Let me be honest. I don’t clean my microwave buttons as often as I should. Or the can opener. Or that weird patch behind the sink tap where crumbs disappear and multiply. But I’ve started paying more attention, not because I’m aiming for some perfect kitchen scene, but because I’m tired of feeling a bit grossed out when I cook.
Kitchen hygiene is more of a rythm rather then a moral virtue, it’s a rhythm. It starts with washing your damn hands properlly: warm water, soap, 20 seconds, every time. Before and after raw meat. After the bin. After the dog. And a water filter really helps to achieve this. Here’s the system I use if you’re thinking about upgrading.
Sponges? Bacteria playgrounds. Bleach them, microwave them, or better yet, just replace them before they become science experiments. Same deal with tea towels. If they smell like anything other than detergent, toss them in a hot wash.
Here’s a rule I stick to (because rules keep me from unraveling): raw meat stays in its own lane. Separate board, separate knife, and far from anything I actually want to eat. Red board for meat, green for veg. That colour code has saved me from accidental chicken juice disasters more than once. And raw stuff lives on the bottom shelf of the fridge.
Here is a video to help the information really stick. Nailing what colour chopping boards with what foods i truly a game changer:
Temperatures aren’t a suggestion. Chicken needs to hit 165°F. Ground beef? 160. Fish? 145. Don’t guess. Use a thermometer. This isn’t the time for vibes. And food that’s been sitting out for hours? That’s not dinner. That’s bin fodder. Two hours max. Less if the weather’s warm.
Leftovers? Label them. Date them. Store them right. If your fridge is a graveyard of mystery containers, it’s time to sort your system. And don’t defrost meat on the bench. It’s not 1987. Use the fridge, cold water, or microwave.
Clean as you go. Not because you love cleaning, but because it saves you from dealing with fossilised crumbs and sticky knives later. Rinse stuff. Wipe spills. Tiny habits, less stress.
This isn’t about perfection. I’m not trying to win a medal for cleanest kitchen. It’s about not getting sick. About keeping things a little more sane.