chicken processing

[Sunshine27295]

can I use citric acid instead of lactic acid when i soak my birds and would the calculations still be the same? And if so do I still need to use the chlorine bleach solution?
Or is one or the other? First time doing this.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Interesting question.
Perhaps @Ridgerunner can chime in here.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I have no idea. The only thing I use bleach or any sanitizer for is to clean my work area and tools before and after processing. I use a lot of clean water while processing. I do not use anything while aging the meat.

I'm not sure what citric acid might do to the flavor or what concentration you might need to kill the microbes. Different acids have different strengths.

The way I read that you can use the bleach instead of the acid since the bleach appears to be optional. (Can be used)

 

[Sunshine27295]

I have no idea. The only thing I use bleach or any sanitizer for is to clean my work area and tools before and after processing. I use a lot of clean water while processing. I do not use anything while aging the meat.

I'm not sure what citric acid might do to the flavor or what concentration you might need to kill the microbes. Different acids have different strengths.

The way I read that you can use the bleach instead of the acid since the bleach appears to be optional. (Can be used)

Thanks!

 

[iwltfum]

I'll second that fact that you don't need to use any of that directly on your meat. These are sanitation procedures that originate from factory butchering and potentially needed in that setting because of how sloppy it is on account of there are robotics involved and huge numbers of chickens are being cooled in the same water. If you are eviscerating properly and cleanly, there should be little to no risk of food borne pathogens. If you do nick an intestine or something like that where you think there could be potential for contamination, rinse inside and outside the cavity thoroughly with cool running water and drain that water away from your butchering station and holding container(s).

 

[Sunshine27295]

thanks so much for the info. This will be the first time we are doing this. I've watched some videos and are confident we will be fine. We are renting the equipment from our local ag extension office. That info about the lactic acid was on their site along with some other stuff. Good to know that I don't need to use any chemicals on my birds.