The controversial way Dalilah Polanco cooks chicken at LCDLFM

Dalilah Polanco went viral on social media for her unusual way of preparing chicken at La Casa de los Famosos Mexico . The actress sparked a heated online conversation between those who defend and oppose the practice of washing chicken before cooking.

Within the reality show, Polanco has taken an active role in the kitchen; however, 24/7 cameras captured that he doesn't usually wash or disinfect the chicken before cooking it, which generated various reactions. Despite the controversy, his method may be backed by scientific evidence.

Various sources, such as the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) , agree that washing chicken before cooking is not recommended. This position is supported by biochemical engineer Rafael Carbajal, who has a master's and doctorate in microbial biotechnology.

In one of his videos, the science and food expert explained that washing raw meat can be risky, as it increases the likelihood of cross-contamination rather than eliminating bacteria.

Both birds and other animals, when used in dishes, have a large amount of bacteria when raw, so some choose to rinse them under running water in the sink or in a bowl filled with products like salt, vinegar, or lemon juice.

None of these methods guarantee complete elimination of meat contamination. Furthermore, due to the liquid splashing in the kitchen, it encourages the spread of microorganisms to surfaces in the room and to the clothing and body of the person cooking.

Although this is a well-known fact, popular belief suggests that disinfecting with soap or bleach is sufficient. However, experiments using special light to detect bacteria have shown this is not the case, as 16% of spaces contain microorganisms such as salmonella, according to USDA data.

Therefore, Dalilah Polanco is right not to wash the chicken before cooking it at home, because boiling it or searing it on the grill ensures its decontamination and exposes other spaces to "dirt."

MF