The first thing we all do after getting home from a grocery store or market is to wash the products well. Ever since our childhood days we are taught by our elders to wash the food products well so that the bacteria and dust are eliminated. Generally this washing the food items before cooking is good but in some cases it is harmful also. It is important to note that there are certain food items that must not be washed before cooking.
The food items that must not be washed before cooking are
Eggs:
Most of us eat egg and this is one important food item. It is not necessary to wash the eggs. Bacteria present in the eggs are already washed and mineral oil is applied to the eggs to supply them to the stores. By washing eggs cross connection could result. So be careful.
Pasta:
This pasta is a food belonging to Italy is known. The natural starch in the pasta mingles with the sauce during cooking. By washing pasta before cooking the starch in it gets washed off and the taste would be spoiled.
Mushrooms:
Mushrooms belong to kingdom ‘fungi’ and is a spore bearing fruiting body. It is said that mushrooms must not be washed before cooking. Mushrooms become spoiled when washed mushrooms are kept in a refrigerator. The crispy texture is lost during washing mushrooms. Paper or towel could be used to clean them.
Packed salad:
Before it is packed, salads are cleaned well. So there is no need to wash salads before cooking. They are ready to be used without washing. Spreading of bacteria takes place when these packed salads are washed again.
Raw fish:
To reduce the risk of spreading bacteria, raw fish should not be washed at all. It is good to buy fish that has been gutted and scaled.
Raw poultry and meat:
Redistribution of bacteria onto the kitchen surfaces and on our body takes place when we wash raw poultry or meat items. Hence it is not necessary to wash these before cooking. Cross contamination takes place when we prepare other foods on that surface. This could result in illness in us.