A pinch here, a touch there… and that super common gesture of “let’s wet my fingers under the faucet and keep going”, especially when touching chicken, ughhh). It seems harmless, almost automatic in most cases, but experts say it is exactly the opposite and this small gesture can turn your kitchen into a breeding ground for bacteria without you even realizing it.!!
We all do this, we know, but wetting your fingers is not cleaning, i swear. It is like putting water on an oil stain, it moves, but it does not disappear.
The problem begins here
Food engineer Mariana Zapién explains that water alone does not clean anything (but we knew that, didn’t we?). It does not remove grease, it does not loosen food residues and, of course, it does not wash away bacteria. It is simply… water.
Why doesn’t water work for cleaning your hands?
Because water does not have that “unsticking” power that soap does. It does not break down grease, it does not break the film where microorganisms cling…
More bacteria spread… in more places
When you only wet your hands, you think you have solved the issue and that’s all, “I’m finally clean” you may think, but what you really do is spread the residue you were carrying.
And this, according to experts, is the perfect recipe for cross contamination (if you’re allergic to some food you know what are we talking about, hmmm). It is an “invisible enemy” that causes so many food poisonings at home without anyone suspecting it (among other things, right, my celiac friend?)
Cross-contamination
As we said before, cross-contamination happens when bacteria move from one food to another through your hands, a knife, or a cutting board. It is that simple and that dangerous.
“It is not effective to rinse your fingers. The correct way is to wash with warm water and soap for 20 seconds.”
Yes, yes, 20 seconds! What it takes to sing “Happy Birthday” twice… but without singing off-key, please!
Why exactly 20 seconds?
Because it is the time needed for soap to work its magic, break down grease, loosen protein and wash away everything that should not be on your hands. Less time is “hygienic posing”. So remember, perfect time is 20 seconds (not for everything, huh!)
When is it especially dangerous to wet your fingers instead of washing them?
When you are handling raw meat, fish, chicken or unwashed fruits and vegetables.
There the risk shoots up. A “oh, I’ll just wet them quickly and keep going” can end in a stomach ache… or something even worse…
Okay, then how do you do it right?
The good news is you do not have to turn your kitchen into an operating room. Just be consistent about the things you’re touching at.
Quick wash, but well done
Warm water, soap, palms, backs of hands, nails, between the fingers… 20 seconds, dry with a clean towel and do it everytime you change your task, for example:
- Cut chicken? Wash.
- Threw something in the trash? Wash.
- Touched your face by accident? Do it again.
Annoying but food poisoning is worse!!!
Even if it is a gesture we do thousands of times without thinking, it does not clean, it does not protect and it does not work. In fact, it can be exactly what ruins a dish or, worse, what sends you to the bathroom all night.
The kitchen is for enjoying and sharing, but also for doing things right. Proper hand washing is the easiest and cheapest way to keep your house and your food safe.