Tips for a cleaner kitchen

Tag : Cold Water Cleaner
Tips for a cleaner kitchen By Sean ODriscoll



Worried about bacteria in the kitchen? Here are four tips forcleaning it up:

Microwave

Dean Cliver, a professor of food safety at the University ofCalifornia, Davis has carried out numerous studies on the cleaningproperties of microwaving. A one-minute high-powered blast can keepyour sponges and dish cloths sterile. However, he warns that itdoesn’t work for natural sea sponges.

“People think natural is better but it’s not always thecase,” he said.

Wash your hands

Cliver says he has never seen convincing evidence that hot waterworks better than cold water for washing your hands.

“It feels better but washing your hands in cold water shouldwork just as well,” he said.



Don’t rinse chicken

Chicken is so notorious for spreading salmonella and other harmfulbacteria that the USDA is no longer recommending that you rinse itin the kitchen sink. “The water splashes and its spreadsproblems to other parts of the kitchen that won’t be as easyto get to,” says Professor Cliver.

Eighty percent of chicken carry potentially harmful bacteria, andany surface that comes in contact with it should be washedthoroughly, said Professor Elizabeth Scott of the Simmons Centerfor Hygiene and Health in Boston.

Toss it

Scott recommends that food spills and juice should be wiped up witha paper towel and dumped. That avoids contact with abacteria-infected sponge or dish cloth where the bacteria will feedon the food and drink supplied.

Don’t drown in chemicals

Scott believes in “targeted hygiene.”

“We should use discretion when spraying chemicals, even ifthey are FDA-approved and non-toxic,” she said.“There’s not much point in spraying your windows withanti-bacteria spray.” Send a Letter to the Editor | Post your comment | Email to Friend | Print this Page << Back