Do You Rinse Your Chicken?

Since I was busy defending the garbage bowl lately, I thought I would address another issue that often comes up about Rachael Ray's kitchen habits.  When Rachael is cooking chicken, she just opens up the package and drops the meat into the pan.  Rachael has been criticized for this on the basis that is is unsafe to do so.  People say that you should rinse the chicken before you put it in the pan and if you don't, you risk contamination from salmonella or other bacteria.  Apparently the idea is that the water will remove the offending bacteria.

Well, I think Rachael heard this criticism enough, so she addressed the question on her show.  Rach's answer was that if there aren't any drippings all over the chicken and if it is just fresh in the package, cooking will kill any bacteria.  She does wash larger birds.  Plus, she noted that if you wash it, you are spreading the bacteria all over your sink and/or counter tops.  That definitely makes sense to me.

I did a little more research on the topic over at Home Food Safety.  Their list of ways to keep chicken safe does not require any rinsing.  Here is the list of how to prepare it safely (check out the full list for tips on buying and storing poultry, too):

• Wash hands thoroughly for 20 seconds before, during and after handling raw poultry
• Use two cutting boards to avoid cross-contamination
• Use one for raw meats and the other for fruits and vegetables
• Color-coded cutting boards can help you remember which is which
• Refer to the Safe Food Handling label on the package
• The label gives proper cooking and storage procedures
• Defrost poultry in the refrigerator or in the microwave--never on the counter
• Use a meat thermometer to ensure doneness of your poultry, at least 165° F
• Cook poultry breasts to at least 165° F
• Cook whole turkey, chicken to at least 165° F
• Cook ground chicken, turkey to at least 165° F
• Don't leave chicken unrefrigerated for more than two hours

For the record, I do the same thing as Rachael and never even knew that some people rinsed their chicken off before cooking it!  It's not something that my parents ever did (although they hardly ever used anything fresh, anyways!).  Do you rinse your chicken?  Would you keep doing so after hearing what Rachael Ray and Home Food Safety have to say?

For helping spread the word about the importance of home food safety, I was entered into a drawing for a $15 Starbucks gift card and an iPad through Summertime Food Smarts,a contest run by the American Dietetic Association and ConAgra Foods' Home Food Safety program. Home Food Safety is dedicated to raising consumer awareness about the seriousness of foodborne illness and providing solutions for easily and safely handling foods. Learn more atwww.homefoodsafety.org

Could This Be True? Taking a Year Off?

Update: Grub Street has corrected the article to state that Rach will be in Italy celebrating her wedding anniversary and is not taking a year off.  I knew it couldn't be true!!

According to Grub Street New York, Whoppi Goldberg will be filling in for Rachael Ray at this year's Burger Bash - a gig that Rachael excitedly hosts every year. Then there's this bombshell. Grub Street was told that Rachael "will be out of the country for over a year for 'personal' reasons."

WTF? This is the first I have heard of this! Rachael Ray taking a year off work? Could this be true? A divorce or some illness are always the speculation when someone takes time off like this.  I hope neither are correct and wish Rach the best for her time off, if it is true after all.

Rachael Ray's Real Boss

People.com has a story all about how how poor Rachael Ray isn't getting any sleep. In fact, she hasn't gotten any sleep in six years! No, it isn't because she's so busy - it's because her dog hogs the bed.

 While that does display serious devotion to her dog, Isaboo, I think this shows even more devotion:

"I make a dog-friendly version of almost everything that we make for dinner, so she gets a lot of home-cooked food," says the celebrity chef. "She likes barley or orzo with chicken stock, carrots and parsley. She likes parsley a lot."

Photo from Every Day with Rachael Ray

In Defense of the Garbage Bowl

If I hear one more person say (or see one more person comment on a blog) that a garbage bowl is a stupid idea, I might lose it. For those of you that haven't run across the garbage bowl idea, Rachael Ray has been using one pretty much forever. She puts a big bowl on her counter to drop garbage into so that she doesn't have to keep running back and forth between the trash can. This is one of her tried and true time saving devices (washing your produce, with the exception of berries, when you get home from the store is another one).

So of course, Rachael Ray has a "Rachael Ray" brand garbage bowl, right? Wouldn't you? The big complaint I see is: "Why on earth wouldn't you just put a bowl on the counter? Why do you need a $20 one?" My first thought is to ask if that person carries their wallet around in a ziploc bag. Oh, you have a nice purse? But you could just carry it around in a free bag from the grocery store! You know what, a garbage bowl like the ones Rach uses are fun and cute. They are can coordinate with your kitchen and now they even make them with a non skid base. If you don't want one, luckily you aren't forced to buy one!

Grilling Tips from Rachael Ray

Rachael Ray appeared on Good Morning America to share some Summer grilling tips.  As I write this, our grill is being rained on and our new pool is only getting colder.  Let's just say Summer has not visited Northern California yet (sniffle).  But after these tips, I'll be ready for it!  Here's some video of Rach's appearance: