It is very important to rinse fruits and vegetables well before consuming them, but a small but essential step before washing is often overlooked.
Every year, one in ten people become ill from eating unsafe food according to theWHO. It is therefore essential to pay attention to the foods chosen and their preparation. For fruits and vegetables, for example, it is essential to wash them well. These fresh products, grown outdoors, can be affected by a lot of dirt, but also insects. They can also be contaminated by their packaging or during storage.
The best way to wash them is by hand, under cold running water. While vinegar and baking soda may be recommended, they don’t represent any real benefits over water, according to Primrose Freestone, associate professor of clinical microbiology, with The Conversation. So simply rub them well under water to remove dirt and pesticides on their surface.
But certain techniques are to be preferred depending on the fruits and vegetables. When it comes to vegetables, we must distinguish those with hard or firm skin from those with leaves. For the former, like squash or potatoes, the ideal is to scrub with a vegetable brush. For those with leaves, such as lettuce, broccoli or cabbage, it is best to separate them into leaves and rinse them individually by rubbing by hand for a minute.
For stone fruits, but also for apples, it is necessary to rinse them well for a minute. For soft fruits, you should only wash them just before eating them and after storing them in the refrigerator. The high water content of cherries, grapes and even strawberries makes them quickly perishable, and wetting them directly can in fact shorten their shelf life.
By following these steps, you will minimize the risks. That said, a small action that is often forgotten is also essential to optimize washing: washing your hands yourself before handling the fruit to rinse it. This way, you yourself do not contaminate the products you clean.
Likewise, if you wash your fruit by soaking it, make sure you use a clean bowl and don’t do it directly in the sink. It can also be useful, in addition to washing, to peel fruits and vegetables where possible to take as few risks as possible. However, by removing the skin, you also remove some of the nutrients it provides.