gismerav OP t1_iu3i8gj wrote on October 28, 2022 at 8:04 AM

Reply to comment by Hamilfton in eli5 Where does Bacteria come from? by gismerav

Yeah I kind of get that but what I dont understant its their reach and number like lets say I cook some meat and then I desinfect in a way I can assure there are not any bacteria, then I put in a drawer, the kind you open once a year and place it there, im sure if I come back 2 days later it has gone bad, how do they got there? what has keep them alive in a drawer or how do they manage flying through the air without any food?

Hamilfton t1_iu3jntq wrote on October 28, 2022 at 8:25 AM

Are you really sure there's no bacteria there? Unless you absolutely drench it in alcohol, there are very good chances something will survive. Even the meat itself it's going to be completely sterile unless it's burnt to a crisp. And ask yourself about other things, what did you use to transfer the meat to the drawer? Doesn't matter if it's only a couple cells that survive, they will immediately get to work on the steak and soon you'll have an entire colony.

And yes, they can also be blown about by air currents and land on the steak, they can do without food for a couple of minutes.

jensjoy t1_iu3lzh5 wrote on October 28, 2022 at 8:59 AM

>what has keep them alive in a drawer or how do they manage flying through the air without any food?

Coughed? Bacteria in the air. Sneezed? Bacteria in the air.
Standing near someone who splits a little while talking? Bacteria in the air and on your clothes. Sudden movement that shakes those bacteria from your clothes -> bacteria in the air.

Even if it's not in the air and you use sterilised gloves, as soon as you touch anything that isn't sterilised you have bacteria on your hands and transfer them to the steak when touching it.
And so on.