What is the room that potentially contains the most germs, bacteria, and signs of contamination?
You might be thinking your bathroom is the culprit. Between the mold growth that keeps coming back around the shower even though you clean it frequently and the toilet, it’s fair to say that the bathroom could appear potentially riskier. However, you would be wrong. More often than not, the kitchen is a high-risk area at home. Indeed, did you know that many Americans suffer every year from food poisoning and other contamination-related issues in the kitchen? Therefore, it’s essential to keep on top of risks in your kitchen. Here are 10 top tips to keep your kitchen safe and germ-free.
#1. Change your sponge frequently
A question that most households ask once in a while: Is it time to change the kitchen sponge? The answer is: if you’re wondering about it, you probably should change it. According to researchers in Germany, the typical kitchen sponge accumulates approximately 45 billion bacteria per square centimeter. While the USDA recommends cleaning your sponge every day, it isn’t ideal for removing bacteria. Ideally, you might want to replace the sponge with more hygienic and environmentally friendly alternatives.
#2. Wash your hands
It shouldn’t need saying, but yet, everyone forgets once in a while. Always wash your hands before handling ingredients. Most kitchen chefs recommend tossing salads with bare hands for practicality or rubbing marinate on meat with your hands. While a hands-on approach can make your recipes more delicious, it could spread germs on your food if you don’t wash your hands frequently. Ideally, you want to wash your hands before and after handling each type of food. If you handle raw meat, you should wash your hands thoroughly with eco soap (or regular handwash) before moving to the next ingredient. A great alternative is to use safety gloves to prevent contamination.
#3. Stop touching the surface
Picture the scene. You’ve just prepared a raw chicken filet. Now you have to wash your hands before carrying on with the meal preps. Your fingers turn the tap. Even if you don’t see it, germs could potentially spread on the surface of the faucet, which means that your hands will carry germs even though you’ve washed them. It can be a good idea to reduce surface contact, using specialist touchless kitchen faucets from Faucets Canada, for example, or any other system that reduces surface contamination. Additionally, it’s worth changing your kitchen hand towel regularly so it doesn’t harbor germs either.
#4. Don’t use one sponge for everything
Changing your sponge frequently is a must. But keeping sponges separate is just as important. For instance, you might want to use a sponge for food spills around the kitchen, such as cleaning drops off the floor. However, you can’t afford to use the same sponge for the washing up to avoid contaminating the dishes. You need a sponge to clean your work surface too. Yet, the work surface can show a high concentration of bacteria and germs, especially if you prepare raw ingredients on it. The work surface sponge can’t get in touch with the dishes.
#5. Clean and cook your food properly
Even though ingredients bought in shops might appear clean, you should always wash everything to prevent food poisoning. Vegetables and fruits should be cleansed under warm water to scrub any dirt particles and remove potentially harmful toxins, such as pesticides used by farms. Remember that even if the naked eye can’t see anything, it doesn’t mean your fresh products are safe.
Additionally, some foods can be highly dangerous to consumption if not cooked properly. Undercooked poultry, for instance, can potentially contain harmful bacteria such as salmonella and campylobacter. Other food groups could also present risks if undercooked.
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