Should chicken be washed before cooking?

Answer

There is no need to wash chicken before cooking it. What matters for safe consumption is cooking the chicken thoroughly, at an adequate temperature and for a sufficient time, which eliminates any microorganisms that may be present in the meat. Washing chicken, by contrast, can spread microorganisms to worktops, the sink and other kitchen surfaces through splashing water, increasing the risk of cross contamination. The correct practice is therefore to cook chicken directly without washing it. If parts of the meat are thought to be very dirty, those parts should be trimmed away rather than rinsed.