It can be said that the most basic thing is to wash various foods such as vegetables, fruits, bulbs, grains, etc. During the distribution process, bacteria or foreign substances may get on it, and there may be residual pesticides, so it can be said that washing thoroughly for hygiene and health is an essential process.
However, in the case of certain foods, washing can cause the growth of bacteria as well as loss of nutrients. In addition, the possibility of cross-infection, in which bacteria are transferred to other ingredients during the washing process, increases. Therefore, it is important not to wash with water by carefully referring to the ingredients belonging to the corresponding food group. Now, let’s take a look at some of the ingredients that are not good for washing in water one by one.
Foods that are not good for washing
1. Egg
The first ingredient that is not good for washing in water is eggs that are widely used as ingredients for various dishes and are rich in nutrients beneficial to the body. There are cases where the surface of the purchased egg has dust and other foreign substances, and in some cases, it is washed with water to clean it and stored.
If you wash in this way, the protective film on the surface of the egg is destroyed, and various contaminants including bacteria are absorbed into the inside and the quality of the egg is easily changed. Therefore, if there are many foreign substances on the egg, it is recommended to wipe the surface clean with a dry cloth or kitchen towel.
2. Mushrooms
The second food I would like to introduce is a mushroom that has several health benefits, such as immune function, anticancer action, and blood pressure control. It is said that when mushrooms are washed in water, the rich mineral components contained in the mushrooms may also be washed away and lost. Mushrooms, in particular, are foods rich in cancer-fighting ingredients, and it is said that these ingredients can be dissolved when washed with water. In addition, mushrooms are highly hygroscopic, absorbing water, so washing or soaking in water may reduce the chewy texture of mushrooms and reduce elasticity. Mushrooms can be cooked without washing them, but if there are a lot of foreign substances on them, just like the eggs mentioned above, you can gently wipe the parts with foreign substances using a dishcloth or kitchen towel.
3. Pasta
Pasta is a typical Italian dish made by boiling a dough made of wheat flour and water in salt water. It is known to have a very diverse variety of dishes, with over 600 depending on the shape of the noodles and over 160 depending on the type of ingredients. Dried pasta noodles contain a lot of starch, and it is said that the starch plays a role in absorbing the pasta sauce well. However, it is said that if you wash in water, the starch component that makes the sauce soak into the noodles is washed away as well, so you cannot fully enjoy the unique flavor of pasta.
4. Frozen Blueberries
Blueberries are high in antioxidants such as anthocyanins, as well as various vitamins and minerals. If you freeze blueberries and store them in the freezer, the concentration of anthocyanins, the main ingredient, increases even more, so it is also a fruit that is consumed a lot in the form of frozen. However, there are cases in which frozen blueberries are washed in water and eaten. When washing in water like this, anthocyanins, the main key ingredient, are washed away, so it is recommended to consume without washing with water. In the case of frozen blueberries sold in the market, it is recommended to consume them immediately because they undergo a freezing process after washing. . Also, keep in mind that frozen blueberries can be thawed for about 30 minutes and then eaten, so you can get the nutrients in the best condition.
5. Meat
It is said that various meats such as pork, beef, and chicken are also included in the ingredients that are not good for washing in water. When you wash meat in water, various bacteria spread around it during the washing process. It is recommended not to wash the food as there is a risk that the spread of the bacteria may transfer to other ingredients such as vegetables and fruits and cause bacterial infection. In particular, raw chicken contains dangerous bacteria such as Campylobacter, Salmonella, and Listeria, which are parasitic in the intestines of chickens. When washing, bacteria can be transferred to hands, sinks, and surrounding food, which increases the chance of cross infection, increasing the risk of food poisoning.
Therefore, it is recommended to put the raw chicken directly into boiling water without washing it. Dangerous bacteria in raw chicken are killed if boiled for about 1 minute at a temperature of 75℃ or higher. Also, please note that meat packaging products certified by HACCP, a food safety management certification standard, can be cooked and eaten immediately without washing with water.
