Knowing how to clean your hands after touching raw chicken is an essential skill for proper food safety. Here’s how to clean hands properly so you don’t contaminate other food items or spread germs.
Everybody loves chicken. We used to buy and eat it.
However, handling raw chicken can potentially make you sick if you don’t take steps to clean your hands properly.
So, what is the best way to keep your hands clean? Having clean hands is one of the best ways to avoid getting sick or someone else on your hands.
Let me show you how to clean your hands after touching raw chicken!
What happens if I touch raw chicken?
Raw chicken can carry bacteria.
Chicken can be contaminated with bacteria, such as Salmonella and Campylobacter.
According to CDC, raw chicken is often contaminated by bacteria such as Salmonella, Campylobacter, and Clostridium perfringens
If it’s not handled properly, you can get sick.
When you touch raw chicken, the germs on your hands can be transferred to other things you touch.
That includes food and kitchen surfaces. The germs can also spread to other people who touch the same things.
If you don’t wash your hands immediately after touching raw chicken, the bacteria on the chicken can get onto your hands and spread to other parts of your body like your mouth or eyes.
This can cause food poisoning or other illnesses that make you sick for several days.
How to clean hands after touching raw chicken
1. Wash it with hand soap
The best way to ensure that your hands are clean after touching raw chicken is to use hand soap.
It contains an anti-bacterial formula that removes germs and dirt on your hands.
Hand soap is an ideal solution for those who have sensitive skin and easily develop allergies.
First, wet your hands under running water and apply soap to them. Rub the soapy foam over both hands’ surfaces until they are clean.
Scrub all between your fingers and the back of each hand, especially the part that touches the raw chicken.
Don’t forget to scrub underneath the nails because tiny particles of raw chicken can get into this gap.
You can use a toothpick to remove any dirt under the nails if you can’t reach them.
Keep scrubbing your hands for at least 20 seconds.
After that, rinse your hands under running water. Then, dry your hand with a clean and dry microfiber cloth.
You can also use hand soap to clean your hands after touching mold.
2. Clean your hands with alcohol-based hand sanitizer
Using alcohol-based hand sanitizer can effectively remove germs from your hands after touching raw chicken.
It is advisable to use hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
To use, just spray it on your hands and scrub all fingers thoroughly. Don’t forget to clean underneath nails as well.
Make sure the solution reaches all sides of your hands.
Then, leave it until dry!
3. Use liquid soap
Liquid soap is another great option to clean your hands after touching raw chicken.
This soap will clean and remove any dirt on your hands easily.
My favorite one is using Castile liquid soap.
Wet your hands under running water and put a little liquid soap on your palm.
Scrub your hands with it until the foam reaches the whole hands. Clean between your finger, the back of your hands, and under the nails.
Rinse your hands under running water and wipe them until dry with a microfiber cloth.
Enjoy your clean hands
What you should do after touching raw chicken
Clean the work surfaces and the kitchen utensil
You should clean the work surfaces after handling raw chicken. This prevents cross-contamination, which is when germs spread from one item to another.
Work surfaces, utensils, and containers used for raw chicken should be cleaned thoroughly with hot soapy water after preparing it.
Use a brush to scrub any residue from the surface of the chopping boards, then rinse well and dry immediately.
This is especially important if you’re preparing more than one meal, as you can spread bacteria from raw chicken to other foods.
Rinse the sink
You should rinse the sink after handling raw chicken or other foods that can cause bacteria to grow on surfaces like sinks and counters. Wipe down counters with a sponge or cloth soaked in warm, soapy water and rinse well.
FAQ
Is it ok just to rinse hands after touching raw chicken?
Yes, it is okay. However, WHO recommends washing your hands with soap for 20-30 seconds. Make sure to wet and scrub the whole hands and rinse them under running water. Then, dry them thoroughly with a single-use towel.
Do you need to wash your hands after touching raw chicken?
Yes, you do! Raw chicken can contain salmonella bacteria and other harmful pathogens that can cause foodborne illness. If you touch the raw chicken or any other contaminated surface and then touch or eat something else without washing your hands, you could get sick!
Should you handle raw chicken with gloves?
Yes, you should. Wear disposable gloves when touching raw chicken. It is important if you’re handling large quantities of chicken at once, such as when preparing meatballs or burgers.
Should you wash your hands after touching raw chicken
Yes! Raw chicken can contain hazardous germs, such as salmonella, which can cause food poisoning if swallowed. Washing your hands after contacting raw chicken can help to prevent the spread of these bacteria and minimize your chance of getting sick.
Conclusion
Did you know that you can become sick with food poisoning after touching raw chicken?
Having raw chicken around your kitchen can be dangerous if you don’t know how to handle it properly.
Allow me to summarize how to clean hands after touching mold
- Wash it with hand soap
- Clean your hands with alcohol-based hand sanitizer
- Use liquid soap
You can also read my tips clean toilet bowls or removing the urine smell!