Before prepping a salad after cutting raw meat, what must you do to the cutting board and knife?

To ensure food safety, any surfaces or tools that have come into contact with raw meat must be thoroughly cleaned before preparing ready-to-eat foods, such as salads. This is essential to prevent cross-contamination, which can lead to foodborne illnesses.

Washing, rinsing, and sanitizing the cutting board and knife ensures that all food residues, bacteria, and contaminants from the raw meat are effectively removed. Washing with soap helps dislodge and remove any particles, rinsing removes the soap and debris, and sanitizing kills any remaining pathogens. By following this procedure, you significantly reduce the risk of contaminating the salad and thereby protect the health of consumers.

Using just water or wiping with a paper towel does not adequately remove all harmful microorganisms. Letting items air dry without cleaning them is also unsafe, as it allows for potential bacteria to remain present on the surfaces. Hence, the most comprehensive and safe approach is to wash, rinse, and sanitize.