Why You Should Never Eat Raw Cookie Dough
Cookies and cookie dough are some of the most tempting treats out there. The smell of freshly baked cookies wafting through the house is enough to make anyone salivate. And we all know that feeling of sneaking a spoonful of raw cookie dough while baking. It’s a guilty pleasure that many of us indulge in from time to time.
But, how harmless is this indulgence? And could we be putting our health at risk by continuing to do it? Let’s explore below.
5 reasons why you shouldn’t eat raw cookie dough
1. Raw eggs can make you sick
One of the main ingredients in cookie dough is raw eggs, which can harbor harmful bacteria such as salmonella. Eating raw eggs can cause food poisoning, resulting in symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
2. Raw flour can also make you sick
You may not realize it, but raw flour can also be a source of food-borne illness. Flour is a raw agricultural product and can be contaminated with bacteria such as E. coli. Cooking the flour kills these bacteria, but eating it raw can make you sick.
3. Eating raw cookie dough can interfere with nutrient absorption
When you eat raw cookie dough, the dough can bind to the nutrients in your digestive tract, preventing your body from absorbing them properly. This can lead to nutritional deficiencies and other health problems.
4. There’s only so much you can eat
Before you start feeling sick to your stomach, that is. Raw cookie dough is extremely rich and contains a high amount of sugar and fat. Eating too much can lead to stomach cramps, nausea, and even vomiting.
5. It tastes better cooked
Let’s be honest, the best part of cookie dough is the warm, gooey, freshly baked cookies that come out of the oven. Sure, raw cookie dough may taste good, but it doesn’t compare to the deliciousness of a fresh batch of cooked cookies.
Raw cookie dough isn’t supposed to be the end product, rather it’s just a stepping stone towards the real deal. So, why not wait a bit longer and enjoy the final product instead of risking your health for a few spoonfuls of dough?
Try non-raw cookie dough
If you’re craving that cookie dough flavor, there are plenty of safe alternatives out there. Many companies now sell edible cookie dough, made with heat-treated flour and without raw eggs, so you can indulge without the risk of food poisoning.
Alternatively, you can make your own safe-to-eat, edible cookie dough by using pasteurized eggs and heat-treated flour. It may require a bit more effort, but it’s a much safer alternative.