Food safety: 7 common mistakes that can make home-cooked food unsafe

Home-cooked food may feel safer, but everyday kitchen habits can still increase the risk of food poisoning. From washing raw chicken to storing leftovers incorrectly, here are seven common food safety mistakes to avoid.Simple kitchen mistakes can increase the risk of food poisoning. Here are seven common food safety errors and easy ways to make home-cooked meals safer.Cooking at home gives you control over what goes into your meal, but it does not automatically make food safe. Food safety starts much before the first bite. Germs can spread through unwashed hands, dirty surfaces, raw ingredients and improper storage. The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends four basic steps: clean, separate, cook and chill.Some kitchen habits that seem harmless can actually increase the risk of food poisoning. From rinsing raw chicken under the tap to leaving cooked food out for too long, here are seven common food safety mistakes that are easy to avoid.1. WASHING RAW CHICKENMany people rinse chicken before cooking it, but this can spread bacteria from the meat and its juices to the sink, worktops, utensils and other foods. The United States Department of Agriculture advises against washing raw poultry for this reason.Instead, cook poultry properly and clean any surfaces that come into contact with raw juices. 2. USING THE SAME BOARD FOR EVERYTHINGCutting vegetables on a board that was just used for raw meat or poultry can lead to cross-contamination.Keep raw meat, poultry and seafood separate from ready-to-eat foods. Washing utensils, cutting boards and worktops with hot, soapy water after use is also important.3. NOT WASHING YOUR HANDS PROPERLY Hands can transfer germs directly to food. Wash them with soap and water before, during and after food preparation, particularly after handling raw meat, poultry or eggs. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends washing hands for at least 20 seconds.4. GUESSING IF FOOD IS COOKEDColour is not always a reliable way to tell whether meat or poultry is safe to eat. Cooking food to the correct internal temperature is important for killing harmful germs. A food thermometer can help check this accurately.5. LEAVING COOKED FOOD OUT TOO LONGCooked food should not simply be left sitting at room temperature for extended periods. Refrigerate leftovers promptly rather than allowing them to remain out for too long.6. THAWING FOOD ON THE KITCHEN COUNTERFrozen food should not be thawed by simply leaving it on the counter. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends thawing frozen food safely and refrigerating food promptly after cooking.7. TRUSTING SMELL OR APPEARANCEFood can contain harmful bacteria without looking, smelling or tasting spoiled. So, relying only on your senses is not a reliable food safety check. Safe handling, proper cooking and correct storage are more important.A simple rule can make home cooking safer: clean, separate, cook and chill. These four steps cover much of what matters when preparing and storing food at home.- EndsPublished By: vaishnavi parasharPublished On: Aug 17, 2026 11:50 IST