A common cooking shortcut used by some Nigerians to save time, water and cooking gas could come with food-safety concerns, nutrition experts have warned.
Health professionals are advising people to avoid cooking unwashed, unpeeled eggs in the same pot with rice because bacteria on eggshells could potentially contaminate the rice during cooking.
How Can Eggs Contaminate Rice?..READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE .
Eggshells can carry bacteria such as Salmonella and E. coli, particularly because eggs come from poultry environments where contamination can occur.
When an egg is placed directly into a pot of rice, bacteria on the shell could potentially come into contact with the cooking water and, in turn, the rice.
Rice also begins absorbing water during the cooking process. This means that if contaminated water comes into contact with the rice before the cooking temperature is sufficiently high, there could be a risk of cross-contamination.
Although proper cooking can kill many harmful bacteria, experts say avoiding the contamination in the first place is a safer approach.
What Happens If the Egg Cracks?
Another concern is that eggshells can sometimes crack while boiling.
When this happens, egg white can leak into the rice, potentially changing its appearance, taste and smell.
Apart from the food-safety concern, this can also affect the quality of the meal, especially when the rice is being prepared for several people.
Why Do Some People Cook Them Together?
For many households, the practice is mainly about convenience.
Cooking rice and eggs together can appear to save:
* Cooking gas
* Time
* Water
* Kitchen utensils
* Effort
With the rising cost of cooking fuel, combining foods in one pot may seem like a practical solution.
However, nutrition experts say the potential consequences of food contamination should be considered before prioritising the small amount of fuel or time saved.
Can Washing Eggs Remove the Risk?
Washing the outside of an egg does not necessarily guarantee that all potentially harmful contaminants have been eliminated.
Experts therefore advise against relying solely on washing the shell as protection when cooking eggs together with other foods.
The safer option is to keep the egg separate from foods such as rice until it has been properly cooked and peeled.
What Is the Safest Way to Cook Rice and Eggs?
The simplest food-safety precaution is to cook the rice and eggs separately.
Boil the eggs in their own pot, cook the rice separately, and peel the eggs after they have been properly cooked.
This reduces the possibility of contaminants from the eggshell coming into contact with the rice.
The Bottom Line
Saving cooking gas or time may make it tempting to boil eggs and rice together, but food safety should remain a priority.
Cooking the two foods separately is a simple precaution that can reduce the possibility of cross-contamination and help keep meals safer for everyone.
