How to eat Street Food in India without getting sick?

If you are traveling to India and want to experience the country’s culture and traditions fully, you should taste the local cuisine. Street food in India is one of the most interesting ways to sample traditional Indian delicacies – it offers authentic flavors, is incredibly affordable, and boasts a fantastic variety.  As you explore the crowded lanes, you get a chance to come into contact with the locals and absorb the sounds and sights of the buzzing streets. It also provides a fascinating insight into the ingredients and the process of preparing local dishes.

Sadly, most travelers to India are hesitant to try street food, as they have heard of the infamous ‘Delhi Belly’-traveler’s diarrhea. The fear is understandable, as no one wants to suffer from an upset stomach while holidaying in a foreign land. The state of the public washrooms in India creates more panic. However, if you want to eat mouth-watering food, save money, and experience the traditional culture, then you must try street food in India. That doesn’t mean that you should rush to every makeshift stall that you come across. Follow these tips and basic guidelines to enjoy the scrumptious street food in India without falling ill.

Best Street Food in India:-

India is a vast country, and you are bound to be impressed by the mouth-watering street food you can find here. Each region has something unique to offer that will tantalize your taste buds. It is humanly impossible to check out the wide range of street food available, as the selection changes at every turn. To help you decide what to taste, here is a list of the most popular Indian street food: Pani Puri, Dahi Papdi, Vada Pav, Pav Bhaji, Chana Kulcha, Chole Bhature, Rajma Chawal, Thali, Dosa, Idli, Poha, Mumbai Sandwich, Momos, Bhel Puri, Sev Puri, Omelet, Jalebi, Kathi Roll, Kachori, Samosa, Misal-Paav, Sprout-chaat, Parathas, roasted corn, slushies, Paan, Lassi, milkshakes, fresh juices, etc. 

Interestingly, the names and flavors of a few of these delicious snacks vary by region. For instance, Mumbai’s Pani Puri becomes Gol Gappe in Delhi, Phuchka in West Bengal, Paani ka Bataashe in Rajasthan, and Gup Chup in Odisha. The recipe is almost the same, but the taste, flavors, and spice level vary.

Ten Tips to follow while eating street food in India:-

1. Make sure that it’s freshly cooked – Focus on the street food that is prepared in front of your eyes. It should be fully cooked and served hot. Freshly made food is tastier and safer. Pakoras, jalebis, omelets, dosas, etc, are low-risk. Many times, vendors will reheat the snack to serve it again. The process helps in killing the bacteria, so don’t get stressed. If the oil smells foul, avoid that food. The oil has gone rancid due to overuse, which can be harmful to your stomach.
2. Look at the length of the queues – The stalls with the longest queues are the safest bets. The vendor has a significant turnover, so the food must not be lying around for long in hot and humid conditions. It also guarantees that the stall is popular and hygienic, as people are unlikely to queue for contaminated or unpalatable food. If you can spot the elderly or kids in the queue, all the better. Safe to assume that sensitive stomachs can digest the food.
3. Eat where and when the locals eat – You can trust the local people if you want to find good street food. They visit the areas daily and would have checked most of the vendors. If the locals are staying away from a stall, there must be a reason for it. So, instead of following tourists, follow the locals. It is also a good idea to eat when the locals have their meals, as the food would be freshly cooked and hot during that period. If your mealtime doesn’t match the locals’, you might be served leftovers.

   

