Wash or Not to wash Raw Chicken (freezer, yolk, bread)

[Steve Bagu]

CDC says NO to washing.
Now I say YES from personal and family experience.
Will admit that differences in opinion will exist out there.
My mother was born in Hungary thus learned her mother's ways.
As a small boy (1930's) she and I rode the streetcar downtown farmers mkt for a LIVE chicken for Sunday's meal.
This chicken was killed and feather plucked etc before being cut up.
It was washed and soaked in cold water before being cooked
I for one wash my hands before prepping my chicken purchase before eating my dinner.
Presently have a PKG of thighs in the freezer for deep frying or in a stew pot.
I soak/thaw and remove the skin and/or any fat.
During the soaking visible fat will show on the waters surface and I drain/replace often.
Before deep frying will rinse pieces in cold water, Pat dry, micro for two mins, dip in egg yolk batter, smother in bread crumbs, leave on plate in fridge for an HR or so before deep frying.
Some will nod or shake their heads which is okay by me.
At my age (87) I must be doing something right as I'm still here

[saibot]

I don't do any of that--just trim fat if desired and pat the pieces dry. I honestly don't think it's going to make much difference if the chicken is washed, as long as it's well cooked.

My parents never washed chicken and they lived to a ripe old age...Dad passed recently at 94. But we can certainly say that washing chicken hasn't hurt you.

The only thing I can say is to be sure to thoroughly clean whatever you've soaked the chicken in. Raw chicken juice is not a good thing to have around.

[Crazy4Chickens]

I've never washed raw chicken. I'm 40 years old and still going strong. I just make sure I cook it well using a meat thermometer to check the core.

[evening sun]

I have never in my life washed chicken & I am not going to start now. I can see it might have been necessary if you buy & kill a live chicken, but the ones I get are already pre packaged & do not get washed.

[rrah]

I don't wash cut chicken pieces. I do rinse a whole chicken before cooking.

[Brian_M]

I usually rinse packaged chicken, it's just so slimy otherwise. Keeps the cutting board from being covered in slime, or adding unwanted moisture to the pan (which 100% prevents browning).

[hertfordshire]

I've never washed chicken. It's not going to accomplish anything that patting dry and cooking to a proper temperature won't.

[redplum33]

I don't wash it.

Isn't the only reason they say not to wash it is so you don't contaminate your sink?

OP, I'd be concerned about microwaving it then putting it back in the fridge partially cooked.

[Cida]

The consensus now is NOT. However, your childhood experiences are irrelevant, because chickens then weren't likely to be contaminated as they are now.

[TabulaRasa]

Nope. Just blot dry if necessary.