Consumption of a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables is the key to maintaining a healthy diet and lifestyle. However, the increase in foodborne outbreaks has raised concerns about the use of pesticides in food production in recent years. Washing fruits and vegetables is still one of the best ways to protect yourself and your family from disease and chemical contamination. Here are some ways you can do to wash fruits and vegetables effectively before cooking them.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Washing Fruits and Vegetables with Water
Step 1. Prepare fruits and vegetables for washing
Discard the wrapper or packaging.
- The water wash method is effective for all fruits and vegetables. However, some vegetables, such as broccoli, lettuce, or spinach, often require additional attention and cleaning.
- You don't need to wash fruit or vegetables that are labeled "ready to eat," "washed," or "thrice washed."
- The Food and Drug Administration recommends that fruits and vegetables with skin be washed BEFORE peeling.
- Remove stickers from fruits and vegetables. Even though they are made of edible paper, the sticker on the fruit should be removed before washing the fruit so that the area under the sticker can be cleaned as well.
Step 2. Wash your hands
Use warm, soapy water to ensure that your hands are clean before handling fresh fruit and vegetables. Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds.
Step 3. Cut off any damaged or rotten parts of fruit and vegetables
Rotten and exposed parts can allow pathogens to enter the fruit or vegetable.
Step 4. Clean the table, cutting board, and cutlery
After preparing each food item, clean kitchen surfaces and cutlery with hot, soapy water.
Kitchen hygiene is especially important if you peel fruits and vegetables without washing them first. Bacteria on the outside can move to the inside if the fruit and vegetables are opened or peeled
Step 5. Wash fruits and vegetables in cold water
Make sure that the water used is safe for consumption.
- You can use warm water. However, warm water should be used if you are going to cook the fruits and vegetables after washing them.
- Place a strainer in the sink to speed up the washing process of fruits and vegetables. Because you can wash more than one fruit or vegetable at a time, a strainer can make it easier to wash loose fruit and vegetables such as peas or beans.
Step 6. Handle crumbly fruits and vegetables gently
Some fruits and vegetables, such as raspberries, which break down easily and become mushy when exposed to a lot of water, should not be washed too vigorously. Put the fruits and vegetables in a colander and rinse gently.
Mushrooms should be cleaned in a different way than other vegetables. Mushrooms will become mushy if rinsed with too much water or soaked in water. If you must wash it, do so with just a splash of water. After that, immediately dry gently with a tissue. The best way to wash mushrooms is to wipe them with a damp, clean cloth or tissue
Step 7. Rub any fruit or vegetable with thick skin
Use a vegetable cleaning brush to scrub vegetables like potatoes and carrots, which grow in the soil, or cucumbers and melons. Scrubbing will help wash away any hard-to-remove microbes. Make sure that the brush is not too rough so that the fruit and vegetables are not damaged.
Step 8. Check the fruits and vegetables
Make sure that the fruit and vegetables no longer contain dust or small insects. If you find one, wash the fruit and vegetables again.
Step 9. Dry the washed fruits and vegetables
Dry all washed fruits and vegetables with a clean paper towel. This will clean any bacteria that are still attached.
Method 2 of 3: Soaking Fruits and Vegetables
Step 1. Fill the sink with cold water that is safe for consumption
You can also use a bucket or other container if you don't want to use the sink.
Use this method for fruits and vegetables with a large surface area (such as grapes), that are tightly packed (such as strawberries or blueberries) or have deep fissures (cabbage, broccoli, and leafy greens)
Step 2. Dip fruits and vegetables in water and shake them
Be sure to move it slightly so that the outside of the fruit and vegetables can be thoroughly cleaned.
This method is effective for wines and other foods that have a large surface area and are tightly packed. Because it is immersed in water, the entire outer surface of the food can be exposed to water. This effect will be more difficult to obtain by rinsing alone
Step 3. Soak fruits and vegetables with lots of nooks and crannies for 1-2 minutes
Vegetables such as cabbage, broccoli, and leafy greens require extra care because they may have a lot of dusty or microbial areas.
- Green vegetables have a special cleaning method. First, separate the leaves first. Then, soak the leaves and strain. Repeat this process. The goal is dirt or dust will continue to be eroded. When you're done, dry the vegetables with a clean rag or salad spinner.
- Soaking all kinds of fruits and vegetables, not only greens but also fruits such as strawberries, is also popular. Soaking is a restorative process that can refresh vegetables and fruit, enrich their taste, and extend their shelf-life.
Step 4. Clean any tools that have been used
Use warm, soapy water to wash your colander, salad spinner or basin when you're washing other fruit or vegetables.
Method 3 of 3: Using Other Solutions
Step 1. Use distilled water to wash and/or soak all kinds of fruits and vegetables
Distilled water or mineral water has been filtered and purified of contaminants.
In addition to distilled water, you can also use clean cold tap water to clean fruits and vegetables
Step 2. Use a brine solution
Soak all kinds of fruits and vegetables in water mixed with 1-2 teaspoons of salt for 5 minutes. Then, rinse the fruits and vegetables with water to remove the salt.
Step 3. Use a mixture of water and vinegar to soak all kinds of fruits and vegetables
Soak fruits and vegetables in a mixture of water and vinegar (120 ml of distilled vinegar per 480 ml of water) for 5-15 minutes. Then, rinse the fruits and vegetables.
Although not effective against bacteria, this mixture has been shown to remove pesticides and chemicals. However, this solution can affect the texture and taste of the fruit or vegetable
Step 4. Use a commercial "fruit and vegetable" laundry soap
This type of laundry soap is sold in grocery and health food stores.
- Some of the brands include Dr. Mercola's Fruit and Vegetable Wash, Fit Organic Fruit and Vegetable Wash, Ozone Water Purifier XT-301, J0-4 Multi-Functional Food Sterilizer (Indoor Purification Systems, Layton, UT).
- Researchers at the University of Maine tested several of these products and then compared them with plain water and found no significant difference between the two. In fact, in some tests, washing with water was more effective than commercial laundry soap in cleaning fruit from external substances.
Tips
- For food consumption on the go, fill a spray bottle with cold water and use it to wash apples and other fruit.
- Don't forget that local fruits and vegetables, purchased directly from local farmers, grown by yourself, or labeled "organic" should still be washed properly.
- Do not avoid eating fruits and vegetables because you are worried about contamination by substances or bacteria. As long as you clean them thoroughly before eating them, these fruits and vegetables can be consumed every day. Research shows that eating lots of fresh fruits and vegetables can reduce the risk of several types of cancer and other diseases.
Warning
- Do not use hot water when washing fruits and vegetables. Hot water will cause vegetables and fruit to wilt, rot, or scald.
- The Food and Drug Administration does not recommend using soap and other detergents for washing fruits and vegetables.
