Chicken is generally safe to eat when cooked properly. The key is to cook chicken to an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) to kill harmful bacteria like Salmonella. It's important to keep raw chicken separate from other foods to prevent cross-contamination.
While raw chicken can carry harmful bacteria, there are certain circumstances where it may be safe to eat raw. For example, in Japan, some types of chicken are raised specifically for sashimi, a raw dish. However, in most parts of the world, eating raw chicken is not recommended due to the risk of food poisoning.
Here are some tips for ensuring chicken safety:
- Use a food thermometer to check the internal temperature of chicken.
- Keep raw chicken separate from other foods.
- Wash your hands thoroughly after handling raw chicken.
- Clean and sanitize surfaces that have come into contact with raw chicken.
- Avoid cross-contamination by using separate cutting boards and utensils for raw chicken.
Eating raw chicken is generally not safe due to the risk of food poisoning. However, it's important to remember that properly cooked chicken is a safe and nutritious source of protein.
