: If the food is heated at least to 180° F/ 80°C, I'd like to cite Jefromi
But if you're just cooking for yourself I personally wouldn't really worry about it, because in general you'll be cooking the food at a safe temperature, not just above the danger zone (140F/60C) but something safe for all meat (180F/80C) so whatever bacteria you put in with your spoon is just going to get killed. We routinely put potentially contaminated things like raw meat into our food while cooking, and let the heat take care of it; whatever you might be carrying isn't any more dangerous.
and logophobe
Double-dipping isn't a big concern unless you're ill [...] You're probably introducing your friends and family to just as much contamination in the form of dust and such simply by having them in your home.
Quality-wise, as Stephie already pointed out: Liquids thickened with starch will liquidify if these come in contact with saliva (the enzyme amylase in particular). It breaks down starch to sugar.
Pictures about "licking spoon and putting back in the food"
Can saliva contaminate food?
FACT: Yes. Food allergens can be passed on through saliva from people (e.g. biting into/sharing an apple) and pets. Anything that goes into the mouth could be a possible source of cross-contamination. Although small amounts of allergens may not be visible, an allergic reaction can still occur.Is it OK to lick the spoon?
While letting little ones lick the mixing spoons clean after mixing up some cake or cookie batter might seem like a fun treat, it's actually pretty dangerous, according to a GP. Doctor and mummy influencer Dr Preeya Alexander has warned her followers against allowing kids to lick the last smears of cake mixture.What do chefs put their tasting spoons in?
For many chefs today, the standard practice is to have a bin of tasting spoons at the ready along with a bin for dirty ones which goes directly to the dishwasher when full. This group is split between the plastic spoons users and the normal spoon users.More answers regarding licking spoon and putting back in the food
Answer 2
There are many health concerns with sampling food with a spoon and putting it back in the food. Saliva contains microorganisms/bacteria that may be harmful to us especially high risk individuals(pregnant persons,the elderly,those who are Ill) Pathogens can cause food borne illnesses or infections. Therefore it is better to practise safe food handling methods.
Answer 3
Yes I would say there is a problem with sampling food and then putting the spoon back in the food. The food would now be contaminated with any bacteria this person was carrying around in their mouth. Not to mention the germ factor. As to spoiling faster I don't think that would make a difference. Maybe you should talk to your guest about doing this.
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Images: cottonbro, cottonbro, RODNAE Productions, Karolina Grabowska