🚫 Why You Shouldn’t Wash Ground Beef
When you rinse ground beef, the bacteria on the surface can spread through splashing water droplets onto your sink, countertop, and utensils. This is called cross-contamination, and it can actually increase your risk of foodborne illness rather than reduce it.
🔥 What You Should Do Instead
The best way to make ground beef safe to eat is to cook it thoroughly.
Use a food thermometer to ensure it reaches 160°F (71°C) internally.
Cooking destroys harmful bacteria such as E. coli and Salmonella.
Always wash your hands, cutting boards, and utensils with hot, soapy water after handling raw meat.
🧂 Bonus Tip
If you want to remove excess fat, you can:
Cook the beef first, then drain off the grease.
For even leaner results, rinse the cooked beef briefly under hot water and blot it dry with paper towels — this is safe because it’s already fully cooked.
✅ Bottom line:
Don’t wash raw ground beef. Just cook it properly — that’s the safest and most effective way to kill bacteria
