Tips for Sanitizing Fruit: Effective Methods for Safe Consumption of Clean Produce
Bolstering your kitchen produce game: Washing fruits and vegetables effectively is more significant than ever, thanks to COVID-19. Learn the best methods for removing pesticides, waxes, and germs, and make your kitchen produce secure. Dive into essential tips for fresh, clean produce.
Nowadays, everyone's got keen eyes for danger, especially pathogens, with COVID-19 heightening our awareness to a whole new level. So, how do you get rid of pesticides, waxes, bugs, and viruses on your fruits and veggies? And do you really have to clean every single piece, or can you skip some?
Guess what? The CDC totally recommends scrubbing any produce (yes, even those with peels) with water to help slash the number of bacteria causing food-borne sicknesses. A good ol' rinse is better than nothing at all! However, the best approach varies depending on the specific produce you plan to snag for your morning smoothie.
In your quest for clean produce, take a look at these best practices for when your fresh produce makes its way into your cozy kitchen.
Is washing produce necessary?
To steer clear of any food-related health issues, cooking your produce is the ultimate trusty method. But what if you fancy a fresh summer salad? In that case, a good old scrub with plain water is your best bet, even for produce with peels where germs can tuck themselves away when you slice into them.
Time for a produce shower: Minimum effort edition
Rinsing your produce under the tap is the go-to step for all fresh fruits and veggies. That's right, even organic produce needs a rinse because it can still harbor pesticides, bacteria, and who-knows-what else! Here are a few tips for your produce spa day:
- Warm water might be slightly more effective than cold, but be gentle with delicate things like fresh raspberries because too much heat could drive them over the edge. This applies even to water from the tap flowing high.
- Keep the CDC's wisdom in mind, folks, and stick with plain water for your safety. Don't add soap, bleach, or chemical cleaners to the mix.
- Remember to wash your hands before rinsing your produce. Naturally, you want to clean the produce and not add germs and bacteria from your hands. Pssst, it's also a smart idea to wash your hands whenever you come inside from the great outdoors.
- Invest in a clean colander to rinse greens, snap peas, green beans, and other small items that might be tricky to handle by hand. Run your fingers through to ensure everything is getting a good scrub.
- Dry everything with a clean towel or paper towel before stashing it in the fridge or setting it out on a fruit bowl in your friendly neighborhood produce-friendly kitchen. Otherwise, the moisture could trigger mold to sprout.
Going the extra mile: The soak option
Soaking produce is another way to clean your fruits and veggies, especially the more tender ones that don't do well with flowing water. Here's how to soak in style:
- Delicate produce that comes in clusters (like grapes and berries) can be soaked in cool or slightly warm water for anywhere between 5 and 30 minutes to loosen dirt, little critters, and other unseen enemies.
- You can toss in a bit of white vinegar - about half a cup of distilled white vinegar per 1 cup of water - since it's a natural bacteria killer. However, rinse your produce well after soaking to remove any lingering vinegar scent. You can substitute lemon juice for vinegar if you prefer.
- If you're soaking your produce in the sink, don't forget to give the sink a quick clean-up beforehand. After your produce has finished soaking, make sure to dry everything completely before storing it to keep it fresh and delightful.
Full-on scrubdown: When your produce needs a little extra TLC
Produce with thick skin, like squash, melons, carrots, and root veggies, should be scrubbed with a stiff brush under running water to ensure it's squeaky clean, even if you intend to peel it. The brush should also be cleaned after each use to keep bacteria from spreading.
Some produce has a wax coating you might opt to eat, like apples, cucumbers, and lemons. If you want to eat the skin, you can use baking soda as a gentle scrub to help remove that waxy layer.
Feel like treating your produce to a little hot water therapy? Briefly immerse these items in boiling water or pour hot water over them. Once they've softened, give them a good scrub to dislodge the warmed-up wax and any pesky pesticides and bacteria.
Frequently asked questions
What about fruits and vegetables with a rind or peel that I'm not planning to eat?
Just wash them! In fact, take extra care to clean fruits and veggies that you plan to peel or cut through entirely (like melons, citrus, and avocados). If you don't clean these types of produce beforehand, germs from the outside could sneak their way into the inside.
If you're roasting the produce, you might think that you can skip cleaning it because the high heat will take care of any germs. But there are some germs that can withstand it, if you can believe it. We recommend playing it safe and cleaning the produce just in case.
How do I clean mushrooms?
You may have heard that it's best not to wash mushrooms, but the truth is, it's actually fine to rinse them. Just do it quickly and gently scrub the caps with your fingers. Don't let them soak or they'll absorb too much water, resulting in a soggy mess.
Should I use a commercial fruit and vegetable wash?
We totally get that there are plenty of companies selling fruit and vegetable washes, but in general, we don't recommend them.
According to the USDA, these products are not approved by the FDA for use on foods. In fact, the FDA also warns against using soap or detergent on fruits and veggies because it could lead to consuming leftover soap and getting sick.
Don't make cleaning your fruits and veggies more complicated than it needs to be. Use clean water and sanitized surfaces, and gently stir with clean hands or use a clean brush to tackle bacteria and germs on sturdier vegetables. Then, sit back and enjoy your fresh and clean produce on a big ol' salad!
After the surge in awareness due to COVID-19, maintaining food safety has become crucial, and that includes scrubbing fruits and vegetables carefully to eliminate pathogens. While cooking produce is the best way to ensure food safety, washing it with plain water is essential for fresh consumption. Rinsing produce under warm water can help remove bacteria that cause food-borne sicknesses, but it's important to handle delicate items gently to avoid damage. In addition to rinsing, certain produce may need a soak in water with added vinegar or a full scrub with a stiff brush to remove pesticides, waxes, and germs thoroughly. Furthermore, remember to dry produce completely before storing to prevent mold growth.
