Quick Answer
You should not shred raw chicken in a mixer or food processor. Raw chicken can contain harmful bacteria like Salmonella. Using a mixer or food processor to shred the raw chicken will spread the bacteria all over the appliance and make it very difficult to properly clean and sanitize afterwards. Instead, it is much safer to either cook the chicken first and then shred it, or shred it carefully by hand on a clean cutting board with a sharp knife.
Detailed Answer
Shredding raw chicken in a mixer or food processor is not recommended for a few key reasons:
Spread of Bacteria
Raw chicken often contains bacteria like Salmonella and Campylobacter. These bacteria multiply very quickly at room temperature. When you use a mixer or food processor on raw chicken, it can spread the bacteria to all corners of the appliance – on the blades, lid, bowl, motor parts etc. This makes it extremely difficult to fully sanitize the appliance afterwards. Any leftover bacteria could lead to cross-contamination.
Unable to Sanitize Properly
Mixers, food processors, blenders etc have many small nooks and crannies where food can get trapped. The sharp metal blades also have tiny pores. It is very challenging to fully sanitize these appliances once raw chicken has been processed in them. The bacteria can continue to live in hard-to-reach areas. Even if you clean the appliance thoroughly, you cannot guarantee it is free of harmful pathogens. This puts you at risk whenever you use the appliance again.
Recontamination Risk
Even if you manage to sanitize the mixer or food processor after shredding raw chicken, there is still a risk of recontamination. If any leftover Salmonella manages to survive the sanitizing process, it could quickly spread back onto the chicken once you shred it and make the end product unsafe.
Safer Alternatives
There are a couple safer options than shredding raw chicken in a mixer:
Cook chicken first: Cooking chicken to an internal temperature of 165°F will kill off any harmful bacteria present. Once fully cooked, you can let it cool slightly and then shred or chop it in a food processor. This is much safer.
Shred by hand: Using a sharp knife and cutting board, you can carefully shred or chop raw chicken by hand. Be sure to immediately wash hands, utensils, surfaces after. You avoid the potential mess and safety issues of a mixer this way.
Is it safe to shred cooked chicken in a mixer?
Yes, it is completely safe to use a mixer or food processor to shred chicken that has already been fully cooked. The internal temperature reached during cooking (at least 165°F) kills any potentially harmful bacteria like Salmonella or E. coli. So once cooked, the chicken is generally safe to consume or process further.
Be sure to follow food safety guidelines:
– Allow cooked chicken to cool slightly before shredding. Do not shred immediately after cooking as appliances can struggle with very hot foods.
– Use clean utensils and appliances. Wash and sanitize any plates, forks, machines that will contact the cooked chicken.
– Do not let cooked chicken or shredded chicken sit out too long. Refrigerate within 2 hours.
– Store shredded chicken properly covered in fridge. Use within 3-4 days.
Following basic food handling and hygiene practices, shredding fully cooked chicken in a mixer or food processor should pose no safety issues. The high heat from proper cooking destroys bacteria. Just be sure all appliances and surfaces are cleaned!
Steps to safely shred cooked chicken
Here are some best practices for safely shredding cooked chicken using a mixer or food processor:
1. Cook chicken to proper temperature
– Cook raw chicken to an internal temperature of at least 165°F. Use a food thermometer to verify doneness. Cooking to 165°F kills potentially harmful bacteria.
– Let chicken cool for about 10-15 minutes after cooking. Shredding works best once chicken has cooled slightly but is still warm. Very hot chicken can overwork appliances.
2. Prepare mixer and utensils
– Wash and sanitize the mixer bowl, lid, blades according to manufacturer’s instructions. Let all parts air dry fully.
– Wash any plates, forks, knives that will contact the cooked chicken with hot soapy water.
3. Transfer chicken to mixer
– Use clean hands or utensils to transfer cooked chicken into the mixer bowl.
– Make sure chicken pieces are not overcrowded. Work in batches for large amounts of chicken.
4. Shred the chicken
– Put lid on mixer and lock into place if required. Turn mixer on, starting at lower speeds.
– Increase speed gradually as chicken shreds and becomes stringy. Do not overmix to a puree texture.
– Turn mixer off once desired shred consistency is reached.
5. Transfer shredded chicken
– Immediately remove shredded chicken from the mixer bowl and transfer to a clean container.
– Do not leave chicken sitting in mixer bowl, as it could recontaminate from residual bacteria.
6. Refrigerate promptly
– Let shredded chicken cool to room temperature, then cover and refrigerate within 2 hours.
