When it comes to handling food, you want to make sure you know what you are talking about.Slipping up with some of the trickier questions can be embarrassing—or even dangerous. Still, some are more believable than others.Busting some of the following myths will help give you a little more credibility.
If You’re Not Sure, Smell It
If the date has passed, but you want to see if something is still useable, smelling it is not a reliable way of ensuring your safety.If it has passed the best before date, the chances are that bacteria have already started to form. Yes, mould is an obvious sign, but smell alone can’t pick up scentless risks.
You Don’t Need to Wash Peeled Vegetables
Fresh vegetables may look clean, but the peel itself can contain bacteria, especially if it has been kept in a plastic bag for some time.This bacteria can transfer from the peel to the vegetable or fruit during the peeling process so make sure you wash them either way.
Food Safety Certifications Are Unnecessary
If you earn a living that involves handling food, it is likely to be the law that you gain the right certifications. The National Food Safety Training Program is available online and can help to make sure you have the right qualifications to work. Also, it can be done at any time, making it convenient for you.
You Should Rinse Chicken
This is not only a strange myth, but the opposite is true when trying to keep bacteria away.Rinsing your chicken is unnecessary but can also make matters worse. When rinsing you risk splashing which moves bacteria to other parts of your kitchen. When left on your surfaces, bacteria can start to spread.
Your Fridge Will Have to Work Harder When Full
It doesn’t matter how empty or full your fridge is. It will still work to push cold air around in the same way.The temperature can change, but this has nothing to do with the amount of food there is. The weather and when the door was last opened are two of the more common reasons for a fridge needing to work a little harder.
Defrosting Meat Outside of The Fridge Is OK
Leaving meat on the side for an extended period to let it thaw out is not a good idea. There is a chance that it can be warmed up by sunlight one minute, then be left in the shade the next. If you defrost in the fridge, it does it in a more gradual way, rather than defrosting the outside first.
Food Poisoning Only Happens at Bad Restaurants
This isn’t true. Food poisoning can happen anywhere.You are more likely to get food poisoning at home if you don’t follow food safety basics. Even restaurants without great reputations should be certified.
There are many myths in the food industry, and now that some of them have been put right, you can correct your colleagues and friends before they make a mistake that they will regret.