Washing Chicken: Should I wash chicken before cooking it?

Should I wash chicken before cooking it?

No. In fact, a recent USDA study confirms that you put yourself and those around you at risk of illness when you wash or rinse raw poultry before cooking it.

Always cook chicken thoroughly. Chicken should always be cooked to at least 165 °F internal temperature as measured with a food thermometer; leftovers should be refrigerated no more than two hours after cooking.

Source: RTI International for USDA, FSIS, OPACE, Food Safety Education Staff. Food Safety Consumer Research Project: Meal Preparation Experiment Related to Poultry Washing. https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/wcm/connect/9bb3a252-e12e-40e5-b76b-cb46a2322c3f/FSCRP_Year+2_Final_Aug2019.pdf?MOD=AJPERES. Updated August 20, 2019. Accessed October 7, 2019.