What Is The Fear Of Cooking Called
Mageirocophobia, or fear of cooking, can take many forms. Some people are only afraid of cooking for large groups, while others are afraid of whipping up scrambled eggs for themselves. Mageirocophobia is extremely common, although it is only considered a phobia when it is severe enough to interfere with daily life.
Meat Isnt The Only Food You Should Handle With Care
Meat poses a risk for food safety, but according to Magoulas, there are also risks around most of the foods we eat.
Raw meat, poultry, seafood and eggs are not sterile. Neither is fresh produce such as lettuce, tomatoes, sprouts and melons, said Magoulas. Thousands of types of bacteria are naturally present in our environment, and microorganisms that cause disease are called pathogens. When certain pathogens enter the food supply, they can cause foodborne illness. But its important to remember that not all bacteria cause disease in humans. For example, some bacteria are used beneficially in making cheese and yogurt.
Treating The Fear Of Food
Food phobias can be treated successfully. Treatments may include:
- Cognitive behavioral therapy . This treatment involves talking with a mental health professional about your emotions and experiences with food. You can work together to find a way to reduce negative thoughts and fear.
- Exposure. This monitored practice brings you in contact with the foods that generate fear. With this treatment, you can learn to cope with your emotions and reactions toward food in a supportive setting.
- Medication.Antidepressants, and in rare cases anti-anxiety medication, may be used to treat people with a food phobia. However, these medications arent generally used due to their high addiction liability. Beta blockers may also be used to help reduce emotional responses and anxiety on a short-term basis.
- Hypnosis. In this deeply relaxed state, your brain may be open to retraining. A hypnotherapist may make suggestions or offer verbal cues that can help to reduce the negative reactions you have toward food.
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Understanding Food Phobias And Their Causes
Food phobias can be life-limiting, preventing sufferers from trying new restaurants or even participating in family gatherings. In extreme cases, food phobias can even have an impact on health, causing restricted diets that lack essential nutrients. While all food phobias can have similar effects, the causes and symptoms may be wildly different.
Storing And Preparing Meat
Raw meat, including poultry, can contain harmful bacteria that can spread easily to anything it touches, including food, worktops, tables, chopping boards, and knives.
Take particular care to keep raw food separate from ready-to-eat foods such as bread, salad and fruit. These foods will not be cooked before you eat them, so any germs that get on to them will not be killed.
To ensure good food hygiene always:
- use different chopping boards for raw and ready-to-eat foods
- store raw meat and fish in a sealed container on the bottom shelf of the fridge
Read more about storing leftovers safely.
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What Is The Phobia Of Eating
In extreme cases, food phobias can even have an impact on health, causing restricted diets that lack essential nutrients. While all food phobias can have similar effects, the causes and symptoms may be wildly different. Sometimes mistaken for an eating disorder, cibophobia is actually the fear of food.
Thermophobia: Fear Of Heat
Thermophobia isn’t a food-centric phobia, but it can extend to what’s on your plate. All About Counselling says it’s actually defined as a generic fear of heat, and that can be anything from hot weather to hot water. For some, that’s hot food and drinks.
They also note it’s more than just a dislike of things being too hot, or a feeling of discomfort. It’s a serious source of anxiety, usually stemming from a traumatic event like an accident, a burn, or a fire. When you know that, you can see how easily touching a hot tea kettle as a child might turn into a phobia of scalding hot drinks, and how painful memories can manifest into fears it’s going to happen again. Some sufferers have success with traditional therapies and stress management methods.
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How Can You Tell If Raw Meat Is Spoiled
Spoiled meat will have a distinct, pungent smell that will make your face scrunch up.
Texture In addition to an unpleasant scent, spoiled meats can be sticky or slimy to the touch.
Color Rotten meats will also undergo a slight change in color.
Poultry should be anywhere from a bluish-white to yellow in color..
Ovophobia: Fear Of Eggs
Ovophobia is the fear of eggs, and according to Tribute, you know of one famous sufferer: Alfred Hitchcock. The Telegraph says Hitchcock’s egg phobia was just one part of his complicated relationship with food, and they quoted him as saying, “I’m frightened of eggs. That white round thing without any holes… have you ever seen anything more revolting than an egg yolk breaking and spilling its yellow liquid?”
Well, when you put it that way… we get it. He even thought blood was much less revolting than the sight of an egg yolk, calling it “jolly” in comparison. Filming The Birds must have been an absolute nightmare for him, don’t you think?
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Lachanophobia And Other Weird Food Phobias
Phobias can be tough to live with. A person with acrophobia has an unreasonable fear of heights and folks with arachnophobia are terrified by spiders. These unreasonable fears can have a specific origin, like being bitten by a spider, or can have no known cause and the treatment for them varies from confronting the fears head on to intensive psychotherapy.
