Imagine this: You’re whipping up your comfort cookies for the neighbors, and you forgot to preheat the oven. So, there you are, waiting for five minutes in the kitchen with a big bowl of buttery, sugary cookie dough. Every child’s dream.
What do you do? Dip your fingers in and snag a pinch? Go for a whole handful? Or do you wait patiently for the cheerful beep of the oven telling you it’s ready to turn that sticky, pillowy paste into ooey-gooey cookies?
Well, next time you’re sitting in your kitchen with a bowl full of cookie dough, think twice about doing a little taste test. While it seems like a simple and delicious treat, cookie dough can actually contain bacteria that will make you regret not waiting for the cookies to come out of the oven. Let’s dive into the raw truth about raw dough.
(Maria Orlova/pexels)
What Makes Eating Raw Cookie Dough So Dangerous?
1. Eggs
When you read the title of this article, your first thought was probably about eggs. Pretty much everyone knows that eggs, as an animal product, can be exposed to the bacteria Salmonella. Infections from Salmonella can lead to food poisoning, which is super painful and can be very dangerous.
But the tricky thing is that eggs contaminated with Salmonella will just look like normal eggs, so there’s no avoiding the risk just by a sight test. You can avoid a Salmonella infection by cooking your eggs thoroughly or by buying pasteurized eggs at the store, which have been heated enough to destroy the bacteria without cooking the egg.
2. Flour
What you may not have considered before is the danger of eating raw flour. Bacteria from animal feces can contaminate wheat crops through water or soil. That raw grain is then potentially contaminated with the bacteria Escherichia coli (E. coli). Through that same process, wheat can be contaminated with Salmonella, too, although E. coli is more common.
What’s worse is that wheat is not usually treated for E. coli or Salmonella before it is ground up. That means that flour can still contain these harmful bacteria. Both types can survive a very long time in wheat flour, so the waiting game won’t work too well either.
Can I Die From Eating Raw Cookie Dough?
In short, yes, you could die, but it’s not likely. In very extreme cases, a few people have died from complications of eating raw cookie dough.
What’s more plausible is for you to develop some symptoms of food poisoning. But you still need to take eating raw cookie dough seriously, even though you probably won’t die. Food poisoning is no joke. Symptoms of food poisoning and bacterial infections from Salmonella or E. coli include:
- Stomach cramping
- Fever
- Headache
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms after eating raw cookie dough or other raw egg or flour products, it’s a good idea to consult a doctor. And if you notice more concerning signs like bloody stool, it’s especially important to seek medical attention right away.
Can I Make Cookie Dough That’s Safe to Eat Raw?
The tough truth is that you can’t really make cookie dough that’s 100% safe for eating raw. It’s difficult to hear, we know, but that’s just the way the cookie crumbles.
To get around the egg issue, you can certainly use pasteurized eggs which are clearly labeled and typically available at most grocery stores. You can even use vegan substitutes like chia seeds or applesauce which are also common baking alternatives for people with egg allergies.
And maybe you’ve heard of home heat treatments for flour to make it safer to eat raw. Yes, you can bake flour to a temperature of at least 165°F to make it safer. This can kill most bacteria, but according to the Food & Drug Administration (FDA), home flour heat treatments may not always kill bacteria effectively.
Now, it’s true that some cookie dough options available for sale are marketed as safe, but it’s important to be cautious with any product you try. These options use the same heat treatment that the FDA warns isn’t always effective.
There are no guarantees that your cookie dough will or won’t make you sick, but better safe than sorry, right?
So next time you’re prepping those baby shower cookies or a Christmas cookie assortment, leave the dough in the oven until it’s cooked all the way. As tasty as it may be, it’s probably not worth the risks. Plus, baked cookies are better anyway—soft, chewy, and perfectly warm.
And if you’re trying to change your cookie dough sampling ways but know that the temptation will be too strong, choosing online cookie delivery lets you send cookies wherever you want without having to be exposed to that rich and risky vice. Temptation terminated! You’re welcome.
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Infographic
Before indulging in raw cookie dough, think twice. While it may be tempting, it can contain bacteria that might lead to regret later. Check out this infographic for key facts about raw dough.
