Irish people warned to avoid viral Christmas dessert hack circulating online

People are being warned against one Christmas dessert trend circulating on social media this festive season.

As one of the most-loved festive desserts, tiramisu is a crowd-pleaser but users on TikTok are taking it to the next level with the tiramisu drawer trend which has gone viral.

The trend started with one user who showed herself christening her new fridge by laying out the traditional Italian dessert directly into one of the drawers. The video now has over 6 million views and 22.3k saves.

Now, hygiene and cleaning experts at Alliance Online have shared an important health warning to home chefs who may be thinking of trying the trend for the Christmas season. Rachael Kiss at Alliance Online explores the trend:

Beware of cross contamination

“Unless your fridge is brand new, it’s likely that you’ve stored raw produce like fruits, vegetables and meat which can carry a host of bacteria like E.coli or salmonella unless thoroughly cleaned after use. Fridge drawers are notoriously difficult to clean due to their corners and crevices which means it’s really difficult to thoroughly make sure you’re avoiding cross contamination.”

Preventing allergic reactions

“As fridge drawers are not designed for food preparation and therefore difficult to clean this can also mean exposing you or guests to allergens like nuts, shellfish or dairy products. If you’re hosting anyone with allergies it’s always best to be on the safe side and prepare your dish in a food safe dish.”

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Harmful plastics

“The materials used in the drawer are not designed to hold foods which will absorb contaminants which means potentially harmful chemicals could be leaking into your tiramisu without even realising. Most household fridges don’t contain drawers labelled as food-safe for direct contact so it’s always best to double check first.”

Temperature control

“Preparing a tiramisu in your fridge drawer can lead to uneven cooling as the drawer is not insulated for temperature stability. This means perishable ingredients in the dish like mascarpone and eggs are at risk and increase your risk of food borne illnesses.”

Rachael summarises: “Users on TikTok have taken inspiration from some of the best restaurants in the world which feature their own version of tiramisu drawers but forget that these establishments are fully equipped to safely do so. The tiramisu drawers you see in these restaurants feature steel refrigerator drawers which are designed to hold food and be cleaned thoroughly by kitchen staff who are also trained in food safety.

“It’s important with any food-related trend on TikTok to pay attention to proper food preparation and hygiene practices first, especially if you’re playing host for your Christmas dinner!”

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