We all have heard about the '5-second rule' – unfortunately, we should disappoint you with the fact that it is not an accurate one. In the moment you drop your food, it gets contaminated with germs. The surface doesn`t really matter – be it wood, tile or carpeting. The difference comes from how much moisture the surface contains and therefore how much exactly the food is contaminated. A study, done about a decade ago, showed that the Salmonella bacteria remained active on a dry surface for almost a month. In other words, the 5-second rule is just a myth. In this article, you will see 6 more kitchen myths and the explanation behind them:
- Myth #1 – You can use the same cutting board for vegetables and meat. No, simply no. A research discovered that such cross-contamination that commonly transfers from raw meat to vegetables can result in serious illnesses and even death. E.coli is the main reason behind it. The people which are most endangered are children, elderly and people with weak immune systems. What to do to minimise the risk of contamination? Keep poultry, meat and eggs separately from the other products. Don`t miss to rinse poultry before prepping for cooking. After you do that, wash your hands with soap before handling other food. Have in mind that everything you touch can be contaminated so wipe the kitchen surfaces down when you are done with cooking. We recommend you to use a mild bleach solution – 1 tablespoon of bleach diluted in a bucket of warm water.
- Myth #2 – You can use a wet sponge or rag for cleaning up. A big 'No' again. You are definitely wondering why but there is a solid argument behind that. The moist environment that your kitchen sponge provides is the perfect place for bacteria to accumulate. In other words, you are just spreading germs on a surface that is already dirty – this is far from the desired effect. Your local upholstery cleaners shared a very effective way to keep your sponges clean. Damp your kitchen sponge slightly and microwave it for about a minute – this will kill the bacteria. Let it cool and use it safely afterwards. If you are not positive about this cleaning method, wash your rags and sponges with hot, soapy water.
- Myth #3 – You consider rinsing an adequate cleaning. Many will confess they have done these things – ate a bowl of chips, rinsed it and put it back on the rack; drank a quick glass of water, rinsed it and put it back on the rack; opened that pack of bacon with the kitchen scissors, rinsed them and put them pack. Well, believe us, a quick rinse doesn`t work in this situations. No matter if it was just a sip of water or you just tried the dish you are cooking with a tasting spoon, you should clean the item in soapy water or simply place it in the dishwasher.
- Myth #4 – If you keep an opened box of baking soda in the fridge you will keep bad odours at bay. Alright, we slightly agree with this one but don`t expect baking soda to be a magic substance that will absorb the fishy smell from your last night`s dinner leftover you left uncovered in the fridge. Yes, baking soda will absorb some unpleasant odours but make sure your stored food is covered. Don`t forget to clean the interior of your fridge regularly as well as throwing old food away. Baking soda is effective when it comes to absorbing odours from other places, too. You probably have heard that you can revive your carpet with baking soda and a few drops of essential oil. Similar to dry carpet cleaning, you spread evenly the baking soda on the carpet, let it sit for a couple of hours and vacuum thoroughly. So, we confess this odour-absorbing myth is true.
- Myth #5 – Pets on tables and counters are fine as long as you comb and groom them. A big No again. In fact, here we don`t only consider this impermissible because of the hair but because of the other germs that your pet may transfer. For example, your cat can transfer kitty litter and your pup definitely has some dirt on his little paws hiding in there. Pets are smart enough to be trained not to go on tables and counters. Yes, you won`t die if you happen to ingest some of these germs but some people with weak immune systems may develop worms. If you caught you cat laying on the countertop, use a mild bleach solution and wipe off the surfaces.
- Myth #6 – You don`t use soap on your cast iron pans because it will destroy the seasoning. You should know that most of them nowadays come pre-seasoned. It`s totally fine to use a mild soap to keep your cast iron wear in good condition. When you use abrasives and harsh soaps you will destroy the seasoning as well as putting your cast iron pan in the dishwasher.
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