It is our habit to wash all food ingredients before cooking. The reason is to keep it clean and safer to eat. Some even have to be washed many times. Some foodstuffs must be cleaned by washing because they contain bacteria and dirt that are dangerous if they get eaten. Examples include rice, vegetables and fruit (especially those with edible skin), and shellfish.

But you know what, it turns out that there are some foodstuffs that shouldn't even be washed. So far, we almost never miss washing these foods. Wow, what do you think is the reason? And what are those ingredients? Next I will review it, so that this wrong habit doesn't happen again.

1. Meat is one of the foodstuffs that most people must wash. But it turns out we were wrong

Every time we buy beef or mutton, we always wash it before cooking. In fact, red meat contains a lot of bacteria that can be spread in our kitchen laundry. These bacteria can be spread through splashes or drops of water after washing them. Washing the meat is said to also make the texture so moist, so it reduces the taste when cooked. Eric Sieden, director of nutrition and food service in New York, suggests that before cooking meat we just need to pat it with a paper towel to absorb the moisture.

2. Fish products also don't need to be washed. Just cook it, it's actually safe

Just like meat, every time you want to cook fish, you don't need to wash it, let alone wash it too many times. The thing is, yes, the bacteria can even spread everywhere. Yes, it can't be seen by the eye, but if it enters the body, it can be dangerous and actually cause disease. Cooking it right away, according to nutritionists, is the best way to get rid of bacteria on fish.

3. Likewise with foodstuffs from poultry, such as turkey. Cooking it at a high temperature can help get rid of the bacteria

Chicken, turkey, or duck meat, certainly never absent from the water before we process it. But as explained above, these poultry meats contain salmonella and campylobacter bacteria which if we wash them can even contaminate our kitchen. From water splashes, for example, it can even spread to kitchen utensils near the dishes or where we wash. If the tool is used for eating, the bacteria can enter the body through the mouth. The way to get rid of these bacteria is to cook them at high temperatures.

4. For those of you who like mushroom preparations, you don't actually need to wash them before cooking

Mushrooms have a fairly high absorption capacity. Washing the mushrooms before processing them will keep them moist, which will reduce their crunchy taste and texture. Especially if you have a habit of soaking mushrooms, or washing them just before storing them in the refrigerator for a long time. The moisture in the mushrooms will actually speed up their decay. It's a shame if you buy a lot but they rot quickly.

5. Maybe many of you really like buying packaged salads. Before eating, you don't need to wash it

In some large supermarkets, there are usually packaged salads that can be eaten immediately. Products that have the words “ready to eat” written on the package are usually already through a washing process that doesn't need to be doubted. But it turns out that many still feel they have to wash it before consuming it. If not, it doesn't feel good. In fact, by washing it, you can actually 'transmit' the bacteria in your kitchen on the ready-to-eat vegetables.

6. Some people may feel that eggs need to be washed before processing. In fact, if the eggs are produced from a trusted factory, they are usually clean

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) actually does not recommend packaged eggs to be washed before cooking. This is because these eggs have actually gone through the washing process at the factory. Usually eggs are also coated with mineral oil so that the shell is more protected. Washing these eggs can actually remove the layer of oil.

So it turns out that not all washed food is good. Even though you only know now, at least you can avoid the same mistakes in the future.