Some phobias can be downright weird, for example, the fear of little clusters of holes is unofficially called trypophobia. But there is a growing segment of out population that has unreasonable fears related to food.
Lately, it seems as if just the simple act of buying or preparing food is enough to throw anybody into a panic attack. There’s new worries that foods with gluten are damaging our digestive systems, genetically modified foods are prevalent on the market and we never really know if that next bowl of spinach salad is going to give us salmonella!
Some other, general food phobias:
Body dysmporhic disorder and other weight related issues can cause food phobias, although the primary fear is of gaining weight, a person who is afflicted with these disorders can become terrified of food or of specific kinds of foods.
For folks with lachanophobia, this is a nice bowl of… terror?
Fear Of Food Knowledge
When we prepare food for ourselves or others, we become more aware of the ingredients, and, by doing so, the associated health benefits and/or risks of those foods and their consumption. Mageirocophobics can become obsessed with these issues which impacts their ability to cook or to appreciate the cooking of others.
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Fear Of Eating In Public
Fear of eating in public places or in the presence of others is a specific fear that can part of a generalized social phobia. However, it can also be more specifically a fear of eating in front of others, extending even to loved ones at home. Sometimes, this fear specifically relates to being watched or judged by others when eating. Those who struggle with weight or with eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa often have this fear, and sometimes it can be warranted as family and friends may act as food police, out of concern for the individuals well-being.
Cooking Meat On A Barbecue
The safest option is to fully cook food in your oven and then put the cooked food on the barbecue for a short time so the flavour can develop.
This can be an easier option if you’re cooking for a lot of people at the same time.
If you’re only cooking on the barbecue, the 2 main risk factors are:
- undercooking meat
- spreading germs from raw or undercooked meat on to food that’s ready to eat
When you’re cooking most types of meat on a barbecue, such as poultry , pork, burgers or sausages, make sure:
- the coals are glowing red with a powdery grey surface before you start cooking, as this means they’re hot enough
- frozen meat is fully defrosted before you cook it
- you turn the meat regularly and move it around the barbecue to cook it evenly
Most types of meat are safe to eat only when:
- the meat’s steaming hot throughout
- there’s no pink meat visible when you cut into the thickest part
- any juices run clear
Cooking with disposable barbecues can take longer.
Meat, such as steaks and joints of beef or lamb, can be served rare as long as the outside has been properly cooked. This will kill any bacteria on the outside of the meat.
Food made from any type of minced meat, such as pork sausages and beef burgers, must be cooked thoroughly all the way through.
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If Your Life Is Disrupted By A Phobia
Phobias, although they can be seen as unusual, weird and even funny, are no laughing matter for some folks. If you have a crippling fear and don’t know where to get help, try first calling your family doctor. He or she may have advice or may refer you to a therapist or psychologist.
I would caution you against some of the “remedies” you may come across on the internet because most of the people offering advice are not medical professionals.
Though some phobias can be faced and overcome, they are a form of anxiety and anything major should be treated by a professional.
Carnophobia: Fear Of Meat
According to the Oxford Dictionary of Psychology, carnophobia means fear of meat. It likely comes from the Latin word carnalis, which means “fleshly.” Even if meat doesn’t make you cringe, that word certainly will.
It’s not just eating meat that creeps out a carnophobe Hypnotherapy Manchester says this particular food fear has been on the rise with increasing awareness of animal rights and slaughterhouse practices. It’s no joke, either, and they say it can be completely isolating. Those suffering from it can also be nauseated or disgusted by just the smell of meat cooking nearby, and imagine how debilitating that might be. Sure, you’re not going to be grabbing a burger off the grill at your neighbor’s backyard cookout, but you’re not going to be able to enjoy the vegetarian dish she makes, either. Carnivals, fairs, after-work drinks and appetizers, game day parties, and even church fetes are all potentially terrifying, and this fear can cause serious social problems.
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Totally Weird Food Phobias
One of my very best friends’ husband is afraid of onions and I once knew a woman with a terrible anxiety that had to do with meat that was still on a bone – she would become violently ill watching someone eat it. I also have another friend who will become sick on her stomach if she sees someone else eating beef that’s been cooked medium-rare or lighter.
There may be a phobia for just about everything. These are some fears that people have that are based on specific foods or tastes. Some of them are unofficial as in they have not been officially documented as a diagnosis. Phobialist.com does have a huge list of officially recognized phobias.
Watch Out For These Types Of Meat Which Arent Inspected As Closely
According to Sanchez, there are certain meats that may be more likely to get you sick.
The USDA FSIS only inspects beef, pork, chicken, turkey and catfish, he said. Other meats, like wild game, other fowl, all seafood and some meat products are just under FDA jurisdiction. USDA FSIS operates on-site, continuously, and stamps all products with the marks of inspection.
