Newsweek - People often wash turkey and other poultry before cooking because of long-standing habits and beliefs rather than food-safety benefits. Many learned the practice from family traditions or older recipes that instructed cooks to rinse poultry. Some feel washing removes bacteria or the liquids inside the packaging, while others follow cultural expectations that meat should be cleaned with water before use.
However, there is no scientific evidence that rinsing removes germs. Instead, it can spread contaminated droplets around the kitchen.
Why Shouldn't You Wash Your Thanksgiving Turkey?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), washing raw turkey can spread harmful germs to other foods, surfaces and utensils.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture wrote in a 2013 blog post: "Many consumers think that washing their turkey will remove bacteria and make it safer. However, it's virtually impossible to wash bacteria off the bird. Instead, juices that splash during washing can transfer bacteria onto the surfaces of your kitchen, other foods and utensils. This is called cross-contamination, which can make you and your guests very sick. Washing your hands before and after handling your turkey and its packaging is crucial to avoid spreading harmful bacteria."
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