Cleaning utensils, meticulous hand washing, respecting the cold chain... Cooking meat requires rigor to avoid any cross-contamination. A responsibility that falls to the cook who handles the product. But it sometimes happens that bacteria lodge in unexpected places, like spice containers. An incorrect use which leads to hygiene errors should be avoided immediately to avoid any bacterial contamination.
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Automation to be avoided
To escape the Sunday evening blues, we cook a chicken curry. Once the pieces of meat have barely been cut, we grab the various spice bottles for seasoning, without washing our hands. However, this habit should be banned because it not only endangers the food safety of your curry, but also that of your future meals. Explanations: by grabbing a bottle or a pinch of spices with hands potentially contaminated by meat, we take the risk of creating an environment conducive to bacterial proliferation within the containers. The latter are thus transformed into veritable breeding grounds for bacteria, and the use of these altered spices can subsequently contaminate other dishes.
Adopt the right reflexes
To guarantee a low microbiological risk, certain reflexes must be adopted. It goes without saying that having impeccable personal hygiene is essential. It is therefore recommended to wash your hands between each handling of products. The cleanliness of the utensils is also of enormous importance. In a previous article on the nests of bacteria which proliferate in our kitchens, the food safety expert at Afnor, Olivier Boutou, warned about cutting boards: “When you cut earthy vegetables on a board, we are not going to work with a raw chicken cutlet immediately afterwards, without washing the equipment. Otherwise, there is a risk of transferring bacteria from vegetables to poultry. And the same goes for cooked and raw foods that should be avoided.” It is therefore essential to keep your board clean and dry between each use. So, to season meat, you first slide your spices into a bowl and use a spoon to spread them throughout your dish. Essential actions to avoid any food-borne illness.