Even the purest home-grown foods can make you sick if you don’t wash them properly. Viruses, bacteria and pesticide residue can cling to your fruits and vegetables long after they’ve come in from the field or out of the orchard.
Here are tips on how to clean your produce:
1. Wash Fruits and Vegetables with Cold Water
Experts agree that the best way to get contaminants off your fresh produce is to rinse them well in cold water for one to two minutes. For hard-skinned fruits and vegetables, you can use a soft brush to scrub.
2. Scrub Produce Clean, Even if You Peel
It may seem silly to scrub the outside of a melon or an avocado you intend to peel before eating. But the skin of produce can hold minuscule particles of disease-carrying dirt. These particles can get on your counters, hands or cooking surfaces.
3. Use a Vegetable Wash and Rinse with Water
Use a vegetable wash in addition to, rather than instead of, a cold-water rinse. You can find fruit and vegetable washes on sale online and in the produce sections of most grocery stores. There are differing opinions about how much these products add to food safety, but if they are made with natural ingredients, they shouldn’t hurt.
Avoid commercial produce sprays that contain soap, bleach, preservatives or unrecognizable chemicals. These can change the taste of your food or even make some with sensitive stomachs sick. Also, if you use a spray wash, make sure you continue to rinse your produce under cold water for up to two minutes, scrubbing if possible. A spray alone is not strong enough to dislodge the specks of dirt that may carry contaminants.
4. Save Money, Make Your Own Vinegar Vegetable Wash
Put 1-part vinegar to 4-parts clean water in a spray bottle and shake well. Many people believe vinegar has unique antiviral and antibacterial properties.
5. Watch Out for Cross Contamination When Cooking
The most common way produce picks up toxins like E. coli is from cross-contamination while preparing a meal. It’s easy for viruses, bacteria and other contaminants to transfer from cutting boards or other surfaces to fruits or vegetables. So, make sure you clean countertops and cooking surfaces often and well. You should also be vigilant about washing your hands, before and while you are cooking. This is especially important if you are working with raw meat of any kind.
Don’t forget that fruit and vegetable scraps are a great addition to a compost pile. If you don’t have the space for a large compost area, then direct composting might be the perfect solution for you. Learn more in our Guide to Direct Composting.
