Just Say No to Christmas Cookie Dough!
When I was a kid I loved it when my Mom would do some baking. It usually meant I got to try a little left over cake batter or cookie dough. Somewhere about the time I got to high school it became better known that's not a good idea. Handling raw dough or batter can make you sick according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
I honestly don't ever remember getting sick from it myself, but raw flour used in baking can be infected with E. Coli. The E. Coli is killed when the cookies, cake, pizza, whatever your making is cooked. In addition, raw eggs can contain Salmonella. What's in a lot of cake and cookie recipes? Raw eggs. Once again the cooking / baking process makes the finished food safe to eat.
Want to make sure no one gets ill from E Coli. or Salmonella? Practice these safe food handling tips and you won't find yourself or your family dealing with food poisoning this holiday season:
- No tasting or eating raw dough or batter.
- Don't let children play with raw dough or batter.
- Follow the recipe or package directions for cooking or baking at the proper temperature and for the proper length of time.
- Keep raw foods like flower and eggs separate from ready to eat foods. This will prevent cross contamination.
- Clean up thoroughly after using flour or raw eggs or uncooked dough.
- Wash your hands thoroughly after handling flour, raw eggs, uncooked dough, batter etc.
- Wash the utensils, pans, bowls etc. thoroughly after using them with warm soapy water. Same goes for the prep areas.