Chicken is a staple in our meals: baked, grilled, in sauce or in a salad, it’s a welcome addition to all kinds of recipes. But one question often comes up: should you clean it before cooking? Because behind its apparent simplicity lies a lesser-known reality… Some factory-farmed chickens may contain traces of chemical treatments. So how can you make your chicken more natural without making it complicated?
What’s Behind Supermarket Chicken
Buying at the supermarket
These could be brines (to tenderize the meat), cleaning agents used in slaughterhouses, or preservatives designed to extend shelf life.
Nothing to worry about – these practices are strictly regulated – but many consumers prefer to limit these additives in their diets. The good news: there are a few simple steps you can take to clean your chicken before cooking it.
The right steps for cleaner, healthier chicken
Chicken delivery
Remove the skin (if necessary)
This is often the part that concentrates the most fat and dirt. Removing it will lighten the food.
Wash in a container of cold water
Don’t rinse the chicken directly under running water: this could spray micro-droplets into the kitchen. Instead, use a large bowl, fill it with cold water, and submerge the chicken in it.
Rinse it two or three times to remove the preserving liquids.
Soak in lemon or vinegar
Pour the juice of two lemons (or half a cup of white vinegar) into cold water. Let the chicken soak for 20 to 30 minutes.
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This natural acid bath helps neutralize odors, remove surface dirt, and firm the meat.
Rinse Again
A final rinse in clean water (still in the container) is enough to remove any lemon or vinegar aftertaste.
Bonus Option: Express Parboil
Some families boil the chicken for five minutes before cooking. The water that is then poured out will carry away some of the residue and any traces of processing.
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