914. Using Toaster After Splashing Raw Chicken Juice Inside if You Are Immunocompromised

In this episode of Risky or Not, Professor Ben Chapman and Dr. Don Schaffner tackle a listener's urgent concern: whether using a toaster after accidentally splashing raw chicken juice into it poses a risk for someone on immune-suppressing medications. The hosts methodically analyze the situation, focusing on the extreme heat generated by toaster coils—confirmed to reach up to 600 degrees Celsius—and the fact that toast browns at temperatures between 155°C and 190°C. They emphasize that the intense heat likely kills any pathogens, making the toaster effectively self-sanitizing. The hosts also reference a 1940s paper from the Journal of Food Science that details the science of toast quality, adding historical context and humor. Despite the listener’s valid concern, the hosts conclude it is not risky, though they acknowledge the unpleasantness of potential dried residue. The episode ends with a playful, recurring theme about the omnipresence of bacteria, reinforcing the podcast’s mission to demystify everyday germ risks with science and clarity.