Wash, wash, wash your hands when cooking

OK, it’s time to come clean. Do you always remember to wash your hands when cooking at home?

A new study from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) found that Americans aren’t properly washing their hands while preparing food 97% of the time.

Proper handwashing remains one of the most important steps in ensuring food safety, say food safety experts.

The USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) recently completed an observational study of food safety behaviors of home cooks. Researchers watched the participants cooking turkey burgers in a test kitchen to see if they handled food safely.

The study found that the participants often spread bacteria around the kitchen or failed to verify that the turkey burgers were safe to eat.

Specifically, the USDA study showed these concerning results.

Participants failed to successfully wash their hands 97% of the time. Most consumers failed to wash their hands for the necessary 20 seconds, and several participants didn’t dry their hands with a clean towel.

48% of participants cross-contaminated spice containers due to lack of handwashing. Consumers often spread bacteria from raw poultry onto other surfaces, including refrigerator handles and phones.

5% of participants transferred bacteria to salads they prepared and would have immediately served if cooking at home.

66% of participants didn’t use a food thermometer while preparing turkey burgers. They used color and feel instead to determine if the burgers were safe to eat. Using a food thermometer to measure the internal temperature is the only way to verify meat and poultry are safe to eat, according to the USDA.

When participants did use a thermometer, 45% didn’t cook the turkey burger to the minimum safe internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Not cooking poultry to at least 165 degrees can lead to illness-causing bacteria surviving the cooking process.

We’re all in a rush to get dinner on the table. However, saving time isn’t worth the risk of getting sick with a food-borne illness.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 48 million Americans are sickened with foodborne illnesses each year, resulting in 128,000 hospitalization and 3,000 deaths.

Children, older adults and those with compromised immune systems are especially at risk.

Home cooks should follow the CDC’s five steps for proper handwashing:

1. Wet hands. 

2. Lather with soap. 

3. Scrub for at least 20 seconds. 

4. Rinse.

5. Dry with a clean towel.

For more information about safe food handling, visit www.foodsafety.gov.

Learn more about author Teresa Bjork here.