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We all love the kitchen, but are you potentially getting really sick from it?
Whether it’s the place where we gather the most while entertaining guests or where we ultimately go to nourish our bodies when hunger ensues… The kitchen includes several places with risky stuff that could be potentially making you fall under the weather!
That’s because it’s also known to be prone to some non-sanitary and even consuming invisible germs…
Let’s dive in to see the 10 most popular things that are making you fall ill (and how to fix them!) in the kitchen!
Similar Topics:
10 hazardous things in your kitchen (& How to Fix Them!)
1. Kitchen sponges
One of your most important cleaning supplies is also your filthiest. When you don’t refresh your sponge frequently, it is simply a gold mine for bacteria.
An analysis of the kitchens in a Study showed that 19.6 billion bacteria live on the average kitchen sponge. In addition, it also turns out that it is far worse than the handles of a toilet cleaner. Further studies have also found large colonies of Acinetobacter, Moraxella, and Chryseobacterium along with E. Coli, and salmonella.
Your sponges have been largely ineffective in just cleaning them out. Scientists instead suggest that you replace your kitchen cleaning sponge once a week.
2. Improper Food Handling
How you handle your food is everything and here’s how you could be doing it wrong! You may be undercooking your food, using unwashed produce, skipping hand washing while cooking (due to forgetfulness), or cross-contaminating other foods. If you are not handling your food correctly, be forewarned that bacteria can multiply rapidly.
3. Improper thawing
When it comes to preparing your meat for dinner, you’d think that letting it sit for a few hours in the sink or on the counter, is the right thing to do, right? After all, the meat is too cold for germs, so it has to be safe!
Regrettably, no! Bacteria may grow in anything warmer than 40 ° F and cooler than 140 ° F. Know that once the meat is in this range, bacteria can start to grow.
Freezing also cannot kill germs that have already been on the meat. So, it is therefore essential to be really on top of things when it comes to your thawing measures.
If you have time, thawing your meat in the fridge is the safest method. You can also thaw it in a cold bath in the sink or in the microwave if time is not on your side. Don’t forget to cook it shortly after the meat thaws.
4. Dishtowels
Many of us love our fabric hand towels but if you don’t clean them regularly? You may want to rethink how you’re using your kitchen towels in your home.
A study found that your dishtowels are teeming with bacteria that can potentially cause food poisoning and harbor E. coli. That means wash your dish towels in extra hot water after every use, to help you combat the germs from spreading rapidly.
Similar: 5 Best Foods/drinks for When You’re Sick or Nauseous
5. Can openers
We all know that the blade on can openers are exposed to the contents of the can with every use… But did you know that some contents like fish can build up bacteria even after you clean it?
It all depends on if you are cleaning it right. Certain contents of food need to be sanitized with the right kind of heat. Experts suggest that you should always wash your can openers in extremely hot, soapy water after every use OR place it in the dishwasher on extra hot sanitize mode.
6. Certain leftovers
You may want to think twice before eating or reheating your leftovers because not all leftovers should be treated the same. Here are some foods that have been found to cause more sickness (when consumed after they’ve been cooked already) such as eggs, beets, spinach, and seafood to name a few.
According to the FDA, these foods can go bad pretty easily and bacteria will grow very quickly on any seafood. So keep in mind when you are handling these foods after you’ve already cooked them!
7. Reusable shopping bags
Reusable shopping bags are great for the environment so never stop using them. Just make sure that you do not leave your dirty bags in a hot car! This is because bacteria can thrive and spread rapidly due to heat and moisture.
Also, experts suggest that you wash them in extra hot water so cross-contamination from any meat juices or unwashed produce (that may have leaked) will not further spread and cause you to get sick.
8. Improper cleaning of Cutting boards
Of course, cutting boards are on the list as they are practically a magnet for bacteria in your kitchen. But this all could be because you may be cleaning your cutting boards improperly.
Know that every time you cut into your board, those small cracks are a bacteria landfill that could potentially be making you sick. Experts suggest that any wooden cutting boards you use frequently, should be cleaned in hot soapy water and that your plastic cutting boards should be placed in the dishwasher on sanitize cycle.
9. Mixing your Cutting boards
Foodborne diseases don’t just come from the food you eat. Cross-contamination is a real problem, particularly in one sneaky place that is mostly found when preparing food. The biggest reason for this is because cutting boards are often misused or overused.
A single cutting board can lead to cross-contamination during meals. Instead, experts suggest that you should use one cutting board for every raw meat and another for every other cutting requirement like vegetables. If you do this, you’ll improve any chances of the raw meat entering and contaminating your freshly cut food.
10. Microwave popcorn (surprising, right?)
Although microwave popcorn is not something to clean and is safe to eat, you should still know this (because it’s very surprising), and here’s why…
Chemicals are trying to escape like diacetyl and this chemical is extremely bad for your respiratory system and can make you sick if you breathe in the steam that is being released from the popcorn bag. You can do some more reading on this here, but basically, it’s not safe to inhale the steam when you open the bag.
Opt to pop your own with a popcorn maker, or let your microwave popcorn breathe by transferring the contents into a separate bowl before taking your first bite.
Your kitchen is supposed to be one of the cleanest, healthiest, and most germ-free places in your home. There’s no need to be falling ill when these can be cleaned and so easily.
Are you surprised by any of these items? If so, let me know in the comments below!
You may also like:
- 10 Genius Organizational Tips from Tidying Up with Marie Kondo
- 16 Everyday Habits for a Clean Home
- How to Stop Being Messy – 10 Habits for a Cleaner Abode
- Beginner’s Guide to Minimalism
Author: Rebecca
Hi, my name is Rebecca and I am the face behind Everything Abode! I am a lifestyle and wellness writer based out of Vancouver Island. When I’m not writing or exploring mountains and beaches with my furry rescue, I love spending time learning creative ways to manifest a healthy home. Thanks for stopping by!
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