– Consume within 3-4 days for best quality.
Following this safe process minimizes risks and results in delicious shredded chicken for meals and recipes!
Potential risks of shredding raw chicken
Here are some of the main risks that can result from improperly shredding raw chicken in a mixer or food processor:
Salmonella poisoning
Raw chicken commonly contains the bacteria Salmonella. Shredding can spread it around the appliance. If undercooked chicken is then consumed, Salmonella can lead to serious food poisoning with symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever. It is especially dangerous for the elderly, infants, and those with weakened immune systems.
Campylobacter infection
Like Salmonella, the Campylobacter bacteria is also found in raw chicken. It can spread via undercooked chicken and cause severe gastrointestinal illness. Symptoms include diarrhea, cramping, nausea, and fever. In some cases, joint pain and fatigue may persist for weeks.
Cross-contamination
Using a contaminated mixer or food processor to prepare other foods could spread Salmonella, Campylobacter or other pathogens to ready-to-eat foods. This is known as cross-contamination. It can lead to foodborne illness outbreaks.
Appliance damage
Trying to sanitize an appliance thoroughly after shredding raw chicken may damage the unit. Chemical sanitizers and high heat can degrade rubber gaskets, dull blades, and wear down machine parts over time. The repair and replacement costs add up.
Wasted food
If unsure about the safety of a mixer or processor after using it for raw chicken, you may end up having to throw out expensive appliances or large batches of food. This results in wasted ingredients and added costs.
Properly cooking chicken before shredding and maintaining clean equipment is the far safer choice.
Is it safe to use the same mixer for raw and cooked foods?
It is generally not considered safe to use the same mixer, food processor or blender for both raw and cooked foods without thoroughly sanitizing it in between uses.
Here are guidelines on safely using mixers and processors for multiple purposes:
– Always process raw meats, poultry, seafood FIRST with a given appliance before any other ingredients. RAW foods present the highest safety risks.
– Fully disassemble, wash, sanitize, and air dry the mixer parts after processing raw meats and before re-use. Be sure to follow manufacturer cleaning guidelines.
– When reusing the appliance, process firm or dry foods before wet batters. For example, shred cheese before mixing a wet cake batter. This prevents cross-contamination from any moisture residues.
– Avoid mixing raw eggs or other wet, perishable ingredients in a machine that was recently used for raw meats. The moisture can spread bacteria.
– Allow sufficient time between uses for thorough cleaning and sanitizing. Do not rush the process.
– Consider designating certain mixers or processors for raw meat use only to eliminate risks.
With proper sanitation between each use, a mixer can safely handle both raw and cooked foods. Be sure to sanitize all parts that contact food and allow appliances to fully dry before reusing. When in doubt, play it safe and avoid switching back and forth between raw and ready-to-eat foods with the same machine.
How to sanitize a mixer or food processor after using with raw chicken
If a mixer or food processor has been used to shred or process raw chicken, it requires thorough sanitizing before further use. Here are the steps:
Disassemble the appliance
Take apart all removable parts like blades, bowls, lids, gaskets according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Remove debris
Rinse away any visible chicken debris from the disassembled parts. Avoid cross-contaminating sinks or surfaces.
Wash
Wash all parts with hot soapy water. Use a dish brush on crevices and metal blades. Avoid splashing.
Rinse
Rinse all parts thoroughly with clean hot water to remove soapy residue.
Sanitize
Soak all parts in sanitizing solution for the time recommended on label. A common sanitizer is 1 tablespoon unscented chlorine bleach per 1 quart of water.
Air dry
Let all parts fully air dry before reassembling. Do not towel dry, as towels can spread bacteria.
Test run
Once dry, reassemble and run the empty appliance to ensure it is functioning properly before making food again.
Thoroughly sanitizing all components that contact food is vital any time raw chicken is processed in a mixer. Do not skip drying, as any remaining moisture could spread Salmonella or other bacteria to the next foods used.
Conclusion
Shredding raw chicken in a mixer, food processor, or blender is quite risky and not recommended. The appliance can easily spread bacteria like Salmonella everywhere and be very difficult to properly sanitize afterwards. For food safety, it is ideal to cook chicken first and shred once fully cooked and cooled slightly. This kills any potential pathogens present.
Alternatively, raw chicken can be carefully shredded by hand with a knife and cutting board instead. If a mixer has already been used with raw chicken, be sure to fully disassemble, wash, sanitize, and dry every part before using that appliance for other foods again. Proper cleaning and handling processes are key to preventing cross-contamination and foodborne illness when working with raw chicken.