Still, he adds, freshness is key, and these regulations shouldnt deter you from eating these meats entirely. Just make sure to look, touch and smell before buying or preparing following your intuition is always a good idea, especially when it comes to food safety.
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Start With Ground Meat
Perfect for everything from hamburgers to these pesto beef meatballs, ground meat is a perfect way to start learning to cook raw meat.
Since the meat is smaller and looser than a patty or a chicken breast, it’s easier to heat the meat through in less time. Plus, you can actually see when your meat is done, due to a process called browning.
So the next time Taco Tuesday calls, you can feel confident breaking out the skillet or frying pan to make your meal. Just promise me you won’t try to cook your ground meat in the microwave.
Why Do Millennials Hate Touching Raw Meat
A recent survey found that Millennials hate to touch raw meat and heres why
Apparently it causes them high levels of anxiety. Many fear a bacteria called campylobacter. Its been known to cause serious food poisoning, could make them ill if they had to touch contaminated beef, pork and especially chicken.
Its this type of behavior that has earned this generation the moniker: Snowflakes.
that being said my sister is no millennial but she refuses to touch raw meat. She wont even use her hands to form a hamburger for the grill. She makes her husband or her daughter do it.
While that sounds ridiculous ~ I have an issue that might even be more bizarre than that
I HATE egg salad.
I dont like the look, the smell or the texture. I hate it so much I refuse to wash dishes that have egg salad remnants in them! I dont want to risk the nastiness touching me. I know, I know its a little irrational. I have hang ups. What can I say.
What do you REFUSE to touch? Please share.
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Foods That Can Cause Food Poisoning
Some foods are more associated with foodborne illnesses and food poisoning than others. They can carry harmful germs that can make you very sick if the food is contaminated.
- Raw foods of animal origin are the most likely to be contaminated, specifically raw or undercooked meat and poultry, raw or lightly cooked eggs, unpasteurized milk, and raw shellfish.
- Fruits and vegetables also may get contaminated.
- While certain foods are more likely to make you sick, any food can get contaminated in the field, during processing, or during other stages in the food production chain, including through cross-contamination with raw meat in kitchens.
Learn more about the foods that are more associated with food poisoning and how to avoid getting sick from them:
Pick Leaner Cuts Of Meat
You know that old saying, “trim the fat?” Yeah, that’s something I’d like to avoid while I’m making my own dinner. Something about touching that gross, yellow fat that collects on a piece of raw meat makes me want to head for the hills.
And while some fats are definitely okay to eat, the fat on a piece of raw meat is definitely not one of them. The leaner the meat that you choose to cook, the less fat you’ll have to deal withwhich means less time gagging as you wrangle with your kitchen scissors.
According to this list by SFGate, your best bets are skinless poultry, beef tenderloin, and pork loin, which are all low in fat.
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Turophobia: Fear Of Cheese
Try to imagine not being able to eat pizza. Most people love pizza night, but for those suffering from turophobia a fear of cheese it can be a complete nightmare. That’s the case for Soorya Rangan, who was a senior in high school when he was interviewed by the Saratoga Falcon. He was able to pinpoint the exact moment he developed his phobia, and it started when he was sitting next to someone eating the nastiest-looking cheese he had ever seen. Ever since, he hasn’t been able to deal with it. “I get ticklish inside when I see it. I feel legitimately sick when I see other people eating it.”
It’s not uncommon, and Katie Weston says her turophobia started with string cheese and a vomiting spell. She says Parmesan is the worst, but she can eat pizza after scraping off the cheese. It’s a huge problem for her, and going out to eat is a minefield because so many things contain cheese. Awful, awful cheese.
The Insane Supermarket Packaging Solution For Meat Touching Phobia
Supermarkets have a long history of crazy and excessive packaging. Now Sainsburys have taken things up yet another level with touch-free packaging for the squeamish. According to Sainsburys research, young people hate touching raw meat when they are cooking. The supermarket giant is tackling the phobia by trialing chicken fillets in individual pouches. The packaging hack will allow the customer to get the chicken into a pan without touching it. If the trial proves successful the packaging initiative will also be rolled out across pork and fish.
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Xylophobia: Fear Of Wooden Objects
The Collins English Dictionary defines xylophobia as a fear of wooden objects and there are two different types of people in the world. There are the type who are wondering what that has to do with food, and there are those who are thrilled to have a name to go with the complete and utter revulsion they feel when it comes to eating an ice cream with a wooden stick.
Buzzfeed suggests those with a phobia of things like Popsicle sticks and toothpicks have a form of xylophobia. They might be perfectly fine being around, say, a wooden cutting board, but turn that into the feeling of a wooden stick against the teeth and it doesn’t matter how amazing the ice cream looks, it’s suddenly become a hard “nope.”