Five Popular Food Myths You Need To Know

These are five food myths. They are myths. They are NOT true. Although they are very popular, they have no scientific or factual basis.

ONE

There’s a famous rule that if you accidentally drop food on the floor but pick it up before five seconds is up, it is okay. Everyone knows this. Everyone is sure that this is true.

This is NOT true.

A floor has dirt. Dirt and bacteria. This is instantly transmitted on the dropped food. Don’t eat it.

TWO

Everyone thinks that one is to wash raw meat, be it chicken or whatever. This is a bad idea. There is a considerable risk of spreading bacteria around food preparation areas and onto you. Cooking thoroughly will ensure any bacteria present will be killed.

THREE

People think that smelling food is the proof of whether it is safe or not. But this is not always the case.

Sure, if food smells funny, that is a pretty good indication you should not eat it. But! Some food can smell just fine and look perfect…BUT still be unsafe.

You should pay some attention to the ‘use-by date’. Further, it will only be safe to eat if it has been stored properly leading up to that date. Look at the label instructions and the date. If you are in doubt, don’t eat it.

FOUR

One is supposed to eat rice the day it’ is cooked. Left over rice can be dangerous. If you need to store it, let it cool, get it into refrigerator. Don’t let it stand around.

Spores of bacillus cereus remain in rice after cooking and quickly turn into bacteria. Keeping rice at room temperature encourages these bacteria to multiply and produce a toxin.

If you are going to save rice, quickly put it into a container and let is sit in cold water to cool it fast, then cover it, and get it into the fridge.

Don’t let it stay more than a day.

Then, reheat thoroughly, and what ever isn’t eatten, goes out. Do not reheat rice twice.

FIVE
There seems to be some question about refreezing food after thawed. There isn’t. As long as it was properly cooked the first time, you can refreeze them.