Do you wash raw chicken before cooking it?

[shawmut]

I've asked two people, one says you're supposed to and the other says it's not a good idea. What's the deal?

[fizzgig]

1. if it has skin on it

yes. and i scrape it with a knife to get any errant feathers, etc off. if not, i don't bother

[auntAgonist]

2. always.

skin or no, I wash it.

aA

edited to fix typo if you can believe that!!

[bigwillq]

3. Yes

all the time

[philosophie_en_rose]

4. I rinse it and pat it dry.

Just a habit.

[Rabrrrrrr]

5. Whole chickens and chicken pieces with skin I wash. Always.

Skinless breasts I don't.

Washing gets rid of the leftover blood and coagulated icky things and freshens it up a little bit.

[S n o w b a l l]

6. Yes, always...

I wash chicken, skin or no skin & meat. The thought of what it's been laying around on before packaging is :scared: