Can refrigeration kill germs

Answer 1

It depends on what you are doing. Ground poultry is supposed to be cooked to at least 165 degrees, chicken or turkey breast to at least 170 degrees, and whole poultry to at least 180 degrees (with the temperature being taken in the meaty part of the thigh meat, not in the poultry breast). If you are cooking beef or pork for children, the elderly, or those with compromised immune systems, you are always supposed to cook the meat to "well done" temperatures.

If you are asking about clean up temperatures, for countertops, stovetops and food preparation areas, its always a good idea to use the hottest water you can, along with disinfectant cleaners. For cutting boards and knives used with raw meat, especially chicken, we hand wash them in the hottest possible water, then run them on the highest setting in the dishwasher. (You can also soak them in a very weak bleach solution like my mother likes to do.)