4. Avoid cold drinks – In India, it is very unsafe to drink tap water. Most tummy problems can be traced back to contaminated water. Therefore, it’s best to avoid all non-packaged cold drinks, as they may be using adulterated water or ice made with tap water. Avoid drinks such as lassi, slushies, milkshakes, fresh juice, and cold coffee. Go for hot tea and coffee. They are harmless as water has been boiled at high temperatures. Ask for the hot drinks to be served in paper cups or earthen kulhads. The digestive system of local people has become adapted to drinking unfiltered water, so don’t blindly follow them.
5. Stay away from fruits and salads – As the tap water is unsafe, cut fruits and raw vegetables a miss. They are likely to be washed with unclean water. To avoid food poisoning, opt for cooked vegetables and peelable fruits. The safest fruits are those that can be easily peeled, such as bananas, mangoes, oranges, pineapples, and melons. Eating grapes, strawberries, apples, Jamuns, and cherries can be a bit dangerous in a polluted country like India. Salads and fruit platters should not be eaten anywhere in India, including the high-end hotels & restaurants.
6. Pay attention to cleanliness – This is a no-brainer. If the cutlery, plates, chopping board, knives, pans, glasses, etc. are not clean, skip eating at that stall. Dirty utensils can be a source of contamination, even if the food is freshly prepared. Always carry sanitizing wipes with you so that you can wipe down the plates and cutlery to remove any residual water left on them during cleaning. If possible, bring your own disposable cutlery. All food items in the stall should be covered. Joints that mosquitoes, rats, and flies plague should be avoided at all costs. The stall should not be located near a garbage dump or a dirty drain. And don’t forget to check if the hands of the stall owners are clean, as they don’t use any gloves while preparing dishes. If the cart appears unhygienic, move on to the next one.

   

7. Turn Vegetarian – if you are really bothered about food poisoning, focus on vegetarian food while traveling to India. The street vendors generally buy meat from butchers who keep the flesh hanging outside their shops. The water is contaminated, the street vendors don’t have refrigeration facilities, and you don’t know how long the meat has been sitting there before it is finally used. It makes sense to avoid meat when seeking affordable food options. In India, a large chunk of the population is vegetarian, and you can find a mind-boggling variety of vegetarian delicacies. So, keep your love for non-veg food at bay for some days and become a vegetarian in India.
8. Avoid some food items – There are a few items that are always suspect and best avoided. Chutneys are mostly uncooked and may contain tap water. Dairy products are also risky, especially during summers and monsoons – so no Dahi Papdi, Dahi Vada, etc. Even eating potato-based products can be harmful in summer. This means you may have to skip Vada-Pav, Samosas, Pao-Bhaji, etc., when the temperatures are soaring. The problem is that the street vendors do not have refrigerators with them. If food items that need to be kept cool are left at room temperature for a considerable amount of time, they become a breeding ground for bacteria. That can be dangerous and lead to a bad case of food poisoning. If you have acidity problems, stay away from tamarind or raw-mango-based chutneys. They are cooked, but the sweet and tangy taste may give acid reflux if your stomach is sensitive.

   

   India’s all-time favorite street food, Pani Puri, is also not recommended for travelers. The crispy, round, hollow puri is filled with a mixture of tamarind chutney, potatoes & spicy water – not a very safe combo. So, resist the temptation unless you are sure the vendor is using packaged water.
9. Go easy with spices – Indian food is spicy and oily, so keep that in mind. Spices can act as mild laxatives, which is not something we are looking for. Start with steamed dishes like poha, Momos, Dhoklas, and Idlis (sans the chutney), and then slowly build up your spice tolerance. You can even ask the vendor to tone down the spice level of the dish. Accompany it with rice, bread, chapati, and dosa to mitigate the impact of the spicy curries.
10. Do not overeat – Indian cuisine is delicious and tempting, but you should never overeat. Your digestive system will not be able to handle this overdose of fried, spicy, and unknown food items. Overeating street food is a recipe for disaster.
11. Stay Away in Rainy Season – One of the worst times to eat street food is during monsoons. During the rainy season, numerous flies, mosquitoes, and other insects proliferate and hover over food left out in the open. The damp weather promotes bacterial growth. This can be dangerous. Eating street food in peak summer also comes with risks, as perishable food items spoil easily when kept in hot temperatures. Winters are the safest time to gorge on street food in India.

Final Thoughts:–

Eating street food in India or anywhere in the world comes with risks. However, if you are vigilant and trust your instincts, you should be able to avoid any issues. Wash your hands before eating, keep a sanitizer handy, check the seal on the bottled water, and be vigilant. If the food doesn’t feel, taste, or smell good, just leave it. Carry tablets for fever, diarrhea, and vomiting with you at all times.  You may still fall ill, as contracting an illness from food is a common occurrence when traveling frequently. If it happens, don’t fret unnecessarily. Take a break from sightseeing, visit the doctor, take fluids, and rest in your hotel. You can have rehydration salts, toast, packaged curd, rice, and bananas. Most importantly, don’t panic.